The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-10-07
A YEARS NAVAL PROGRESS
rms ARTILLERY OF THE FUTURE TO
ne OF MODERATE ca

E.sis.s O-tstrips All Other Nstie-s - ths
Nu-ser OF eu-- Co-pietes-Ths e-ineh
Rspis.airs auz 60 For- che Pri-eipsi
OF Ar FSr-t-ei.s. british
Cru,sers Terpedoes 80 = weapo. 81
Observation-Disclosures. - the Csnsre or
s.ait Arn--The si.ki-g OF The Aauids-
ss~.-Frogr.-- =. ship Construction
The Naval OF the Year.
WASHINGTON. Oct. e.-The annual year book
prepared by the naval intelligence office OF the
Navy Department has Just been completed, ana
will soon be issued to the service. This publ
cation Is one OF the most valuable compiled
under Government direction, and contains the
results OF the labors OF our naval attaches
abroad In gathering everything pertaining to
advances and progress In all branches OF naval
development. as we'll as valuable and Interest,"
ing papers from our own officers upon naval
subjects. This years book Is probably the most
valuable evcr published, and includes, besides
numerous articles on ships, armor, ordnance, &C.,
an elaborate paper on the part taken by
Brazll's navy in the recent tnsurrectlon. This
article gives . complete history Of the causes
leading up TO the revolt, the important attitude
of the navy, and the barrier II was against the
attempts Of the Government party to bring the
rebellion 10 q close: the effects OF torpedoes
against battle ships In modern warfare, and a
detailed history of the sinking of the Insurgents
mainstay In the battle ship Aquidaban, which
has never before been correctly printed. SIX or
eight officers for the last year have been busy In
collecting the information contained in the
book, which Is accepted by foreign Govern
ments as an authority on q years naval
history. The work Of preparation was in charge
Of the chief intelligence o%ficer, Lieut.. Singer,
10 t,,1,d.a In fha mobilization arhauatiye ar
ticles on naval administration, ships and tor
pedo boats, ordnance, small arms, dynamo ma
chimes, marine boilers, the qualities and per-
for1nance OF recent frst-class battle ships, the
revolt in Brazil. and some naval man9uvres Of
the past year. Chief among the latter were the
extensive evolutions of the two great fleets Of
England. operating against one another in the
English Channel.
Probably the most important article Is that
upon ordnance, as this subject has been one Of
greater interest than any other phase of naval
construction and armament. The leading arti-
Gle on ordnance. prepared by experts for the
book, argues that the naval artillery of the
future will be of moderate dimensions. and this
opinion Is based on several important considera-
lions. The endurance of guns diminishes as the
calibre increases. The machinery required for
the manipulation of q very large gun may be
disabled by a projectile from q comparatively
small gun. As guns OF abnormal size can only
DO fred at intervals of several minutes, the
practice 10 necessarily very uncertain against
swiftly moving ships. The employment of euns,
therefore. of moderate weight, the article as
serts. paves the way for valuable improvements
in speed. coal endurance. protection. reduction
OF displacement, and increase In the number of
ships and guns for a given outlay.
In a discussion on the maximum limit Of d.
mansions for naval guns, the article says that It
should depend on the work required TO be done,
and II the penetrating power Is sufficient to sue
~cessfully attack the thickness of armor likely to
be encountered, IL Is better to increase the num-
Der Of guns than to add to their size. The pro-
jcctile thrown by the latest type Of 12-inch gun
Is capable OF perforating any armor yet afioat at
fighting ranges, and a formidable bursting
charge may also be carried. Some experts. &C.
cording TO the article. are advocating the ador-
ton Of a. l0-inch gun of increased length and
power as the heaviest weapon to he mount
ell on board ships. The weight OF such a gun Is
estimated t. be about thirty-fve tons. A ve-
locity OF 1000 foot seconds Is recommended.
and an improved system of riding Is to be used.
In the past year the article shows that the
manufacturers OF rapid-fre guns have been i'll
creasing the size and power oftheir productions,
and devotlng particular attention to perfecting
the mounts and ammunition.
Important as have been the advances in tho
designs of guns, the reports says. they are hard
ly Of greater value than the improvements made
in gun mounts. Great improvement has been
made In the means of absorbing the energy OF
the recoiling gun. which is now taken up by the
introduction Of a hydraulic system. which has
proved so successful that IL is doubtful II any
other supercedes 1t. Springs have also been
generally introduced for returning guns to their
original position before the discharged; shields
Ia.,a la.n nrraaaa a., thI,Ia... Eo.,k. 49,
lection of the rifles and the men working them,
and sights are now fitted on the mounts. so that
the pointing Is not interfered with by the load
ing or firing OF the gun.
In reviewing the progress made by Great
Britain Ia the past year in ordnance matters, IL
other nations. both in the number of rifles ON
pleIed and in their enormous size. Two hun
dred and ninety-elglIt guns III all were finished,
varying in calibres from the great l8.a5-inch 10
4.5;inch, the greater .numLer being Of the six:
most Of them mounted. Leading authorities In
England expect wire TO take a prominent part
Ia future gun construction. One Of these guns
has already been turned out and five more are
under way. England has also recently con-
structed a l2,inch rihed howitzer, having a
length Of Is calibres, and intended TO fire shells
nlled with Lyddite.
The article, in treating Of the style of ordnance
most highly thought OF. says that the Admiralty
have decided that the 8-inch rapid-fre gun shall
hereafter form the principal armament OF all
OF The frst-cisss battle ships Various other
powers seem also to have followed this example,
and have adopted a raPid,hre gun OF aoout the
same calibre for similar vessels. The great
value OF these guns is thOwn from some remark
able results obtained III rapid fire, when one gun
maintained a rate of ten rounds in one minute
for some time. An S-inch gun has also been re-
Gently introduced by the Armstrong; which is
said TO have been worked and fired by a crew OF
nye men at II rate of three rounds In 30 seconds.
France has kept pare with her neighbor across
the Channel in ordnance. and during the year
has added 10 her reputation for the hne charac-
tero OF the ordnance she turns out, The length
OF her guns has been considerably increased. the
reentnrcing rings have been strengthened, and
the shape OF the bore and chamber have been
nl0llned To- better adapt them for burning larger
charges OF sInnkeless powder. Alterations have
also heeI introduced in the form OF the cartridge
case, especially in the direction Of increasing the
amount OF clearance In the chamber. in order to
facilitate extraction.
tiermdny, Russia, and Italy. like q reat Britain
And France. nave about abandoned the heavy
guns for those Of smaller calibre, and have in
creased the number accordingly on each ship.
All powers seem to adhere strictly TO the theory |
that two smaller guns in a turfet are more vAlu-
able than one or great cAlibre, and in future
there viii probably be few ships mounted with
guns heavier than our l3-inch. the lesson Of the
Victoria accident having convinced England
that lighter rifles are NOR" eficacious on the