The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-05-10
A SOFT. NOSED PROJECTILE
IA CTS REGARDING THE WONDER
FUL 4RMOR PIERCING SHE'LL.

FUL ARMOR PIERCING SHE'LL.
Admiral O'Nelli, of the Navy Ordinanc'
Bureau, Sends N 10 smation to the Sen.
ate-RenlIy No Secret About It-Navy
sExperImented with IL for Years
Piercing Power Not Exaggerated
Washington, May 9-Again to-day
the senate discussed in secret session
the mysterious projectile with which the
navy department has been experiment
ing on armor plate The publication in
this mornings papers of the details of
the secret session held yesterday, in the
course of which Mr.. Tillman of South
| Carolina laid before the senate informa-
| ton he had received al the navy de-
partment concerning the armor-pierc-
ing projectile that had played such
havoc with the best armor tested at the
government proving grounds at Indian
Head, convinced many senator's of the
futility of attempting by secret sessions
to keep information from the public.
However, while Mr. Tillman was ex-
planning to the senate to-day what he
desired to accomplish by the secret ses-
sion yesterday, another Secret session
was moved, the senate preferring to
hear the senator's explanation behind
closed doors.
After the galleries had been cleared
Mr.. Tillman reiterated substantially the
statement concerning the Indian Head
tests Of armor plate which he made yes
terday. He pointed out the effective
ness of the projectile tipped with point
of soft seel against the armor tested,
and used that fact as an argument
against the payment by the govern
ment of what he termed monopolsric
prices. He dwelt upon the vulnerability
of the best known armor-including the
Krupp armor-against the projectiles.
He arraigned the navy department for
making public yesterday the details Of
a test Of armor with six-inch gun, in
which one of the "soft-nosed" projec-
tiles pierced the plate almost as 1t would
have pierced oak, declaring his belief
that the test had been made public for
the effect 1t might have on the senate In
the debate.
Mr.. Chandler felt that the navy de-
partment had not dealt frankly with
the senate in respect to the informa-
tion regarding the tests. Mr.. EIoar dis
cussed the subject briefly, depracatng
the evident inability of the senate to
keep its secrets and criticising the navy
department for publishing information
withheld from the senate. After some
brief discussion 1t was decided that, in
asmuch as the salient facts had been
publisehd, the armor plate matter
might as well be discussed in open ses-
sion.
1t was pointed out that there really
was no secret about the soft-nosed pro-
jectle, as the navy department h d
been experimenting with the projectlla
for years Later in the day commu-
nication was submitted to the senate
by Mr. Hale from Rear Admiral O'Neill,
chief of the bureau of ordnance Of the
navy departments in which was de-
scribed minutely the effect of the pro-
jectie In question upon various kinds
of armor. 1t was shown that The pro-
iectile which Is a solid steel shot, not a
shell carrying an explosive charge,
would pierce the best of armor when the
conditions of the tests were perfect in
every particular, but only In such con-
ditions
The memorandum said in part: mo
armor that exists to-day, regardless Of
Its thickness or equality, can resist the
power of the modern gun at short range.
Therefore, the fact that armor can be
readily perforated at short range must |
not be considered an indication that 1t
Is of inferior quality 1t simply means
hat II Is overmatched by the gun. |
Naturally, that which is the most diff
,ult to perforate la the most desirable" |
All tests of armor, the memorandum |
states, are made with uncapped projec- |
lies and are exceedingly severe. The
adds ut Is well known |
act that a soft steel cap attacked to the
)ont of an armor-p piercing projectile
Increases it's efficiency to marked ex-
ent anywhere from fifteen to twenty
md often to twenty-five per cent, and |
I'll such projectiles for the UNITED |
States navy. are fitted with caps. A
ew days ago at Indian Head a six
nch capped shell was easily driven
hrough fourteen inches of Harveyized
lrmor, and the same has been done
through eight inches Of Krupp armor