New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-03
PLENTY OF GUNS ON HAND
BOTH ARMY AND NAVY NOW WE'LL SUP
Piled


BY THE GREAT WORK ACCOMPLISHED IN
BRIEF TIME-No FEAR OF
SHORT SUPPLY OF POWDER
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuNE.l
Washington May 1.-The tremendous re-
sources Of the United States in the matter OF
war material have excited the greatest surprise
both at home and abroad. In the last six weeks
the Army has placed the entire coast defences
in excellent condition to repel foreign INVASION
besides preparing modern arms and artillery Tor
an army Of nearly two hundred thousand men,
while the Navy has put into fighting condition
no less than eighty auxiliary vessels without
any apparent excitement in the ordnance rae
tories 1t was announced some time ago that
the Army had purchased all the salable stores
OF desirable artillery in Europe. and IT Is known
that contracts are outstanding for at least two
hundred light artillery weapons which Will he
delivered by American firms within the next
three weeks at various points designated by the
military authorities.
The Navy has only a single ordnance factory
and although It has been working day and
night its production has been considered wholly
unequal to the demand. The Nays .nexhaust-
ible supply of guns has therefore caused great
surprise. 1t is not satisfied by explanations
offered to-day that the naval officers have been
exceedingly active IN Europe. but have pre-
served secrecy regarding their accomplishments
until all the materials they purchased
had been safely landed in this country. 1t ap-
pears that the chief Of the Naval ordnance Bu-
reau has secured over two hundred guns, most
Of them being G-pounders, but good number
being OF 3-inch calibre. Large quantities or
ammunition to fit them have also been safely
landed and are now being distributed to points
where they may he utilized. As rapidly as pos
sible slight nodifc itions will be made in these
guns to ohviate the necessity OF keeping special
ammunition for them. but many will be mount
ed at navy yards, where their ammunition VIII
not be confused with that Of other guns OF the
same bore.
In the recognized impossibility OF completing
the battle-ships Kearsarge. Kentucky. Alabama.
Illinois and Wisconsin within the next six
months some OF their 6-inch guns. Of which
each vessel was provided with fourteen. have
been utilized in arming the auxiliary cruisers.
Each of these vessels also mad sixteen 6-pound-
ers which have been put into service, and forg-
inCs have been ordered TO make good those
borrowed before the vessels completed and
ready for their armament.
NOT ALARMED BY RECENT EXPLOSIONS.
Ordnance officers declare that the recent ex-
pOsiCns at powder factories in California and
Jersey do not affect the supply OF Army
and Navy explosives in The slightest degree. the
destruction having been confined exclusively to
portions Of establishments making the ordinary
brown commercial powder. for which there VIII
be no use whatever in war. both the military
and naval services having abandoned the manu-
facture Of that kind of powder and substituted
the smokeess variety over a year ago No fear
is expressed that the smokeloss powder factories
Of the country will not be able 20 exceed any
possihle demand that the present will bring
forth. The manufacture of smokeless powder IS
not attended with any Of the great dangers IN
separable from the old fashioned article. and w
TO this time there has never been an explosion
in a smokeess- powder factory.
These explosions have brought out the re-
markable fact that United States ships now
at considerable disadvantage on account OF
the superiority Of Spanish powder. for although
the Army and Navy have adopted the smokeless
variety it has not yet been accumulated In large
enough quantities 70 be issued in service. while
large stores Of the old fashioned brown powder
were on hand, and 1t was not considered advis-
able 10 throw 1t away. In the next two or three
weeks however, all American vessels Will have
the new explosive which gives n much higher
initial velocity to projectiles than the brown
article and produces little no smoke.
Naval officers not alarmed over the
powder question. for the bombardmcnt Of Punta
GOrda battery, lear Matanzas several days ago
demonstrated that even the smaller ca!ibrc guns
Of the New York were tremendously destructive
at "A range Of seven thousand yards, and tacti-
clans agree that any naval combat must 10
fought with ships not over four thousand yards
apart In such An engagement the rapidly Of
fire. compelling the burning Of enormous quanu-
ties Of brown powder. VIII result In n dense
cloud Of smoke which must interfere seriously
with the accuracy OF fire and the man~uvrng
OF vessels. while the Spanlards. with their
smolSeless explosives will not be affected In this
way Nevertheless. the smoke which prevents
American officers from seeing them Will be
equally effective in shutting American vessels
out Of view Of the enemy. The matter is. at any
rate. largely speculative.
The foregoing dispatch was printed In part
OF yesterdays edition.