New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-28
NEWS OF THE NAVY.
THE RECENT SUCCESSFUL TEST OF
JOHNSON CAST STEEL SHOT

INTO EIGHT PIECEs-THE NAVAL WAR COL
LEGE's INTERESTING PROGRAMMED
NAVAL. CAMPAIGN TO DE WORKED
OUT IL ALL ITS BRANCHES.
.BY 1ErEGpApH THE TRl35xrt
WASHINGTON. May 27.-The Naval Bureau of Ord
nance has received exceedingly interesting re-
port OF the results OF tho recent test az indian Head
OF johnson cast-steel shot, which seems fully 70
Justify the assertion that domestic projectles OF this
kind can be successfully employed In attacking
heavy armor Naval ordnance experts are much
pleased at the report Of the trials owing TO the
fact that cast-steel shells be manufactured for
about one-third less than forged projectiles' ana
that within certain limits the former are nearly, II
not fully as effective az the latter In the course
NJ the experiments to which the report relates three
shells Of the 10-lnch type were fired from nign-
mower rife Of the same calibre at heavy modern
armor In the first round the shot was discharged
against a l2-lnch Harveyized nicke'-steel plate
which hal been formerly attacked Dy oo,n Johnson
and Carpenter sheils The plate was distant from
the muzzle Of the gun 800 feet The line OF fire was
virtually normal The point OF Impact The she'll
weighed 500 pounds The charge Of powder was
III 2 pounds giving striking veOcty Of LOO feet
a second and n striking energy OF 1851 foot-tons
The shot struck the plate normally thlrty lhches
from the bottom and eighteen inches from the .ett
edge The penetration was as inches crack In
the Plate from the left edge 10 the potion was ue-
veloped and an old crack In the plate was opened
out to a maximum width OF seven inches The left
edge of the plate and the backing were forced to
the rear about twenty inches at the bottom and
eleven inches at the top. The ue-rods, bents anc
wooden checks were displaced. The upper edge OF
the plate was sprung ont two inches from the back
ing The shell considerably broken up. The
largest piece OF IL recovered weighed nineteen anu
ha.f pounds.
Before beginning the second round Soft CYL
inlrlcai steel cap five inches in diameter three ard
one-half inches long and Weighing ton and naif
pounds secured to the point OF tie shell by strong
screws. The charge Of powder and the resulting
striking velocity and striking energy were the Same
as In the first round The same plate was USED as
4 target The proJectlle struck the plate about
twenty-five inches from the bottom and twelve
inches to the left Of the II penetrated TO with
In three inches OF the backing. breaking the pate
into eight principal pieces. some Of the heaviest Of
which were thrown a considerable distance 10 the
renr OF the target by the force OF the impact. The
WRECK Of the plate was complete. and the whole
structure was seriously damaged The shot Itself
was broken into many fragments, but II had sue
cessfully accomplished its purpose. Pieces OK the
shell were picked up behind the plate, In the rear
OF the wreckagc OF the backing. The po,St OF the
shell was recovered undeformcd. but deeply scored.
having broken OF nearly in the plane OF the holes
made 10 receive the cap screws. The ogiVai broke
into several pieces. but its shape remarei good.
The largest fragment Of the shell recovered weighed
forty-two pounds.
In the third round the firing was directed asains.
one OF the Monadnock's eleven and one-ha.f inch
curved plain nickel-s,eel plates TIE plate was dis
,ant from the gun 32j feet. The charge OF powder
vas 1884 pounds giving an increased striking We
ioclty Of 800 fOot-secOnds, ana striking energy
81 7ss foot-tons The shell. which weighed O2
pounds struck the plate twcniyfour inches from the
top and forty and one-haf inches from the right
edge II went through the plate. the backing and
the twelve-inch oak strut and through about ten
fee, OF earth 200 feet in rear OF the structure The
shell was recovered and found to be entire and IN
cracked Il was only slightly reduced in length ana
only a little set up" The plate wss cracked from
top to bottom. and badly broken about the shot
hole.
The programme Tor this years course at the
Naval War College is IN many respects the most
Interesting and important Of any yet mapped out
FOR that institution. Preparations for the course
have been completed, and the class is TO assemble
at Newport June r. The class Will Include twenty
commissioned officers OF the Navy Of this country
and two representatives OF the Swedish Navy. The
instructors have been selected on account OF tnslr
special fitness FOR the duties 10 De- performed. Be
Sides Commander Taylor. the aoe commanding ON
Ger ~ the college. me lecturers WI include On
inlnder Stockton, Leutenants bunker an1 XII
Wer,nc Sors TSe , % VII as, for about three
and q h1if months uu.e,s emergencies should arise
posing The class The subjects to be discussed are
such as are essential TO tho higher education OF
naval officers They will embrace international .aw
maritime interests OF ,he country. strategy. coast
defence. torpedo warfare. electricity as applied to
warfare steam engineering. types OF ships their
supplies. ration!ng and hygiene Of ships and fleets
naval tactics and variety Of kindred topics The
discussion Of the subjects viii be supplemented by
practical work with vessels. charts and field ex-
ercses and researches among the authoritative
works on questions arising during the course.
1t is proposed by Commander Taylor that the
governing principle Of the course shall be a prac-
sideratlon during the whole college term. Each
end Of the summer session. The lectures. practical
exercises and personal examinations are 80 ar
learned will better enable officers Of the Navy 10
Wick may p'S arise Every conceivabe outgrowth Of
the general subjects mentioned which would come
a signal to leading IN attack or rcpelllng an ns-
sault. will be considered. Manning. Offering and
fighting fleets repairing damaged vessels and i'm
promising rams, how best 10 keep ready for speedy
action. care OF wounded. the taking and keeping
OF the best strategica points. laying and protect
i tb nrmy and nav" roserYe and other Guesions
important to naval commander In time OF war are
The problem prepared by Commander Taylor for
October /. The problem IS divided into three chief
assumes that The enemy's fleet mask SANDY Hook
entrance with a force OF six vessels OF the line,
ten heavy cruisers, six scouts and ten torpedo
boats The scout vessels watch GARDENERS Bay.
At Halifax the enemy Is supposed TO have further
Boston and New York: with The latter place as The
ultimate objective The liailfaX iorce Is 10 saii
from TINT port on November 10. II will consist or
ten vessels of the line. twenty heavy cruisers.
twenty torDcdO-hoats, ten dynamite and scout
boats: also q corps OF 10000 men OF all arms In
transports. Excepting some local defences at New
York the entrance 10 the Chesapeake and else
where the entire force OF this country is TO con-
stat of Ave vessels OF the line. five heavy cruisers,
ion light cruisers one ram five scouts two dyna-
mite vessels and ten torpedo boats. which assemble
in Or rGner's Bay This force Is TO be organized
and ready for action November TO- Later the
enemy's force at Halifax gains touch with his fleet
off New York II then proceeds TO Nnrragansett
Rnv and, after moving on Stonington and Groton,
occupies Fishers Island. Now begins the war
The class by the aid OF the lectures. ctica work
and discussions at the college. Will tight The
nrobem Ia rich in features and conditions which
mvst be mot in actual warfare. and Comma ndcr
IA vor and his assistants have given much and
study 70 the preparation OF 1t.