The times., 1898-06-12
OUR BIG GUNS LoNa-LIvED.
This Is Already Demonstrated by
the Present War.
(From the New York SUM-

the Present War.
(From the New York SUM-
Naval Ordnance Bureau reports from
the officers on board the battIeships
and monitors in the West Indies speak
in the highest terms of the behavior of
the heavy guns mounted on these ships.
Not one of the big guns has exhibited
any signs of weakening. although some
of them have already been fired more
times than foreign ordnance experts ex-
pected they could be fired with safety.
American naval officers, who know
how guns are made down at the Wash
ington gun factory. confidently predict
that every gun in SIMPSONS fleet will
outlive the war, unless put out Of ac-
ton by the enemy.
Since the war began a deal of nom
sense has been printed about the life
of big guns. as the result of which the
general opinion held among persons
who have not the opportunity TO learn
the truth is that one of the peace
makers on the Oregon, for example
gun which hurls half ton of steel
Through thirty-three inches of wrought
ironLcannot be depended upon TO stand
the strain of more than hundred fir
ings, and may even go to pieces much
sooner. 1t is not difficult TO discover
the origin of the hundred firings" fall
lacy. Ii Is the same as that of some
other similar ones.
Not long ago a book was published
in England on Modern Naval Artil-
lery," in which was described the man
ufacture OF heavy ordnance at the
ElSutpk '.2ra SGaV'S .
Naval Annual" the leading authority
in Europe on naval statistics. declared.
at the time the book came out that
there was no better authority on the
subject OF the life of big guns. and
quoted from it this statement: 1T is
generally understood that the life of
the 67-ton gun may be taken at 120
rounds and the 110-ton goun at IS
rounds, both with full charges" And
Capt. Orde Browne, the English ord
nance expert adds: THE number of
rounds which a heavy gun will fire
before becoming unserviceable is un-
fortunately very small.
England's failure 10 produce service
able heavy guns on the hoop principle
is notorious. The ridiculous behavior
of the 110-ton guns on the Benbow.
Sans Pareil and the ilI-fated Victoria,
which so sagged at the muzzles after
a few firings that they had to be re-
turned to the factory, created the popu-
lar impression that the big guns were
unit for war. And the experience
the Krupps. reputed TO be the world s
greatest gunmakers, has been similar
Visitors TO the Chicago Fair remember
the uGly-looking l20-ton gun exhibited
there by the Krupps. Gen. Nelson A.
Miles took look at this monster when
he was abroad two years ago. He was
told that 1t had been fired sixteen times
and for-fear of knocking IL apart it
wouldn't be fired again. England has
discarded the 'hooped" gun for the
wire wound. and English factories no
longer make the type of gun mounted
on all our. fighting ships.
We began making modern guns only
ten years ago, the armament of the
first cruisers of the white squadron
having been bought abroad. Just eleven
years ago this month. the first contracts
for gun forgings of modern construc-
ton We're let TO the Bethlehem Iron
/ Company. We began the manufacture
| of the, very, type OF guns about TO be
discarded abroad. Since that contract
was let, we have built gun factory at
the Washington navy yard. where have
been built all the heavy guns on our
battleships, monitors and fighting
I cruisers Americans do not generally
know it, but it is a fact. undisputed
by foreign experts who have studied
gunmakfng In this country that the
| Washington gun factory turns out the
finest '.,hooped'' guns in the world-far
superior TO Krupps'-and. in fact, the
only heavy naval guns of this type
which will stand the strain of long
service.
Just how long our big naval guns
may be expected to live is a matter of
opinion for none of them has died yet.
Not one of them has ever even broken
down in service. One of the Mianto-
nomoh's 10-inch guns now waiting for
a chance to sink an enemy's ship, has
had about as severe test as any of the
big guns in the Navy, for the gun was
one of the first turned out of the gun