New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-13
NEWS OF ARMY AND NAVY.
TO TEST THE LONGEVITY OF RAPID
FIRE GUNS.
THE PURCHASE OF DISCHARGES FROM THE ARMY
MOVEMENTS OF NAVAL VESSELS.
rBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE tribune

THE PURCHASE OF DISCHARGES FROM THE AhMi
MOVEMENTS OF NAVAL VESSELS.
tBY TELEGRAPH TO rIE tribune
Washington, Aug NAVAL ordnance experts
have an interesting question before them' ~ re-
lates TO the life or endurance Of the new high
power rifles. Foreign countries have on seVera'
occasions purposely fired guns to destruction 20
ascertain how many rounds the weapons "ou'"
stand before bursting. from other causes De-
come unserviceable. Experiments having IN vie"
the same general OBJECT without the deliberate ih'
tentIon OF disabling the rife are to be carried on
AZ Indian Head An eight-inch gun recently made
at the Washington Navy Yard has been se'ec'eu
for the experiments. 1t will be continuously eh'-
ployed In armor and shell tests until II becomes
unfit for further practice from any cause or causes
The gun will thus serve the double purpose OF
being an available weapon for ordnance Trials anu
of furnishing data upon which to base con-
cIusion as TO the longevity OF modern; nigh-
powered rifles OF domestic manufacture. Inc queS
ton to be settled is important, theoretically ana
practically. the experts say
In tho case OF the obsolete smooth-bore guns
which were mounted on the old wooden ships, IL
was known with reasonable certainty now many
times they could be fired without serious risK
When these weapons reached the calculated hHi'
of endurance they were either USED WIN great
caution or put out OF service altogether on sew
eral occasions particularly during the war. great
the number OF rounds they were counted upon 10
withstand SO far the only practical Information
on the life Of rined guns now In posse"s'o" o'
naval officers Is the fact that the weapons manu-
featured in 1886 and mounted on the chicago oos-
ton Atlanta and Dolphin are to-day In all re-
spects AZ sound and servicable as when SUBJECTED
TO their preliminary tests 1t Is assumed that
each Of these rifles has been discharged ABOUT
sixty times. Captain Sampson and his assistants
In the Naval Bureau OF Ordnance entertain inc
opinion that. with the brown powder now III
use the guns OF the Navy will be serviceab!e
for twenty wears possibly longer. What the effect
OF smokeess powder upon the guns VIII be remains
to be seen.
War DEPARTMENT officials have under consdera-
ton another change in the system governing en-
listed men OF the Army At present soldiers are
authorized by law 20 purchase their discharges
under restrictions prescribed by the secretary VI
War. As regulated by General orders these r.
strictions require men 10 serve In the ranks LOT
certain periods and to pay the Government fXed
sums upon getting releases. The object OK the law
was TO decrease desertion by making n possible
for a disconnected man to quit The service mohor
wei-informed Army officers say. but Il has been
at the expense OF other important n',idcaiy a,
fbn Var department on the bad effects Of the
purchase system represent the genera STAT uii
he asked 10 repeal the act such restrictions
Will be placed upon the soldiers pfesen. pr rS
Snons ~ prominent officers OF the Army to be
asked the practical Working Gi t t'sniscS under
special consideration, and he Will Prepare ana SEM
made on the BAD Effects OF the law are numerous
Those OF Colonel Burton. OF the inspector
Department: captain Bowman. commanding o''cer
AT Fort ontario. and Captain Thorp commaluaht
at Fort Candy arc Of SPECIAL interest,"; DIS
10 his previous reports the subject Colonel bur
ton says that there Is no abatement IN the fei.-
cral feeling OF officers respecting the peSnc'o oh
iaAuences Of the purchase system ana tnat ne
consensus OF opinion is that a three years shhst,
mcnt without any tine allo|ahce, wvr ,,s De''
service The Government ensts the best na,ettat
IT get trains ard cducates the rrcrues tU' oe
serious work OF the soldier AZ an expense LOT pay,
subsistence and clothing OF MS MhG ,n me cr
is held him to get his discharge II no tsperI
est OF the Army to add to the law some encourage
ments FOR good man TO remain IN me sere'o &C. nun
chasing discharges produces a feeling Of restless
among the men which has BAD d eness tant
General Ruggles are said to be In favor OF I'm, me
present system The pr9Santes are ou Sa thromgh
orders the War Department The law aI as,hT
Under which men may purchase discharges the
amounts the soldiers are to pay Tor the prIviiese
@onli be raised 10 such sums as TO make the law
nyar;lrolly imperative except In special cases
This would in no manner anect tne b more CEN
srai law to discharre man whcneyS , the pss'
interests the service make It advisable T. 40 So
men, has been reduced by law to three years ne
necessity OF the purchase system no longer eN''''
The early completion Of the ram katahiin d"-
signed bv Admiral Anmen. is Indicator by tre Az
-,oirtrnent OF board Of naval officers 10 VISIT inc
Path Iron Works Wednesday 10 "N'HllIr nc |
cbain burkcrs AMI other interior arrangements |
The heavy deck armor OF this powerful aG'itioh
IN IN. coas, defence feet IL about coinplstel'
Ti,utenaut Usher. commanding the tofrelo- ooht |
Ericasnn announces tho arrival or hts Vessel NJ |
Memphis Tenn Her performance or the TRIO Town
call.nt She Is proceeding carefully with stha
cast-iron propcllers. which were put on 10 aVo'u
nosslblc hendlng Of the shafts In case or striking
s1.gs She will be locked at New-Orehns, "Ie,,h
shc will receive her regular hronG" propetHr' I'M
having her compa gses adjusted. VIII start Tor New.
work under lncrea sod speed Lieutenant lsher re-
ports that tho vessel Is completed ana that rs 500,
ms she receives her battery AT Newport she VIII
be- ready for service. =. ,,,,. So.
Nnrea polls tomorrow before she leaves the uTy-
dock al the League Island Navy yard ana ue-
tcrnlne whether the repairs made necessary oy he'
grounding have been properly done
The Monterey left San Francisco yesterda! tor
Astoria ore where she will be present at the |
cltlzens' rerntta on August II: - ,-
philadelphia. Aug. l2-The United states cruise,
Re ncroft arrived here yesterday. Sne mas on noari
Tho second lot OF naval cadets from the NaVal
Academy ri Annapolis. who come here for the pur- !
md other points Of Industrial interest IN Phlladel-
mia ard It's vicinity. After leavlrg this p'Tt the
U,mcror, will proceed to New-York anil from |
,hrre will 70 10 the torpedo station at Newport,
NJ or, Monroe. Va. August 1.-THE cruiser Mont
ror,erv arrived here from Norfolk this afternoon |
ON route 10 SOUTHPORT. y. c., TO take the naVai
rnl,i,in on a practice cruise.