New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-07
Number OF
guns rp1uircd Number of Number of

i is.inen .::::::: e e Q
TOtsl....... Si7 2ol 246 I55
The number Of heavy guns has largely increased
during the last year, and they show married improve
ments. These mainly in the direction of increased
length thereby securing great and hatness OF
trajectory and consequent ability to be made effective
longer distances. The 6inch Of SO calibres will
be supplied to the Detroit and her siser-ships. one
new 6nch gun of 40 calibres has been completed and
tested with highly satisfactory results This improved
gun will be supplied TO the Cincinnati and Raleigh. and
Cruisers Nos II and 10. The first 12-inch gun of
50 caibrcs has been completed and is now, with Its
mount at the proving ground fer trial. Three more
guns OF this calbre are in course of construction.
Close study and observation of the mounts for main
batteries in use abroad have enabled the Ordnance
Bureau to provide materially improved carriages for
he batteries of the ships. For the Ginch guns
gravity carriages, fitted for working by hand,
have been decided upon, giving great gain In sim
plicity of design and a saving in weight.
In small arms the Navy Department is only waiting
for III, decision of tue War Department upon the
dimensions of cartridge to be adopted for by the
Army. II is highly important that smallarm am
muniton Tor the two services should be interchange
able and the acquisition of suitable small arms Will
he begun as this question is settled
The Blown powder for general service use In heavy
guns continues TO give excellent results. The most
important advance made during the last year in respect
10 powder consists in the development Of sm0eess
powder invented by Professor &. f.. Monroe, OF the
Naval Torpedo Station. The SUITS lave exceeded
the antcipatOns formed In reference 70 this p)wder
It's successful use has advanced by progressive ex
periments fIOm the l, and FOUNDER guns up to
the 4inch Iapdre gun. In reference 10 the results
accomplished, it is only necessary to say that with
charges half the weight OF those used with or
binary powders, the velocitieS have becn increases
nearly 200 fOot-secOnds, with no ncreae OF chamber
pressure other respects the powder gives singular
satisfaction 1t contains volatile constituets is not
affected by repeated heating for long periods, Is I'm
injured even by boiling in water, gives high and reg
ular velocies with moderate and regular pressuIes
and Thus far has shown all the essential requisites of
a normal smokeless powder. 1t is safe to say that
within short time the use OF ordinary gunpowder
will be abandoned in calbres of 6-inch and below
Until the present year the United states has been
entirely destitute OF any armOr-p piercing projectiIes
IL was stated in the last report that contract had
been made for quantity of aI1nor piercing shell manu-
featured in America by one OF the foreign processes
All the G-inch and about one-half of the 6inch shell
under that contract have been delivered and have
passed the required tests, and issued to ships
AS required. The Carpenter steel Company, the frm
which is manufacturing these pPOjectiles. has made
Gradual departures from the original designs, which
nave resulted in distinct improvements; and the differ
ence in the effective force Of the Navy to-day COM
pared with its situation year ago. when it had not
single prOiectle that could pierce modern a1nor, is
more than a revolution by which may obtain in
America all the armor piercing shell thai need,
been brought about al very moderate eXpendi-
lure.
The manifest Importance of the proper development
Of tOTpcdoeS has induced the Department 10 put this
subject under the special charge OF Torpedo Board
unoer the bureau OF ordnance. Questions regarding
he installation and proper dis poatOn Of tOpedOes
being rapidly settled By Board, and the practical
knowledge OF this subject has been materially advanced
an the report of la year The fact Was s@d that the
Navy was absolutely destitute OF any automobile tor
pedo but strenuous efforts have been made 10 remedy
ths vital defect and have resulted in the establish
ment ty the h. ". Bliss Co., OF Brooklyn, y. y,
of plant the manufacture Of Whitehead toipedoes
in this country. The contract en,ered into IN
May last 100 l5nch tOrped0es OF the most recent
type The first torpedo is 10 he ready for maj In
lew DAYS and if found satisfactory, the remainder are
10 he delivered at the rate OF 100 month The sue
ctssfu GOnostcadOn in this country OF the manufacture
OF Tie Whitehead torpedo Is OF tile most Important
advances in naval development That has been made for
cveral years. The progress made abroad III die con
sgructi0n OF submarine boats has been careiuly
watched aid il Is believed that recent developments
in tie applications of electricity have greatly simpjifed
t,s problem and point to the expedency OF con
structing such a boat in the near fu.ure
Tls, development Of the gun factory has continued
during tho year and many improvements nave Dceh
made in the appliances. The new l1o-ton crane mas
Icon co,nule,cd and is in operation. Additional ma
hi,e tools for small work, a wellequpped chemical
t,botatory new machinery for the manufacture Of
oocb mechanism and the mounts for rapid fire guns,
and new gun latbes have increased materially the ELL
cheney of the shops. An important Improvement mas
been made by the adoption OF the system oil heateu d
Al ossan,llinp gnps a furnace has also been erected
for treating arlnor plates by the Harvey process Inc
rc,,l,s accomplished in the gun factory, both III tHo
character Of the work done and In It's economy nave
tatio a
model estabn shInent and the experience on alel ~
the ofcers who have duty ~ the lacOiJ - Pfo
ductive of incalculabie benefit to the service. ~, aha
INC pioV1ng demands for the naval ueien.o Va .ho
Pacinc Coast, and the great e&pease S ne cantl
pOrtagon OF heavy ordnance Ire.etS acr9ss wy ,
1t,nt poIP 10 the absolute necessity Vi os'ooHs t
In the near future an ordnance factory AT Soe pill
I'm that neiglbOrhOOd. such an establishment ano t
be under the general control OF the "S ~ ,"orl az
and the Navy Department, and should 40 bhe MoIA VI
both. The work of the Washington gun IacDty A.. Ill
what experience and intelligence can acconplIsn u, s
direction and II Congress should adopt tlc nie.siG uo
Navy furnish the 10 carry II out ih.Io , 10
reason why sach an establishment should not dnplcae
the success which has been achieved nj Wasnllstmi.
The report reviews at length the az ut
nectiOn with the Gillian revolution anu na ,,aS
neither I'm the affair OF the Iata, whose suITehl W.
voluntarily determined on by .he PrOVlsIiia, i,,,no
ment at Iquque, nor In the presence OF IIe na' iS
when the agents OF an American cable COMPANY sP".d
their cables on the open sea, nU III ,ie N oronnd
OF offence given by the Navy OF tie hltea S,.oo w.
any person, party Government then eAis'lns III
Chill, nor any assistance encouragement oI any
Lind rendered TO what at that time recogneu Ny
Mi the world insfsct the Government OF the country
Yet Il Is impossible 30 account for the series OF ouuaEe
perpe ated the crew OF the baltimore on any olner
sup position than TINT those who coDcerte1 uie %ee
Influenced by the ealumnes which had been actiVeiy
ed that they aided and aDettcu Ny