New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-31
IPNY IND NAVY NOTES.
-rs OF THE HEAVY ARMoR SUccEssFUL-lM-
pogrANcE OF THE RECENT BICYCLE
RELAY RACE.

| RELAY RACE
r.shIngton. May 30 tspecial).-The tests OF armor
| o., The battleshp Indiana and her class and the
pa.. cruiser New-York and her class at the Naval
P' cronnd Indian Head, have been completed,
pro'"e being satisfactory and further conrma-
ne secretary Tracys recent statement that, under
~" .rsrcst tests known, American armor plates are
ne "a the best made in the world The lndana's
i'" r.centy fred at. specimen Of the 260
pa =, diagonal armOr which Is TO connect the ends
hs " rnor belt Of that vessel and 1t is the thckest
,.rgest piece Of armor far manufactured In the
Sn states being fourteen inches thick and ten by
10, IN area. Three projectilee from l0inch gun
- sred at the plate, the first two being imported
"e r;rth and the last being made by the Carpen-
I'VE oompany at Pittsburg. the Carpenter pToIectie
-,sipr TO be better than one and equal to the other
~. noiectile. The Carpenter proiectile thrown
i n,niured while one of the Firth projectiles was
broken in TWO pieces ,,,,.
a,, NJ the plate the points Of impact forming an
'raeral triangle none Of the shots penetrated the
e,,ss far enough show the backing. the extreme
f~stration being fourteen inches. All three shots
founded distance of 1875 feet, the plate showing
49,. slight cracks Immediately surrounding the burr OF
~, oridce The plate used during the test was made
:, M. Harveyized nickel steel.
Tho sample Of the NETWORKS side armor tested
s plate four inches in thickness and was attacked
\, q 4inch rapid firing gun, using Il Carpenter steel
-,ectjle having upon discharge velocity of 1i20
.st a second. None Of the shots got through the
,,e and the plate Itself showed signs OF cracsing
- veskpess of any kind This plate, like the sample
:, The one intended for the Indiana. was made Of
,,ke STEEL not Harveyizcd. and It's test Indicates
,bst force the twenty eight plates, each weighing
All TONS which are 10 form the side ar!ncr Of the New
York may be expected TO resist.
In the opinion Of thoughtful Army officers who de-
~ their attention TO the consideration of all matters
ending TO increase or Improve the means and methods
,sesary to keep the service in condition Of progress
hs recent relay bicycle race from Chicago 10 New
York indicates beyond doubt that bicycles will
/. OF practical value in the Army in time Of war.
me fact is established. these officers state. that
heycle can travel faster and longer than horse that
n can 90 where horse cannot; that il does not form
ss large a target AS oavalTman mounted. and that
II, the matter of expense for maintenance there is 10
oomperson Referring TO the race itself the report
pvs the distance covered 10 have been about 1000
miles that the weather rainy, the wind strong
he average sped maintained WAS ten miles an hour,
md that under fair conditions and 10y similar svtem
n relays il Is possible TO travel 900 miles In sixty
sx hours, ,Or fifteen miles hour.
Professor Miles, commanding the Department of the
NJ ssouri. under whose directions the begun
md conducted refers 10 the race az important
achievement and, considering the conditions. re-
nsrkabe success confirming his belief that bicvcle5
VII be extensively used in the Army, and that soon