New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-19
ORDNANCE IN THE NAVY
CAPTAIN ONEILLS REPORT ON THE EX-
PERIENCES OF THE WAR
1rLiMITABIE RESOURCES TOR SUPPLYING WAR
MATERIAL-orlCK WORK IN FURNISH
ING sMOXELEss POWDER


touched. ard unGuestonaby there is no limit 10
the amount that be procured OF all kinds in
case Of need. provided time is not too important a
factor"
This Is the statement. based on the experience Of
the recent war and with a fun knowledge OF the
subject. made by Captain Charles O'Neir. Chief Of
The Naval Bureau CT Ordnance. In his annual re-
mort 10 the Secretary CT the Navy covering the re-
rarkable achievements which have been recorded
10 the crodt OF mis- department during the last
year Guns projec;iies powder armor aud tor
pedoes are made by complicated processes. and
cannot any more be furnished IN a few days than
battie-shps can be suddenly mater!alzed or than
..;ne man behind the gun" be made proficient.
Contrary to the prevalent opinion at the begin
ming OF the war the Navy dd no; receive much
material for actual use from abroad. although
enough was bought 10 keep Spain from getting IT.
The extent Of the Nays foreign purchases was
surprisingly small. and has been summed up by
Cap...n ONein in a single sentence as follows:
OWING 20 he exgencies OF the war. number OF
minor alibre guns and some ammunition ior mem
and h few torpedoes were purchased abroad, but
q TACT any war material. except above quoted
was proc. 81 by the Bureau out OF the united
s,sics
ENORMOUS DEMANDS MET.
Yet ,abulated statements IN the report show
that batteries with ammunition were placed on lO'
auxiliary vessels purchased otherwise acquired
Is the Navy during the present year. in addition
% the enormous demands which had TO be met TO
keep tie regular warships OF Dewey's, SIMPSONS
and Sohiey's squadrons plentifuly supphed Tor
every emergency. These auxiliary vessels mounted
az aggregate Of 57s guns. Besides these TWO new
grnbosts and twelve new torpedo-boats had 10 be
armed since January last, and these bring me to-
IA up 10 II vessels supplied with munitions OF
war n the emergency. The main batteries CT
United States regular naval vessels now NUMBER
la brcech-loadng rifles and the secondary bat
ieries q these ships have lo2S weapons OF caAoFe
less than four inch. Captain ONen says;
Since the date Of last repor; L? guns OF various
ca.9res from 10 3 inch have been completed
.; the naval gun factory. VIZ sixteen finch, hfty,
WE'VE i3-inch ard thir,y-three 6-inch and two 8,
inch guns Of ordinary type have been converted
IhiTiy-seven 4-inch guns and mounts under con:
tract with private hrms have aso 9ef EN- bxa
inch, twenty j-.nch. twenty-siX 4-inch ana one .
While no material change has been made during
tho year in the general system Of construction Of
Prepared for fu:ure guns OK all Galore calculated 10
insure a much greater muzze energy than IS now
y se-v,ce The ms, q these new guns will be in.
stalled on board ne hatue-ships M2ine one ana
monitors authorized at the last session Of Con-
Tho VOL. on gun construction is well in advance
Of AL vessels auhorzed more so han Is inst upon
me he2v{ Gun n deIyorng stee! CO s,incs
therefor hut there is good ground for renewing
tha, all will be completed before the vessels them
The suns ana mounts and Their GRPgT!ensnces
cen, war and Il Is gratifying to be able TO report
that heir o mas MINOR defects in the
deals OF some Of the mounts for guns Of small
calibre developed and were quickly or are being
Reports have been received from the various yes.
& ssn 20 ,ebor Of them has been that guns
mounts turrets and ammunition worked well
structure as Is a battle-sh!p and its equipment is
certainly gratifying improvements are cons,ant.y
Y.o4~s, do nd eaCr =
predecessors in many details of her armament and
ss soon as the war became imminent orders were
given for large Quantities OF power proJec,ies 81
guns FOR secondary botsrsS and were
n tncyease their capacity All vessels OF the Navy
Mere hlled up with ammunition, even those on for
give supply were kept IN readiness 10 supply the
aes;: ,-. ..o. n,,.. ~, mining OUTFIT, n ,,rs.
numbers we're prepared ard issued. and launching
tubs &C. ror THE Covernment shops were
rso,t,red 10 work continuously. and by these means
an adequate supply Of war material OF all KINDS
The project 70 build seventy-hve torpedo boats,
u,rizirg most OF the bicycle and other machine
shoos Of the country and distributing the work
broadcast upon a plan proposed by EnglneeT-in-
Chief Melville abandoned only after Admiral
Dewey az the battle Of Manila Bay. had shown
that the Spanards could be whipped without much
trouble
LESSONS AS TO GUNS AND ARMoR
The lessons OF the war with Spain. as far as
pr. ard arrnor are concerned IS recorded by Cap
tain O'NeNl In the following statements;
While heavy guns IN turTe;s mus; be REGARDED de as
OF he chief chatacler!sucs OF , o ~
sh!ps tho lessons OF the day lhdlcate thal me
greatest execution except against me neaFlesl
g,,ne 81 email calibre mounted separai ey
armored classmates CT IN redouDt- . -, =.
sacIhce y space and weight TO accommodate and
= tire
CURED load and 70 rs ack OF iaeo .o,, q. e,,n
,o,dd',5n and The most extended arc Of train 70
he gun AFFORD no protection 10 the hul' the spsccs
yisy rom .he sighting hood IS limited; The heat Is
in,etse in warm climates the vrnUa,oh M Prba
,TScbtrsrv necessary 10 operate them is elaborate
Notwithstanding inesf sces1 h. he
Question as 10 the maximum cabio 10 De employer
IS suhtec, for serious o5rh A ioncht
Heret6fore the l5-inch rife Of 6o11 tons weight:
400 foo;-seconcs, with smokeless po~der. ana a
ea5a'ity 70 e{ Feaceiaened arinor at dis
lance Of 2 800 yards. has been reesTaed as Ine
we for the hG"%X 5sTe;ofore built exceptns The
I9..a which has l2-tnch cuns) nave oeeh equ'pPed
Tx sSeveormen; e The 12-inch gun has been 50
groa; and is power SO much ,lncaIot.er ., r,sl he
The MAXIMUM call6re thai II Will he advisable g
install o. future batt,esaipe and ma tnese snGlid
Sv,ck,Aring guns in classmates. win a secondary
ba'.e-v - G-VC1ird-rS ara 4--i'e uh.tiS., 1870 IT,.
~ .,4,,c,ior IN weight Of the Il .nch gun alone
is no. great. N-'nG but seven and nat IONS iesS
49,, &c nat ~ the present l3-i1ch gun but me re-
drc,ior On the size and consequently IN ne welshL
o. he ,urre,s barbettes and ammunition Is very
The thickness Of arnor hGTeof.r 20 ne 1sen Is
sSlrs ~ carried very heavy belt diagonal tur-
nd barbette armor more 40 than nov " b5 n
rrovnron,s recently made IN the quality 81 arino'
ana u tie recess!;y % distributing ProccIn
n rrea Ter a~ca of vessels sides thah mas kTle'p,
fore beon he prac.icc The bureau - ;herel.re 81
.ha o,t-to- .ba, Twelve inches is the rneHlhlu n
tb'clpess =, oyT1or fSat VIII hereafter be required