The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-27
ARMOR FOR OUR WARSHIPS.
ruE DISPUTE OYER THE COST DE-
vJy0 WORK on NEW VHSBEL5.

.,u,,r.I o,Neil Says He Can Contract for
amor at the Price Fixed by Congress.
So, II Would Not lie the Best-Must
nav. the Best, He Says, That Can BE Got.
v,sursoroN Oct. 26.-"It 10 quito evident
A., Tho building OF armored ships OF war must
IN he discontinued by this Government until
Az. ,s1ed questions OF the source OF supply
"a cost OF armor are disposed OIL says Rear
,Iriral Charles ONeil. Chief OF the Naval
n,roau OF Ordnance. in his annual report Oh
~. 90 500, 124 estimated by Admiral O'Neil
a., ordnance work and supplies during the
s.,,, YEAR ending June 30, 1901. S4.OOO.oOo Is
tor the armor and armament OF war vessels al
,..dv authorized by Congress.
Tho amor situation at present 10 as follows:
rha contracts for the Koarsarge and Kentucky
nave been completed. Armor is now oeins
.nr ,,ctured for the battleships Alabama. Hi
-. and Wisconsin. There remains to be de-
uO.,.d for these vessels. 800 tons for the Ala
Ina 255 tons for the Illinois and 394 tons
~. ,ho wisconsin, a total OF 24S1 tons. Of
Az. .mount about 900 tons will probably be
s.Wv.r.d during the next six weeks The
80 oontracts for these vessels will probably
-. ,ompleted by Jan. ] or thereabouts
ri. above contracts were not made until
,,,. 1904 one year and nine months after
IN. v.ssels had been contracted for. The de-
law u,s due to the fact that Congress had lin
"a ~. nr,ce which might be paid to $500 per
Az. =, vhich price no bids could be obtained
whan nv subseauent action. Congress raised
On. limit OF price to $40o ton. contracts were
a, oncs made for armor for these vessels on
that basis.
"B, January, 1900" Admiral O'Neil says.
-,hs contracts should be made Tor the armor
,or the three vessels OF the Maine class. 10
dsfsr IL longer will most likely delay the COM
ni.t,on ~ the vessel beyond tho contract date.
.rmor q, GOOD quality can be bought. pro-
sumably for $500 per ton. unless the rise In the
nrI,e a, mig iron may affect this. as all
othsr branches OF the steel industry Such
amor as can probably be procured for
s4OO per ton Is not the best armor
thu. oau be made. and hence Is not
.ri,,ble for the vessels in question.
Armorplates OF very hne quality; having great
noWer OF resistance. can be and frequently are
made Of nickel steel treated by the ordinary
process OF supercar bonizaton. but the man
ufacturers will not guarantee them to stand
baIlastlc test beyond certain point, there being
TOO much uncertainty in the process OF manu-,
facture to warrant it, With the so.cailed
Krupp process treatment can be carried on
much higher baastic properties can be guar
anteed In the, krupp plate the mar
densd face s thicker and the pate at his Is
immunity from cracking under numerous
heavy impacts The manufacturers consider
being manufactured FOR the Department and
less quantity can be turned out In gwen time
than Of the present srmor. To continue the
use OF ordinary face hardened armor. rather
than that made by the Krupp process. would.
in the opinion OF the Bureau. be inexcusable.
and would throw great discredit on the new
vessels OF the navy"
The bureau urges that the matter be laid
before Congress. as soon as 1t assemblies. and
that 1t be urgently requested to make such
provision In the early DAYS OF the session. by
Joint resolution or otherwise. as will enable the
Department to make contracts not later than
January. 1900. for the best quality OF armor
that can be obtained for the three vessels OF
the Maine class; also for the ak armored yes
sells authorized by the act, OF March 8. 1899.
removing the restriction there in contained.
contracted for until the armor therefor 10 con-
tracted for. and that limiting the price OF armor
TO $500 per ton for the vessels authorized by
The bureau considers 1t Incumbent upon 1t
to recommend the use OF the best armor that
can be procured for the new vessels; and that
to consent to the use OF any but the best with
out protest or an urgent appeal would be a
serious dereliction OF duty on its, part. and on
this account has not favored the, making, OF
srmor for. tho three vessels OF the Maine
class ,, u1n i the E,,n matter could again be
inconSeaience to the Governm ent or its inter-
ests has been caused by this del ay; hut, as
SsrSSusy stated s%oT for the above vessels
Il. after a further presentation OF the case
Congress decides to adhere to tbe present lin.
itation; the Department would probably be
fore and now being used. but will have the
consciousness OF having performed its duty In
the matter and will be free from further re.
Admiral ONeil expresses a favorable view o.
the proposition that the Army. the Navy and
the Marine Corps should have uniform calibrs
for their small arms.