Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1898-06-24
RAp1D-F1RE GUNS.
Success OF the Japnnese Against the
Chinese Largely Due to These
Terrible DcstrOyers.

Admiral Ito's squadron was we'll
equipped with rapid-tire guns, while the
Chinese had none. In the battle of Yalu
each squadron mounted about 80 slow
fire medium-caliber guns from 6-inch
krupps to Al inch Armstrong;, but in
addition the japanese had no fewer
than &C rapid-tire guns. Some 25 heavy
guns of s, 10 and l2-inch caliber, were
mounted on the Chinese ships, but
they were of little account in the battle,
for of 400 shots fired from them only ~
were hits. The Chinese battleship Ting
Iuen was attacked by Il torpedo boat
and sunk, her lack of rapid-tire guns
making the contest very unequal one.
But the Chinese trained their medium
caliber slow-fire guns on the torpedo
boat after she had fired the torpedo,
with such good effect that she was
found floating in the harbor the next
morning. She had been hit six times,
one of the shells smashing a steam
pipe. Some of the men in the boat were
frozen to death, and the other members
of the crew We're scalued to death.
The Yaiu engagement demonstrated
the value Of rapidtire guns. Ship after
ship Of the Chinese fleet opened fire at
long range with the heavy guns, but
the japanese ships stood straight on I'M
til within 1900 yards Of the enemy,
when they turned in succession eight
points to port and opening with broad
sides from their siN-inch AMI 4.7-inch
rapid-fre guns they poured in hail of
steel, Kidding the upper parts of the
superstructures CT the Chinese ships.
The water was lashed to foam by the
shells which, ricocheting, inflicted most
of the hits. The japanese fired three
or four times as fast as the Chinese,
cutting down all who were on deck.
Officers were killed at their posts by the
deadly rapid-fres, and none of the
men could be forced on deck even at
the muzzle of the pistol. The Yank Wei
was riddled by 4.7-inch shells, and the
two heavy battleships, Ting Yuen and
Chen Yuen, each had 200 shot marks.
The European officers were astonished
at the havoc wrought to men and ships
by the rapid-fire guns.
Since the war in the east the princi-
pal navies of the world have been rap
idly supplied with rapid-fire guns.
SIowfre guns have been dismounted
and converted into quick-fre guns by
demonstrating the breech mechanisms.
England and France have led in the
Armstrong; and Canet devoting al
most their entire attention to their de-
ve!opment. The navy department has
spent millions of dollars for rapid-tire
guns during eight or nine years they
have been in use in this country, but
the navy still greatly needs Il better
equipment of these guns. Some of the
battleships and cruisers have no rapid
fire guns larger than G-pounder. The
Kearsarge and Kentucky, each with
IA 5-inch rapd-fre guns, will be the
first of the battleships to be adequately
equipped with the type of gun to be
found on the best ships of the British
and French navies.
Just now the navy department is pay
ing special attention to the mounting
of rapid-fre guns on the auxiliary and
mosquito fleets. The rapid-fire arma-
ment of these fast boats will make them
of greater value in repelling torpedo
boat attacks on the North Atlantic
squadron, and will meet the emergency
needs of the navy for torpedo-boat de-
stroyers.
The amount allotted by the war and
navy department for the purchase of
rap:d-fire guns since the Havana har-
Dor disaster is considerably more than
$1,00O,0O0. The Observation-Disclosures COM
pany OF England will receive 100000
for army guns, principally of 4.72-inch
caliber, already shipped; the American
Ordnance company, Of Bridgeport, is
working on an order of $125 900 for
small-caliber guns, and the Driggs-Sea-
bury Gun and Ammunition company,
of Derby, Conn.,, is working on an or
der of S225,00G for so 6-pounder semi
automatic naval guns to fire 40 shots
minute. The army ordnance bureau
has also let contracts for the manufac-
ture of 20 6-pounders and IS 12-pound-
ers, or 3-inch rapid fire guns. The new
contracts will amount to about $500, 900.
Chicago Times-Herald.