The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1898-10-26
LESSONS OF THE WAR.

LE0SONS Of TIE WAN
The Greatest Execution Was Performed
by the Quick-Firing Guns-E Electricity
Much Superior to Steam for Manipula-
ting Turrets, Operating Gun Machinery,
Etc.
Washington, Oct. 20.--The naval ord
nance bureau was one of the busiest
branches of the naval service during
the war and the annual report of Capt.
Charles O'Neill, chief of ordnance, to
the secretary of the navy recounts the
accomplishments of the bureau in that
time.
He shows that so far the naval ord
nance factory has turned out 620 main
battery guns, while during the past
year 112 guns of calibers from to 13
inches have been completed. New de-
signs have been prepared for the guns
of the future and they will afford a
much higher velocity than the present
types. The first of these guns will be
placed on the battleships Maine, Ohio
and Missouri, and on the four harbor
defense monitors to be built. Capt.
O'Neill says the guns and mounts in
service were severely tested during tho
war, and their performance was salts
factory.
The preparations made for war are
described by the chief, beginning With
the period when war was regarded az
imminent. All vessels of the navF
were filled with ammunition, even
those on foreign stations, and supply
vessels laden with a reserve supply
were kept in readiness to supply the
fleets. Gun cotton mines and launch
ing outfits were prepared in large
numbers and the government shops
were working continuously. Batter
les were placed on 1O7 auxiliary YES
sells requiring 576 guns, while SO guns
were placed on 10 regular naval yes
sells, yet more could have been sup
piled by the bureau had they been re-
quired.
Electricity has demonstrated its
superiority to every other form OF
power for the manipulation of turrets,
hoisting ammunition and operating
gun machinery. The guns so operated
can be more speedily and accurately
laid on the object to be hit; there Is
no danger from bursting pipes, nor is
the temperature raised as with steam.
The bureau does not consider the j.
FOUNDER gun as of any appreciable
value in the economy of a battleship
or large cruiser, and will substitute
for them on torpedo boats about to be
built the 3-pounder semi-automatic
guns. When automatic guns work well
they are ideal, but when anything
goes wrong with them the difficulty
cannot be quickly remedied.
The bureau is of the opinion that
uniform caliber and standard small
arm cartridge should be adopted for
the army, navy and marine corps, and
also the militia.
Capt. O'Neill notes that in no case
has there been any attempt at extor-
ton on the part of the numerous bus
mess concerns with which the bureau
has dealt, nor any disposition shown
to take advantage of the unusual
needs of the government.
AS one of the lessons of the war,
Capt. O'Neill says: "While heavy
guns in turrets must be regarded as
one of the chief characteristics OF
modern battleships, the lessons of the
day indicate that the greatest execu-
ton Except against the heaviest
armor) may be expected from num-
Der of quick-fring guns OF small cal
iber, mounted separately in armored
easements or in a redoubt."
He recites that the weight of big
guns, making them slow to fire and
aim, the heat and restricted quarters
in turrets and the lack of ventilators
are arguments in favor of the smaller
gun mounted as he suggests, and says:
Notwithstanding these drawbacks,
heavy guns in turrets must be regard
ed as necessity, but the question as
to the maximum caliber to be employ
ed is subject for serious considera-
ton, and one upon which the bureau
has bestowed much thought"
He says that up to this time the 49,
inch gun has been regarded as the best
type for a battleship, but the develop
ment of the 12-inch gun has been so
great and its power so much increased
that the bureau is of the opinion that
hereafter it will be the maximum cali
ber, supplemented by an auxiliary
battery of 6-inch quick-fring guns in
cases, with secondary battery Of 6
and 12 Founders.
The reduction of weight in the r.
inch guns as compared with the 13-
inch guns is not great, being only
seven and a half tons, but the reduc-
ton in size and consequently in the
weight of the turrets, barbettes and
ammunition is very great.