The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-05
4 NEW UsE ROE FEE VxsUvrU.

y /.
A NEW Use FOE FEE vxsUvrUa
ones.s sr~x.ssss.s TAss she csa Ne Deste.
wishost her rns~.esse Gems.
wAsnrcroS. Dec A-The recommendation
OF Commodore Folger that che gun-cotton
tubes should be taken out Of the vesuvius. and
that this fast craft should be turned into Z
torpedo cruiser. can hardly be surprisinR. in
view OF her record thus far gl
The pneumatic gun has one unquestioned
field. that Of o shore weapon. Some Of those
Who were most interested In It's success
declared at the outset that II ought not to be
judged BY what II would do II mounted on a
craft whore accuracy Of FIRE must usually be Inn
platform. with the whole area within its range
plotted out 90 as to tell exactly what pressure
is necessary to throw lbs missile to given
point. It's tremendous charges OF the most
powerful explosives constitute valuable ed-
junct for the defence OF land fort under siege
or q channel within It's range.
Aboard ship the problem Is changed. be-
cause the motion OF the vessel is magnifed in
the high anglo firing OF which alone the dyna-
mite tube is capable. and with the slow flight
Of the proiectile. Tho chances Of such Q pro-
jectile falling on the deck Of vessel under
steam. when itself fired from moving vessel.
are almost too doubtful for great reliance.
Perhaps II. for example. the Vesuvius were
called upon to help defend New York harbor.
more reliance might be felt on her three gums
II mounted in thoroughly protected batteries
at Coney Island than II subjected to the risk
OF being destroyed in the vessel by hostile shot.
Tho objection to using the pneumatic tubes
on board the Yesuvius is not that she Is an un-
armored vessel. although It is true that she
might be riddled and sunk even By small rapid
fire guns miles distant from the range Of her
own tubes. That objection applies to all torpedo
boats and cruisers. although those that are
smaller than the vesuvius would present y
mere IRE dSns target y:S en- objection lon
moticn vii not intsrfers With tSe sssuisfs
she has s %
never yet fired loaded protecttls from her
made s When Of ts s.ss
as !ss ss! sSs Wis
WI sss !h = ssssts
;ectiiles was made By = board o. naval od,cess
Of WHICH Commodors r d. Evans was Presi-
dore Folger; -.
Failure of tho working valves Of the middle and
SsS s:sn
9, a. IS ssss
circumstances OF the trial
:Ss y s.s e
s
sssss y r. .'..a -
.h .. es
test win soon % made after tho change. ended
BEEN eessne ana OF pro-
But since this trial was made. the bank.
ruptsy 81 the Dynamite Gun Company has
will be able to furnish the projectiles. and
Gommodore FolgsC accordingly rseommsnds
ICED to undertake their manufacture.. His in
tsrpretatiop. however. 81 the report Of the
leaves the question In grave doubt whether
tas tss
pm q ssfons cross Wing S Ss faR P sRst
conclusion is noteworthy:
o4 II II sa
s.ssy S.. sSs w.
=: i S'ss
p s%.!i,is: "a ~ !:ns
armed With an sato@oSis torpedo and Win rspd.nrs
. es Sa
early conclusion.
It s believed that the range Of eicency Of the vesu
vius would be greatly increased by turning her
torpedo cruiser Her dtspaee men 10 such that. with
her dynamite gun: removed and battery o, CONSIDER
the larger calibres rapd.iirs guns with number OF
6pounders this vessel would then become formidable
antagonist for any Of the unarmored types.
Under this decided recommendation from SO
high an authority there can be little doubt
that We shall soon bid good-by to the Vesuvius
dynamite cruiser. and that she will
enter upon = new feld Of operations as an ordi-
Just indicated. Her tubes. however. would be |
useful should they pass the necessary test for
shore stations. or perhaps for q moored bat
Weapons ordered for the land Qualifications at |
New York Boston, and San Francisco will
gate their value under more favorable circum-
stances than exist on board the Vesuvius.