Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1893-10-20

defenses. In very much exposed
works, where the s. ties availab are
extremely con racted, it is still n ques-
ton of armor against projectiles, but
on account of the great cost of armor
plating it is necess .ry 10 resort TO
other devices for all situations which
admit of any other system of defense
1t is now conceded that the old plan
of mounting guns on carriages which
are always exposed to view, and which
must depend for safety on tn inaccu-
racy of the enemys fire, is suitable
only for guns mounted on high bluffs,
The entrance to the harbof OF san
Francisco is very favorable to such a
defence. From the ghboring bluffs
an immense column of com paratively
inexpensive fire can be provided 10
cover the approach to the Golden Gate.
The advantage of such ba teries is
twofold. What is called "a plunging
fire is thus obtained and the chances
of an effective hit are very great on
acc unit of the exposure of he decks of
the ships. In In way guns Of com
parative snail caliber are effective
against ships which would be invul-
nerable to their direct fire.
The other advantage consists in
safety from the fire of fleet. If at a
good fighting range a shipwould have
TO fire at such "A high angle that the
shot would reach the battery viii e
still rising, a d hence it would be
likely to 20 entirely over the guns or
to strike below them, where it coul
do no harm. To drop a shot with
much effect a ship must keep at such
a distance that the shot shall reach
the battery in the falling part of its
flight, and at such d stance the fire
from aboard ship is so inaccurate that
barbette guns can we'll afford TO take
the chances of an Uccdsiona hit.
1t is very different matter when
the Tense must be made from a low
shore like that of Sandy Hook. Not
only would barbette guns be easily
disa oled, but the rain of small pro-
jectiles from the attacking fleet would
prevent the men from properly serving
the batteries.
The most promising method OF pro-
tecting guns on such sites is by means
of disappearing carriages. On such
carriages the guns are exposed only
when ready to fire, and after firing the
recoil carries them behind the para
pet, VIII re they may be loaded in
safety. The great advantage of such a
system is that the protection afforded
To 1.-THE gun may general y he so ar
rang as TO present an unbroken line
to the front, and with such an indeh-
mite target q ship could not carry
enough ammur ition to do any appreci-
able damage unless by a lucay chance
shot In such case but Ii tie provls-
ion need be made To resist penetra-
ton, as the safety of the ba terry lies
in It's being out OF S ght
Even where the gun must be mounted
in Il prominent fort or in a conspicuous
part of any sys EN- of defence, il
would generally be amply protected
by remaining under cover except when
bring. But in his case the parapet
must be made 10 resi- enetration,
and such a ,ystem would tie much
more expensive an the plan first
mentioned, and for given cost fewer
guns could he mUunte
disappearing ,arrIages have not yt I
be n extensively Us, d. but recent eX-
periments SHOW n very decided prog
Tess, and it is probable that in very
short time a number will be made and