The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-24
THE NEW FRENCH ARTILLERY.
Napid-Ffring Field Pieces-Francs
said to BE Ahead of Germany in
the Artillery Race.
From De 1'emns-

From the Temps.
In regard to our new field pieces. the GO.
verest secrecy has been observed ard
when one thinks of the number of nerson,
connected with the study and with the 30.
luton of the problem, he can only feel
grateful to our artillerymen for their nru.
dence, which does them no less honor than
the powerful engine which they have in
vented. The recent visit of the war minis.
ter and of the chief of the general staff al
Chalons relieves nobody from the obliea-
ton of silence. 1t simply proves that tbs
question that has been so carefully stud-
led is now finally settled. Let us see how
this question was presented during tbe
past years and examine the genera plan
upon which that study was conducted
The invention of smokeless powder nro.
duced an immediate effect upon the rife.
IL increased the range and permitted a
ammunition of the caliber, which brought
OUT That modern type that is called the
magazine gun. But in the case of artillery
enormous expense was necessary in the
change from one system to another, in or
der to bring the smokeless powder for field
pieces into general use IT was used SIM
ply In our field pieces of 80, made to reI
slst the pressure of the old black powder,
and its only advantage was the absence
OF smoke, which, of course was favorable
LOT observation and the range of fire.
Nevertheless, the theoretic studies were
advancing. The artillervmen didanced for
a time in this duel, which tor fifty years
has been going on between the bullet and
the shell, were preparing a field piece TO
beat the rife. To the new conditions pro-
duced by smokeless powder was added the
necessity of reducing the calibre, and con-
sequently Tightening the engine This eff
Tort to get lighter cannon, and conse-
quently more movable one, Is always
nouced after periods of long peace. That
is the idea to which we owe the invention
OF rapid-firing guns. 1t was the result of
the recent progress realized in naval artil-
lery. Everybody knows that the guns on
board warships must be fired rapidly, be-
cause the objects travel a great speed On
the other. hand, the york of these rapid
hrlng guns ts simpliied by the fixed base
furnished by the deck of, the vessel. The
recol may be completely checked and ths
piece automatically put in battery By
means of Intern n1ary springs supported
upon this fixed base.
1t viii, of course, always be an immense
advantage for field artillery to be able to
produce its destructive effects in a small
space OF time; in other words to become
'apld-hring artillery. But inasmuch as
I hres upon Wheels" it Is without the
supports that render the problem easy
,or naval artillery. To fire rapidly 1t 10
necessary that the pointing of the guns
must be preserved from one shot to the
'ther. The gun, carried backward by thd
'ecoil, must of itself return precisely 10
he place which is occupied before the de-
onation. Such a result could only be ob
aimed by specially arranged carriage.
Two different systems of gun carriages
ave been tried. One consists in lmme-
ilately absorbing the force of the recoi
" support in the ground like SORT
II spade This first invention was TIL
me which the Germans adopted, unfortu.
lately for them, in the construction Or
helr new field artillery. The second
ystem consists in the employment Of
arriage running upon a long track. Upon
his track there are intermediary springs.
which diminish the force of the recoil and
lnally bring the gun back to its Original
POSITION.
Such, in substance appears to be the
ype of the carriage upon which this new
apid-hring French field gun is operatd'
he details of its construction, Of cours"'
~ StAiClly secret, ana IL is Only ny Vim
arison that one can get an Approximate
lea of Il.
This delicate piece Of machinery belong
lg TO the gun carriage is only one OIL
undred improvements which distinguish
he new gun. The entire progress real
.ed makes it a .ballistic affair as MUGS
uperlor 10 the rifled cannon as the laIt,'
as to the old smooth-bore. A new ne!H
therefore,. is opened for artillery, ana ho-
ody can foresee the effect Of this chanso
pom tactics and upon the methods OF NJ
~. 1t should be observed that no maj
ar how perfect a weapon may be- II re-
lains. according TO Cicero simply pro-
'ngation of the limbs of the soldier INV
lechanical qualities OF the engine mean
ut little In themselves. In order TO COM
lete them they must be blended as
ere, with the human qualities OF the -
'nnel This apprenticeship OF the suhhss
1mmences to-day, when the work 81 J
'ientiiic man Is finished. our arilisg
zen will require new and long unlnn71ii
Is only upon thai point thar we
3 able 10 maintain the advantage W.
q have Ia artillery over the resi- o. 81 r