The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-01
o.DNIxcr Wonx OF THE ARMY.
Ar-,, for the Militia sunoheiers Powders
Dcck. pterciuE Shell.


WASHINGTON. Oct. 31.-Br0 Gen. d. W.
Fiaelcr Chief OF Ordnance. gives an interest
ing review of the years work OF his depart
ment In his current annual report. Tho ex-
penditures for the fiscal year were So. T02. 202.
and there is q balance of S4.34S541 In tho
Treasury. all required for payments that fall
due during the coming year. larger appro-
priation for arminR and eduipping tho militia
Ia asked. There were large issues OF ordnance
stores to the militia during the year. but tho
supplies called for and not furnished were
greater than In previous years.
Trials OF smokeless powder have gone on
during the year. Experiments conducted at
Sandy Hook showed that when French b. n.
powder for heavy guns had been stored Tor
four months the velocity Increased III feet
and the pressure 1000 pounds. In year q
charge OF 200 pounds had shrunk to 1917
pounds. and yet gave 76 feet more velocity
and 1900 pounds more pressure than 204
pounds had before storage. Theoretically
sealed. the velocity Increased 40 feet: pressure
about the same as when first tested. Upon
the whole. the results obtained with the French
powder may be regarded rs quite satisfactory.
and the fact that nitro-glycerlne does not en-
tor into its com IMPOSITION is considered strong
point in its favor.
With German smokeess powder the tests
showed n loss OF velocity OF about sixty-seven
feet during the period OF nearly two years
when the powder was stored in ordinary bar
rolls, the pressure remaining about the Same.
This loss OF velocity is not considered an OBJ
lection OF much moment as 1t is the intention
to store brown and smokeless powders in her.
metically sealed cases for service. The cubi.
cal form Of grain in this powder greatly facili-
tatos making up the cartridge. ana this Is
marked advantage in It's favor. On the other
ha darC ntafn n rn- O n m n n
objection has been raised by some experts to
the use Of this substance in smokeess pow
nothing Detrimental to the use Of smokeless
powder has developed. However. some Eu-
IN er hat nG
the chemically combined smoke!ess powders.
iuses and corrodes cannon metal at the sur
moieeuIar eonttions 81 The Steel e As result
The lie q tho gun is. it is claimed. materially
To, remedy this defect. II 1t exists. Gen.
FlaEler thinks the Worn-out metal may be re-
and EXPENSIVE operation. An alternate would
be to lower the ballistic requirements and ac-
cent results more nearly approaching those
Several lots Of deck piercing shell have been
furnished to the department. but while the
has not yet reached the high standard REQUIRED
for piercing the heaviest decks OF modern war
type OF shell for the service. to be Of steel;
holding large charge. say 100 pounds
or more q gun run, cotton or emmenste and
burst upon impact. The object Of such an ex-
plosion on the steel-protective deck on ships
is TO destroy the personnel and batteries
located above that deck. to shatter the deck.
and to project fragments below.
Ono 8-inch and two 15-inch pneumatic dyna-
delivered at Sandy Hook FOR trial in January
next. and three, 15-inch pneumatic guns in
A test Of the Hotchkiss 3-inch breach load
Ing mountain gun. very valuable in Indian
warfare. has resulted satisfactorily. and Gen.
Flagler says pieces Of this type may safely be
put in use.