The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-05-29

5-inch rifles the weight OF a cartridge.
containing powder and shell, Is ABOUT W
pounds. The cartridge resembles on a
large scale an ordinary revolver cart
ridge and Is placed in the chamber by
one man. When fired the gases act on
the cartridge shell and do not, OF course
cor-ode the chamber. thus rendering
%sponging unnecessary and thereby saw
ing a great deal Of time. BY using hNed
ammunition about five rounds a minute
can be fred without effort. Inc
reason this quick-firing principle Is not
applied to larger guns Is that a cart
ridge containing powder and shot I'm one
piece for any rifle over five incnes In
calibre would be too heavy for n man
20 handle conveniently. and the employ
ment OF two men for loading. by inter-
fering with the operations Of other
members Of the gun crew, such as clos
ing the breech, training, elevating ana
sighting. would prevent the rspidity OF
fire whichit is the object Of lxed ammu-
milton 20 get.
The 5-inch gun weighs 1900 pounds. the
projectile weighs 60. and the powder 80
pounds. The 4-inch gun is also rapid
firing. II weighs 800 pounds. fires a
p-ojectile Of 80 pounds with Is pounds OF
powder. Such IS tho tremendous rapid
ity OF fire which can be obtained by the
dexterous use Of these guns that on me
proving grounds the 5-inch nred nve
rounds in - seconds and the 4l1ci I've
rounds In II seconds. This Is a remark
able record. but a record under the
most ~favOring conditions. Good service
in action would be four OF five rounds
a minute. There IS a 3-inch field gun
which Is in use. but It really comes I'M
der the head OF an army gun may
therefore DO dismissed from discussion
here.
Then come the machine guns, which
play an important part in naval engage
ments. The calibre of the new machine
guns Is the same as that adopted Tor the
new small arm-the Lee rifle. viz. .I56 Oh
an inch. The muZzle velocity obtained
from these guns IS over 900 toot'sec,
onds. and their steel-covered bullets VIII
niece half an inch OF mild steel or TWEEN
ty inches OF oak at moderate range
While the weapons Of modern ordnance
have improved tremendously In recent
years I'm range. accuracy or IRE anu
uenetration. yet the lumber carried pN
n modern battleship IS very slightly less
thon the number carried by On old shlp
~ the line. The necessity Of carrying
very heavy gun for piercing the atilo.
OF an enemy has resulted IN placing vu'
four Of these glns on = ship. But ms
s-ocordarv battery must be taken into
account. and it win be found that me
usual battery OF a frst-class battlesnlp
has from a 20 20 guns. Thus the IN
diana the Massachusetts. and the Ore
co, each carry -four l3-inch, eight S-inch'
fopr c-inch. twenty 6 FOUNDERS six l.
nornders and four machine gums. on
fortv-slx guns in all. throwing Gc'
mounds OF metal AZ each d-iscnarge WIZ
= total muzzle energy OF over 10000 foot
tons a force CAPABLE Of lifting the BAT
tIeship herself twenty feet in the ar II
annliel In the right direction and 20 the
best lifting instead OF to tho pest de-
structive advantage.
Just what IS the most odvahtagell
armament for ships Of different tohla5e
and varied protection 70 carry ,
be told by tho practcal TEST Oh W."
New York Sun.