New-York tribune., 1893-12-02
IMPORTANT RESULTS DEPENDING UPON THE
COMPETITIVE TRIALS TO TAKE PLACE
AT SANDY HOOK

| Washington, Dec. (SpeciaD.-The Ordnance De-
| partment of the Army made public to-day the pro-
gramme of the first OF a series Of important com
petitive tests of rapid-hre guns which are TO be
held at the Sandy Hook Proving Grounds within
the next few days. The tests will embrace trials
with three and six FOUNDER guns. Both domestic
and foreign inventions are to compete Much de-
pends upon the results They will not only de-
termine the relative merits OF American and for
eign systems but to the successful competitor
will be given order for number of guns for
the Army. AS far known, this will be the first
test in which domestic rapd-fire guns have been
put In actual competition against foreign rivals In
recent trials in Europe at least three American
inventions have not been tested for comparative
merits In the trials at Indian Head "A few days
ago the contest was restricted to three guns Of
domestic manufacture. The coming SANDY HOOK
tests may therefore be regarded as the first inter
national contest between the prominent rapid fire
systems in use by military and naval services at
home and abroad Representatives OF hmerIc1ni
inventions who are now here say thdt they VIII
They believe that If successful an opening In Eu;
ropean, South American and Asiatic armies ana
simplicity of mechanism American rapi1-hre guns
can be manufactured for relatively less money
than their foreign rivals, and this fact 1t IS thought
will strongly recommend them 70 favor abroad
The programme announced to-day relates 10 tests
character and extent or trials OF heavier guns VIII
shortly be made public For the the three & ,pou9der 9.
bury and Nordenfelt guns will compete. The first
four guns Of domestic and the latter Of English
Of the Seabury gun The programme was drawn
up by the Ordnance Board which has prescribed
regulations for other previous tests of Ordnance
at Sandy Hook. and was approved by General Flag-
ler Chief OF Ordnance. The competing guns are
first be examined by board Of officers TO de-
termine the number OF parts Of the breech mechan-
ism in each, their strength, simplicity and Ger
tainty Of action. and also the ease safety and GER
tainty of action Of the mechanism a whole.
Particular attention Is TO be given TO the action Of
the firing pin and extractor and The maximum out
ward position Of the cartridge when IL can be
pushed home by the breechblOck. During this
animation fifty rounds are to be fired at will from
each gun
Following will be tests for velocity accuracy, ra-
pdity. and rapidity with accuracy. The guns will
also be subjected TO tests with defective cartridges
excessive charges and with the mechanism busted
To determine the velocity five cartridges Will be
fred and to arrive at conclusions as 10 accuracy
ten rounds will be fired at ranges of 1000 yards
one mile and 1900 yards The question OF rapidty
will be fixed by determining the number of rounds
that can be fred In separate trials during five
seconds one minute and FIVE minutes respectvely
The time required 10 fire 100 rounds Will also be
noted attention being given the condition OF
the guns as regards heat, and certainty Of
action during the test. Rapidly with accuracy
win be ascertaned by firing thirty rounds at al
ternating targets stationed at different ranges In
the defective cartridge Test ammunition which has
been specially prepared give out unequal and
erratic pressures Will be employed 10 try the
strength of the brcech mechanism. The excessive
charges will give out pressures gradually increas-
ing 10 5000 pounds per square inch to determine
the endurance of the guns. In the dust test the
guns will be exposed 10 blasts OF fine and well
and uniformly distributed dust, after which twenty
rounds are to be fired az rapidly as nossible.