Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-30
TO BE TESTED AGAIN.
Naval Board Reports Meager Results
From the First Trial of the
DYNAMITE CRUISER VEsUYIUS.
The Gun Machinery Is Crude, but the
Vessel Has Good Points.
IMPROVEMENTS WHICH ARE NEEDED,

WASHINGTON, May 29.-The official re-
port of the Board of Officers appointed by
the Secretary OF the Navy to supervise the
trial last week of the aerial torpedo-throw-
ing vessel, the Vesuvius, was made public
to-day. The formal report confirms IN
every detail the special account of the trial.
The trial board finds that the gun had not
been 'ranged," !" that is, that previous tests
had not been made to give data for firing
them with accuracy; that the pneumatic
machinery of two of the guns was out of
order; that no sights had been fitted and
that great improvements can be made in the
arrangements of the curving tower and for
firing
Nevertheless, the trial board concludes
the trial was satisfactory enough, under
the circumstances" to warrant at least an
other test before eondemning the vessel as
an calculator of shells loaded with high ex-
plosives through the air, and the Navy De-
partment has promptly responded by order
ing another test under more satisfactory
conditions. There has been a great deal Of
gossip, most of it arising from the feeling of
jealousy so euriously prevalent in the Navy
Department, to the general effect that this
test of the Vesuvius was designed to cast
discredit upon Secretary Whitney, who was
responsible for this experiment. There is
absolutely no reason for such gossip.
The Trial Fair One.
The trial was fairly conducted, every pos
sible means of pubhcity as to its results was
afforded and the report of the Trial Board
appointed by Secretary Tracy tends very
decidedly in favor of the Vesuvius. The
trial proved merely that the science of pneu-
matte gunnery had not been developed suf-
fciently to make its practice accurate. 1t
| is upon this very ground that the report Of
the Trial Board is based. In other words,
they account for the unsatisfactory nature
of the trial by lack of projectiles for pre-
| viously ranging the guns and by defects in
| machinery.
Itwould seem to 1ayman that in all fair
ness to the Vesuvius her officers should
have secured their preliminary conditions
from the Navy Department. Their failure
to do so, or the failure of the Navy De-
partment to perfect the conditions Of the
trial so that no protest of unfair treatment
| could be raised afterward, has the effect of
clouding the entire test. As was stated,
another trial will be necessary, and it may
be made very soon. For the new trial there
ought to be no lack of projectiles, and the
steering gear and other machinery of the
Vesuvius ought to be in order.
A Notifying Possibility.
1t would be mortifying to the responsible
officers, and possibly cause of indignation
to the American people, if the Vesuvius
were to steam down New York harbor to
destroy an advancing battleship and to find
that she could not use her rudder. That is
exactly what happened in Hampton Roads
| last week, when for two hours the Vesuvius
/ Inv ha1rN of5
ment with her steering gear. The trial was
also marked by the fact that only one of
her three pneumatic guns was in working
| order, and even that was fitted with only
| temporary sight. All in all, the report of
| the Trial Board must be accepted as a severe
reflection upon either the officers of the
Vesuvius or their superiors in the Navy
Department, for allowing the trial to be
made under such conditions
The report is not intended to be such a
reflection. On the contrary, it seems to be
designed merely to correct the imperfect
| arrangements for the test and to secure an
other trial under conditions which may sat-
isfactorily prove beyond all cavil the exact
value of vessel designed to throw torpe-
does through the air by pneumatic pressure.
The report of the board says:
"In order to carry out the departments
wishes, as indicated in the orders, the board
Is Oh IHe Oplu1Ou bDdb luc guns c1lOu4u 10
carefully ranged, for which purpose we will
require 80 projectiles in addition to those
on nand, and the fitting of proper sights.
To complete the programme OF firing, as
laid down by the department, further sup
ply of 15 projectiles will be necessary.
Some Unsatisfactory Features.
SIN conclusion the board would state as
follows: The accuracy of fire of the star
board gun under the conditions we consider
good, that of the middle and port guns we
are unable to criticise because the valves
were not in satisfactory working order. The
valve of the starboard gun has been modified
and the work is satisfactory throughout.
The range can be very readily altered; the
setting of the valves can be changed to any
point from extreme to short range In fve
seconds. The effect of a moderate sea and
wind on the general efficiency OF the guns
and their range is very slight.
Generally speaking the vessel, as gun
platform, behaved very satisfactorily. There
are many details concerning the steering
gear and coming tower which could be very
much improved. As to the actual efficiency
of the vessel for offensive purposes, the
board has little data on which to base an
opinion.
'oThe board considers that the fttiugs and
appliances for loading and firing these guns,
as ubbcu, are very CAuuO anu OoP oPsDAO "a 5ASos
Improvement.
1.-THE board would recommend that the
guns should be carefully ranged In some
suitable locality where the fall of the pro-
jectiles can be accurately determined from
shore stations That some simple and suit
able sight should be fitted, and such changes
made in the mechanism for loading and
firing the guns as may be found advisable
and that the vessel be then subjected TO
such further tests as will fully determine
her efficiency as torpedo thro~er.
r. d. EVANS, Commander.
A. r. CoUDEN, Lieut.. Commander.
j. f. MEIGs, Lieutenant.
Action of the department upon the report
is as follows: 'In view of the statement
that as to the actual efficiency of the vessel
for offensive purposes the board has little
data on which to base an opinion, its rec
ommendation that the guns be carefully
ranged in some suitable location, the de-
partment orders that the board reeonvene
and consider and submit detailed pro-
gramme for any such further tests as they
may recommend"