Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-10

coIIows. Gun. 2O7 tons; cradle. 30 cwt!
cgrrioge q cwt.; shield, 10 cWl'' Dic. -, J.
Mate and rollers, tons; lenglh ol su".
H. feet inches: cOrdlte chaisV'y ~. ~,
total weight OF gun, mouhlihs' w. 49,
II IS an eminently adaptable weapon,
since il can fire either lyddlte' cviiil.i ne !,
she'll with base fuse OF shrapn0i 49,
time fuse. II fires direct AT the ldi q T.
at an elevation of only ntteen ue5ISt,.
where the hOwitZer fires not IN IibiiO
line. but from curve from on hlsh, III
other words the army gun iites az slt'ii
elevation. II has been aiLeadN s la.Iu
or over four and half miles Dut ~
carries, OF course much further, ana -
effective at six or seven miles, where az
at Ladysmth mo. T. may De- IN teiepi oHlp
communication with q balloon tthln ~.
Obseryat lions of the euect OF the hllhb "'a
the enemys position.
To the highly scientific but also 70 the
highly pratical Gunnery olhcers OF tnS
navy Of to-day the mounting as heiu
weapon of 47-inch guns does not present
the difficulties which seem lnsurmouhl-
able 20 civilians and oincers whose "'-
quaintance with the service is not or re-
cent date The gun 10 be mounted can
DO readily hOisted out OF a cruiser, al
most certainly with the gun metal cradle,
giving a total weight OF about Two tons
fourteen hundredwelght. II Is known that
preparations had been made ashore at
Durham and at Cape Town by parties OF
blue jackets. who had apparently rugged
up a suitable carriage from designs
by Captain Percy Scott From old anchor
iron 30 would not have been diihcult 70
build up a carriage probably. for screw
ing down into a stoutly built railway
truck
Before sending the weapon toward by
train, large. stout wheels. 10 substitute
for the small railway wheels. We're PROB
ably provided. On the carriage reaching
its destination these big wheels would be
quickly fitted 20 facilitate transport and
probably fitted at the rear OF the CARING
would b. attached two "spades' 70 cheek
the recou. This is merely "A theory az 10
the means which have been adopted by
Captain Percy Scott but IL has the virtue
Of not being the idea OF mere armchair
theOrlst II may, however, be IOund ina,
the carriage OF the gun was frmoNeu
from the ship and utilized In some way:
but this ~ hess likely, and expert naval
opinion nclines 10 the bellei that IN.
biacksmiths shop. with the reserve ol
mounting and other material that wouiH
be available at Durham and Sim0nstown'
backed ND by the Ingenuity or captain
scott and the undaunted labor on blue
Jackets ana artihcers. worked the mfaci,
OF fitting these powerful naVal weapons
To imprOv'sed carriages Tor service al
the front
And when mounted how would these
heavy guns be taken 10 The scene Of ac'
ton? Those who have seen blue jackets
at the military tournament. or AT CUR
drill ashore at one 81 the naval ports
will readily believe that they arc not
easily beaten whore anything is TO be-
drawn over the country az a smart pace
Every Jack Tar is muscular giant. anC
Is proud OF his strength. II Is a satisfac
tory fact that additional guns OF this
forty-hye-pounder type are available al
Durham and others have been sent from
| England. with quantity OF .lyddite shells
| 80 40 Sir Rodv,rs RUlles deems che use
! OF these weapons necessary. they VIII d
at hand. Meantime the efficiency OF I'M