The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-05-28
rnr psEumA11o GUNS.
They VIII seou be Mourted On Lsne Tor
Defesee OF Bnrbors. n Not on ships


they VIII Soon b. Moursed On Lard for tbs
Defe.ce OF Hnrsors. n Not On ships.
WASHINGTON. May 27.-It is believed tha'
during the present summer some. at least
OF the pneumatic guns for New YORK maroon
will be put in place. They are designed MS ~
known. for throwing high explosives OF such
sort as the Government may require; Tor
there Is no question about the safety OF the
process. For New York harbor i've gums are
intended. Two ffteen-inch guns Will pc SCI
MP ut Sandy Hook and ono at Willets foin'.
while one ten-inch gun will probably DC SCI
up at the latter point Ind ono eight-inch gun
at the former.
Early next year 1t IL expected to set up the
three ffteen-inch guns intended for san iran
cisco. while tho three for Boston VIII follow
considerably later. The guns are made NJ ths
West Point foundry.
There ia no doubt that the pneumatic guns
may be effective nuxiliarles In land dsfence.
While they arc quite limited In range yet
within that range they hayc the " Oh
throwing an enormous quantity OF dynamite
or other high explosive upon an enemy meet
Hence they are particularly adapted to de-
Tending q narrow channel or TO protecting
fortified works from suffering too close q nre
from an enemy.
Ono difficulty encountered by the system
has been Its original selection for naval pur-
poses. This. which was Mt first Thought to be
an advantage. has possibly proved n detri-
ment. Attention has been concentrated on
the vesuvius. and several obstacles to success
have there presented themselves. The prob
lom has been complicated by tho use OF the
pneumatic system on an unstable platform.
and under the Limitations OF space necessary
on shipboard. The natural way OF proceeding
would be that which was adopted by tho Eng
lish. namely. to try first the pneumatic guns
for lane defence. When it is once shown that.
with all advantages Of perfect security In the
storage Of the dynamite projectiles. and OF the
solid earth q ior 2 gun HIat e. oas tne ~ pn assaqtniD
wbsther Il can also DO used on a pitching and
trials Of the Nesuvius. 1t is known that the
satisfactory. Not a solitary pro|ectIie Of the
under the conditions Of. a smooth sea was Of
s e.. same s@ tSs eonsitIo an'f In Ii snd a Hfny mH Bae
1t has been intimated that Commodore samp-
valves sar; shG DO oh hn, YORK 9t 4rS &1sh ise ness shat e ane
tainty: and II this Is so a fault more serious
than n nn tss f Sn sbs IN .x rss.,d f. s. the fSsss o woIjd u be
doubtedly be supplied. and tho trials nece.;
sary before the adoption Of the system could
The Sa be mf d 81 d RSt + tss a essrsst. IN TiSSFS to
It is the simplest Justice not only to wait for
tho conclusion. OF the Chief Of Ordinance on
the subject. but that the manuiactnrers should
should 1t he found that the system Ia not de-
Veloped sufficiently for the Nesuvius., Congress
may make some arrangements Tor the benefit
OF tho contractors and the. guns can perhaps
in time be employed elsewhere.
When the pneumatic system vas started. the
importance OF using high explosives for shell
charges was fully Appreciated: but since that
time there have been great strides toward en-
ployinR such explosives as the bursting
charges in powder guns. not. indeed. in such
quantities as with tho pneumatic ~. Q. but In
amounts suf efficiently great. and having the in
estimable advantages OF long range and hori-
Zontal fire. Hence. even II the adoption OF the
pneumatic system for naval purpaees should
have to be postponed. tho loss would not be 50
great as 1t might otherwise have been. The
two points to guard are. on the one hand. not
to say that the system is At for abortion until
1t has actually done the full and exact work re:
Quired OF 1t. and. on the other hand. to give It all
the time needed to do that WORK. even n 1t has
failed hitherto. Meanwhile. the construction
OF pneumatic guns for shore batteries can go
on: and when they are completed. mounted.
and tested. the expsrim snts with them ma
throw light on their availability for ships:
without while going to the expense OF
building the latter for using them.