Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-15
THE MAKING OF ORDNANCE
REPORT OF GEN. BURLINGTON,
CHIEF OF THE BUREAU.
Discussion of Disappearing Gun Car
riages-Rapid-Fire Guns
on the Coast.

Inc report OF Gen. BuIIlllS ION, CAiei "a tAo
bureau of ordnance, has been made to the
Secretary of War. As some of the most In
terest.ng portions Of the report, dealing
with disputed points between the ordnance
bureau and the board of ordnance and for
tihcations. are contained in appendices,
which have not yet been made public, the
report is not SO interesting as expected
Among these features is that OF field guns
which is dismissed with paragraph stating
that the facts can be found in an appendix
The ordnance bureau was about to let the
contracts for 200 field guns, when the rec
concentration of the board of ordnance and
fortified tons was approved, holding up any
action for some months. 1t Is in connection
with field ordnance that agent Of the
government has obtained what he alleges is
the secret of the French field gun, and
which it is proposed shall be tested by this
government.
Disappearing Gun Carriage.
Another controversy is that relating to
the disappearing gun carriages. whose fur
Their manufacture has been decided against
by the board of ordnance and fortitica-
tons. Gen. Burlington discusses the history
of this carriage. showing that it was or
6ored by the Endicott board and the Secre-
tary of War. Gen. Burlington says:
There was at the time no disappearing
carriage known TO the WOrlQ winch SallS-
fed fully the requirements, and 1t Is in
ferred that the highest military authority
deemed that the disappearing principle.
was of such paramount Importance or SO
peculiarly desirable that it must be adopt
ed, and that suitable carriage would ulti-
mately be forthcoming for it.
1T was. therefore, presented to the ord
nance department as a problem to I've solved,
and the present service carriage is the best
solution it has been able to find. So far as
experience has gone, 1t has worked well.
and In fact much more satisfactorily than
was anticipated. 1t is presumed, however,
tina, the question raised involves the disap-
peEring system Itself, and the severe
quirements it imposes upon the carriage
builder. 1t challenges the necessity for
such protection to the gun. its carriage and
men, and suggests an open rampant car
riage simpler in function and, therefore,
sin. pier in design and perhaps capable of
quicker action and more rapid fire.
The department Is not by any means
welded to the disappearing system. 1t
cepted 1t from higher authority as con-
dition to which it was required to conform,
but is ready to take up from the proper
authority any other system and devote
Its energies to making 1t successful. 1t has
already provided the balanced pillar mounts
for 5-inch guns, and Is making similar ones
for 6-inch guns. and is prepared to take
into consideration forms Of pedestal or pill
lar mounts for still larger calibers. or car
riages of non-disappearing barbette type,
as may seem best"
There has been great deal of discussion
over the so-called 'pom-pom guns, one
Founders. They have been used in the
South African war, but no official opinion
has been received regarding them. Two
batteries of 6-inch guns each have been
ordered, and as soon as completed will be
sent to the Philippines.
Rapfd-Fire Sea Coast Guns.
Many rapid-f1re sea-coast guns are mount
ing. These consist Of and 6-inch and 10
Founders The Driggs-Seabury Company
has delivered fifty-seven 15-pounders and
twenty 6-pounder guns. but General Buff
fngton says that the failure Of the COM
pany to deliver 15-pounder guns and car
rlages under their two contracts with the
government, has caused serious delay. A
similar complaint is made about the Brown
segmental wire guns. and attention is in
yited to an appendix for particulars.
The report says that heretofore there has
been little use for the mountain guns, but
upon acquisitions from the Philippines all
the mountain guns on hand together with
two 6-inch batteries were purchased and
sent to Manila. There was also a demand
for small caliber machine guns, and quite
a number have been purchased and sent to
the Philippines.
Contracts have been made for Isl 900
pounds of smokeless powder, of which SO0-
900 pounds were for the use Of sea-coast
guns and mortars. 1t is believed that the
difficulties encountered last year have been
overcome, and that the new powder will
prove satisfactory.
Heavy Guns Completed.
During the year there were completed
the following heavy guns: Ten 10-inch
rifles, twenty-four Pinch rifles; thirty
eight Pinch mortars, making total of
such heavy guns now ready for our de-
lenses of 65S. Work on the 16-inch rifle
has been retarded because larger furnace
was needed.
There has been accepted during the year
$3.50 armor and deck-piercing projectiles.
Concerning tests at Sandy Hook, General
Burlington says, that experiments have
been made for shells with wet gun cotton.
thorite. jovite No. 2, corberite and with
explosives Of the lyddite and ammonia
nitrate classes 1t Is necessary to have an
explosive which will be safe in the gun and
in storage, compound which Is still an OBJ
ject of pursuit. Experiments to detect
flashes of smokeless powder, proved tnef-
fectual. Five patterns Of field carriage.
with controlled recoil. have been tried and
none found wholly satisfactory.
Out of appropriations of so, 1896. 1888, the
bureau has expended $16,240. 7s5.