The National tribune., 1891-08-20
ARMY AND NAVY,

In a recent conversation Secretary Tracy
said he was planning 10 have the White squad
ron visit the Gulf -tatoB this Fail aud Winter,
and IL possible send them up the Mississippi
River rs !aT as kcksbuTg. The Secretary will
recommend 10 Congress this Winter, aud urge
upon members, an appropriation for the CON
siruciiOn OF some lghtcs-dran vessels for
patrol and police duty, 10 be used on such
occasions as the Boring Sea emergency aud
similar situations. There is need Of such yes
sells on the China station. and several vessels
now in Berlng Sea have been ordered there. as
soon as they can be spared, 10 protect American
interests
ReaI-Admiral VIM r. Mccain, who has been
commanding the South Atlantic Station, was
relieved Of that duty Aug. II, and detailed As
President OF the Examining and Retiring
Board at the Navy Department in Washing
ton.
On August IL a number OF further tests were
made with the I2-inch gun 90 the Government
proving grounds NJ Sandy Hook, which were
witnessed by Gen Howard STAFF aud number
Of artillery officers from Governors Island.
The former tests were not satisfactory on ac-
count OF the high pressure of the POWDER used.
and sufficient velocity could not be acquired
without too great strain upon the gun. The
powder used IN the late tests was from Dupont
& Co., while former tests were made with Ger
man prismatic powder. The first charge was
only 300 pounds, the gun being built 10 stand
40 pounds The compound charge sent q
l,OO1pouud proicctile no a velocity Of / i73
feet a second, with pressure Of q 900 hounds
a square inch. The tests were ali with tic
same weight Of projcctile. Ia the second test
80 pounds Of powder were used and a velocity
81 ,J3l feet q second was secured with q press
ure Of $1,000 pounds. In the third test 400
pounds Of powder were used. The velocity OBJ
iaincd was $50 feet, aud the pressure OF - 900
pounds. Ia the fourth test 40 pounds Of pow
der were used. The velocity Obtained was
l,132 feet, aud the pressure was 81 40 pounds
10 the square inch. The defamation was loud
aud ranbiiug. il was not sharp explosion,
and the sound seemed 10 grow steadily until il
reached IT'S fullest tone and then 10 die aWav
4 j he gun was buried IN a cloud Of smoke and
/ after few seconds, far out at sea, an enOr-
NOUS pillar OF foam was seen to rise as the pro-
Jcctile struck the water. Then the dying mis-
sic rose making leapin the air, aud a second
later another great splash was seen as il struck
the surface a second time. Once more il rose,
and again IL raised a splash, and the men who
had strong glasses said they saw il rise again
before it finally buried itself in the sea. The
gun can do effective work al "a range Of II
miles, aud can even send shots - miles
The President last week committed 10 one
year suspension from rank and duty on half
pay the sentence Of dismissal from the service
Z
Capt. William Davis, jr., 10th u. s. Cav, at
Apache ATiz. After the Captain had been con-
yictcd petition In his favor, signed BIZ an tho
members Of lis company, aud Endorsed by the
Judge-Ady0catc before whom the case was tried
was forwarded 10 the President Gen. Scho-
Geld joined in the request for Communication Of
sentence Capt Davis WAS charged wiih being
/ drunk while on duty. lie was a First Lieu
tenant Of the LIST No. Cav. during the war.
The Ordnance Bureau Of tho Navy shipped
/ - the New York Navy yard Ca Saturday, Aug.
! ID, "a lO-luch gun aud carriage, from the prov
! ing ground Al Indian Head, on the Potomac
+ below Washington. The gun will be placed on
/ the Warship Miantonomah now at that yard
/ This, with the other l0-inch guns which that
vessel now has, will complete her battery SO
/ far rs the Ordnance Bureau is concerned.
/ Gen. ID. s. Stanley last week ceusured the
courl-marlial which recently tried Lieut. Wal
Ter III. Chatleld, 9Th Inf, the mcfciful sentence
4 Of the court being the cause Of the ccnsure.
| Col. John J. Coppinger, 23d Inf, was the Prosi-
4 dent OF the court. Lieut.. Chatted was tried
/ for Incorporating money while acting as
| Assistant Quartermaster at Fort Brown. Tex.
! lie was found guilty aud sentenced 10 DO rep
Iimandcd by the proper authorities. Gen
I Stanley takes the court 10 task, saying
What becomes Of estimated costs Of fair dis.
bursCmenis OF appropriations by Congress II
this officers example is 10 be followed and pass
unquestioncdr y"