New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-20
NEWS OF THE ARMY AND M Wy.
PLANS FOR NEW GUNBOATS.
FRICTION OVER THE KRAGJORGENsEN GUN
ARMY OFFICERS WHO ARE AGAINST TRYING
AMERICAN wEAPoNs-MANY RETIRE
MENTS IN THE ARMY AND NAVY.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBuNE.1

fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.J
Washington, March I0.-sccrctary Herbert is emu
la'ing the example OF exSecretary Tracy In promptly
preparing for The consideration OF contractors speci
ications Of vessels to be constructed under authority
OF naval appropriation bills The last Congress pro
vidcd 81 100000 for three light draugt PROJECTED gun
boats Of about Zoo tons EACH and the Bureau Of
Construction and Repairs has already begun work on
the plans ard drawings Of these vessels. II is pro
posed TO follow the general designs OF the Castine and
Machias, now nearing completion at the Bath Iron
Works. These vessels 100 feet long, 81 feet broad
| and draw Il feet Of water. Their maximum horse
power Is $50, displacement 1000 tons, and speed
fourteen knots. Each Of their batteries consists Of
eight 4inch. four and two FOUNDER rapid fire guns
and two Gatlings. The boats will have less
draught than the Castine and Macias and IT Is believed
such reduction Will better fit them for service
rivers and other shallow waters. particularly on the
Asiatc and south American stations. II Is proposed
that Of the new vessels shall bc shcahcd, and the
idea l. generally approved by naval officers
experiment, nj least.
Ii appears that the provision in the new Army bill
that KragJOrecnsen magazine rides shall be
lactured until further opportunity Is given American
inventors to submit for trial guns Of this character
has caused much friction II Is reported that certain
officers Of tho Army who enthusiastic admirers Of
the Danish gun have stated that the provision IN the
bill wa, secured through improper representations Oh
the part oi agents OF several American rifles These
officers also reported TO have said that such repre-
sensations known to BE- questionable by mem
| beers OF The Senate Committee on appropriations and
| lIoGsc Committee Oh Military Affairs, who insisted
| upon the qualifying provision being Inserted In the
| bill. and 10 hive impugncd the motives Of certain
| senators and REPRESENTATIVES Tor their real In tie
matter. These reports have come to the cars Of sew
| eral members Of the Senate committee and have
brought forth highly indignant protests from III 'se
| gentlemen. Yesterday two angry senators visited
the War Department for the purpose Of demanding
explanations in the matter, but secretary Lamont's
absence In New-iork prevented conference. In
referring to the alleged statement OF the Army onccrs
| a member OF the Senate Committee on Appropriations
| said Yesterday:
| These reports lack truth and reason. and are
evidences Of bus and bad discipline. The desire OF
| Congress 10 secure an American gun Tor the
military service provided ono superior TO the Danish
| gun could b. found within reasonable time with
equal justice might cri,irsc the action Of Army
officer, IN ordering practically the same board 70 test
| American guns Which recently adopted the krnS-
Iorcenscn gun. ! am surprised TO know that officers
Of the Army entertain any objection to the very
| patriotic Efforts ~ Congress In this cnse'
Tho recent public remark of an agent Of the krag-
! Jorgcnscn gun. 10 III" effect that bis arm hai III"
| ,upport Of Army officers. while American inventions
were only fav,.rcd by politicians In Congress has doubt
les added TO the Indignation Of Senators and Repre-
,cntailvcs II Is understood that representatives, OF
| three American rifles which will certainly be pre-
scniel the magazine loard for trial bfor" The
end ~ the month will request secretary Lamont to
| relieve from duty the board majority of officers
who served on the previous board which adopted the
| Krnc JOrgenscn arm.
| Commodore : npson Chief OF the Naval Bureau Of
Ordnance l. carefully considering the many problems
suggcicd by The report Of the board Of officers which
recently tested the guns OF the Nesuvius. The re-
cent trials only partly satisfactory. In the opn-
Ton Of naval officers generally She and al other YES
sells Of her class must be largely experimental H'r
weapons II offence and defence long tubes. ont ~
which high explosives fred ~ air pressure" The
quantity ~ air for the dischargng OF the shells must
lc nicely regulated. increase or decrease In the
supply seriously affecting the accuracy of th" fire.
Tn. quantity of air entering the tubes Is controlled
ly valves upon the working OF which accuracy and
range pend. should dust other foreign subsanc'
get into the valves their working and the consequent
ciiclcncy Of the guns disturbed. These valves
are particularly delicate hut they are sufficiently
so IN practice TO make the successful operation Of
the guns doubtful At any time. II seems To be I'M
| safe TO rely soley upon the working Of valves 10
-, nrc the efficient manipulation Of guns. IN" mgh
Trajectory Of the vcsuyius guns Is another serious
objection II the target IS too TOO far 1t Is
out Of range. and prooclos will pass over or fail
| short OF T. without damage"
In this respect there Is comparison between the
regular. modern. hlghpowercd rifles and the guns
the Nc-uNl-. me trajectory ol inc lorHtr II -
fiat that In ordinary ranges the target Is In the line
| Of fire, aud the danger Is increased. Aside
from special objection 10 air pressure for firing high
| explosives II has been found that such explosives
can be- safely and accurately fired from ordinary guns
necessity for specially constructed guns Is there
| fore done away with and, however successful the
guns Of the Vc,nvius might prove to be, the fact
| vould be- confronted with the experience ut Newport
that high explosives, manufactured at That station,
have been repeatedly discharged iu the usual manner
from smooth bore and rincd guns II would be- wiser,
certainly more economical. TO depend upon regular
rifles rather than complex air guns Tor throwing hleh
| explosives. TO De able To fire II great quantity of
.xplosv. at one time II might become necessary To
hulld special guns of large caibrc but even then
| particular ship To carry them would not be required
| The Army has had two years experience WIN
Indians as enlisted soldiers, ana unless all signs
| fail there Is strong probability that By the end Ok
| The present year those now In the ranks VIII be-
cr.atlv rcauc d I'm numbers or wholly relieved from
| service when the idea OF ensting Indians was
| first suggested by cx--ccretary Proctor many prnc
| teal officers Of the Army opposed H. ana scV'rh
| who had served with Indians under varying cond
'tions expressed the belief that the experiment would
| he a failure. II was generally conceded that If the
red man could have principle OF military discipline
instilled in him and his character ana habit could
| II, moulded on lines Of uniformity and suhoriinaled
10 the will Of intelligent superior The effect would
be beneficial. such happy results have not followed
| th, experiment however. Officers VINO pave been
assigned 60 The duty OF organizing and training In
dans as soldiers have laborci faithfully; but, Judging
| from reports received AT the War Department vainly
MANY Of these reports show the Indians to be well
| enough drilled, bat little or no progress bas Dtcn
| mndc I'm the work OF otherwise civilling tleIn N
/ times many Of them become unruly and defiant, ana
| fear OF punishment or hope Of reward, so potent
with humanity generally. mas no eiloct upon them.
| ~ is probablc that secretary Lamont VIII be com
| PEELED 10 discharge them and permanently aDaidoh
| this manner of civlizng them. -.
|
an unusually large number OF vacancies III Inc Army
Navy ana Marine Corps during his term al once
| There ARE AT present In the Army vacancies In the
grades OF brigader general major aud paynastcr ana
| captain and assistant quari,rHastcr IN the Navy
there "A vacancy IN The grade o assistant Taymisttr
With the exception Of the assistant quarternasersip
| nominations for the other positions We're made by
L IuIl.d aln nrulu lGuh