The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-11-05
GREAT GUNS AND SMALL.
Made by the Arsenals Of the United
States at Different
Points.
Rifled Cannon OF Larger Caliber
Needed to Pierce Improved
Ships Armor.
Results Achieved with German smokeless
Powder--A Satisfactory Magazine Rifle
Wanted for the Soldiers.

WASHINGTON, Nov. Accommodates Fol-
ger, chief Of ordnance, in his annual re-
port to the secretary of war says tho labor
involved and difficulties to be surmounted
in supplying Notifications with tho new
model disappearing carriages for large
guns is perhaps greater than that OF supply
ing the guns themselves. Unfortunately
this work is some years behind the guns.
The department is in great need Of we'll
equipped sea coast carriage factory for this
work and the report recommends an APP
preparation for further enlarging the facil-'
tiles for the manufacture OF carriages at
the Watervliet arsenal. The department
thus far has completed but two eight-inch,
one ten-inch and one twelve-inch breech
loading steel rifed guns. The first eight
inch gun was tested with German smoke
less powder, with the significant result that
fifty pounds of the compound gave the pro-
jectile higher velocity, with about the
same pressure, as obtained with 20 pounds
Of black powder. The time allowed the
pneumatic dynamite gun company for the
delivery of ten guns has been extended to
Jan. l. next, for the first deliveries, and
July for the last.
Among estimates submitted are 1926, 900
for equipment of the south wing of the
army gun foundry, and SLIP, 900, for oil
tempered and anneaIed steel for eight, ten
and twelve-inch guns including parts re-
quired for the manufacture of type of
sixteen-inch gun. Recent improvement in
the resisting power of ships armor would
seem to still further emphasize the already
recognized necessity for guns Of. this cal
iber, as it would be foolish to conclude that
improvement in the resisting power of ar
NOR had reached the final limit. and as
much time is required for completing q
type gun of such high power as may have
ing resistance, the sooner work is COM
menced the better. Other. estimates ATE:
For steel twelve-inch sea coast mortars,
1926. 900; their carriages, 449,500; carriages
for the new eight, ten and twelve-inch guns.
81, ,805, 600; enlargement of gun carriage
piercing projectiles $4,000; deck piercing
! twelve-inch shells, 100000; alteration of
| fifteen and sixteen inch carriages, 800 600.
| The report describes at length the ex-
Ihaustive experiments made by the depart
ment with magazine small arms, including
the latest European models. On this SUB
| iect the report says: reports have been
received from our army of how expert SOL
diers can fire the present service Spring
field single loader, with the accuracy gen
orally needed in action, about twenty times
Der minute. As far as rapidity of firing
alone is concerned. these reports reduce
somewhat the almost universally estimated
necessity for an immediate change to the
magazine rifle. 1t is important TO state
that up to the present time the investiga-
tions made. and knowledge gained by, this
department., have not demonstrated 80
much excellence in magazine arms which
have been adopted by foreign nations as
was expected. and have not shown such per
fection in any of them as could warrant its
| adoption for our services. It is hoped this
country can produce better arm, and until
it can, or certainly until it has been demon
strated that it cannot, it would be wise to
defer the change from the excellent single
loader now in service to the magazine sys-
tenn. No efforts Will be spared to arrive at
satisfactory magazine arm. The new
thirty-csliber Springfield rifle is said to
powder"