The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-25
ORDNANCE BOARD WORK.
Annual Report Given Out by the
wnr Department.

i
wnr Department..
| The report of the Board of Ordnance anG
Fortifications was made public at the Wal
Department yesterday. The general oper-
ations of the board are covered in the fol
| lowing statement:
| 1T Is believed that no meritorious
invention has failed to receive due en-
enlargement and recognition. although in
the great majority of cases the devices
submitted by inventors have not been
| deemed of sufficient military value to war
rant an allotment from the funds of the
| board for their development and test.
THE experiments undertaken by Mr..
Langley, Secretary Of the Smithsonian In
stitution. under allotments made by the
board on November o. 1898, and December
is, 1899, to determine the practical value
of the aerodrome in aerial navigation, are
still in progress, and have become OF ad-
ditional interest to the service IN view
Of the successes achieved abroad in the
construction Of dirigible balloons.
THE increased Importance for coast de-
fence OF the rapid-fire guns Of 4. 5. and
6-inch calibres has been fully recognized.
Tho board has recommended the adoption
of the pedestal type Of barbette mount for
all such guns. The question of supplying
our field artillery with the latest and very
best modern equipment for the service has
received careful consideration. In order to
obtain type field equipment for the serv-
ice at the earliest possible date the board
has prepared and recommended pro-
gramme covering a series OF competitive
tests to take place early in the coming
year. 1t is believed that as result OF
these tests the United States will secure
for the use OF it's troops the most efficient
material of its kind yet produced.
with the introduction of smokeless
powder and the great development taking
place in rapd-fire guns, the character OF
our national armament will be corre-
spondingly improved"
Referring to field gun carriages the re-
port says:
"In order that definite plan might be
adopted for the tests of various field guns
submitted the board at it's regular meet
ing on August %, 1900, appointed COM
mittee to prepare programme covering
the proposed tests. programme was
accordingly prepared and adopted by the
board at it's meeting on October ., 1900.
Manufacturers desiring to submit guns
and carriages for tests are given four
months time from the date Of notice in
which to do SO. and it is hoped that the
test will be completed early in the COM
ing year"
The board calls particular attention to
the need Of a large increase in the "ap-
preparations made for the purchase OF
ammunition and material for use in target
practice for the seacoast artillery. This
is believed to be absolutely necessary II
we are to have a well-trained personnel
in charge Of the guns"
An estimate of $100. 900 is submitted for
the work of the coming year. In cOnclu-
sion the report says:
THE work Of equiping our scast forth
fications is progressing rapidly and large
portion of the new armament is already
installed. There is imperative need for
"a new force of trained artillerists to care
for and man the guns now mounted. The
board. therefore. deems it within its prov
ince to invite the attention of Congress
to the necessity for reorganization and
material increase of the artillery arm Of
the service.
in this connection. also. the board
recommends that steps be taken at an
early date to provide the coast artillery
personnel with suitable ranges and other
facilities for carrying out each year
system Of practical drill and target prac-
tice with heavy guns under conditions
approximat!ng those of actual service.
AS the primary object Of the defences
is to protect he=harbors and waterways
along our coasts, the guns are as a rule
so placed that target firing with full serv-
ice charges and at the longer and more
important ranges can seldom take place
without endagering the lives and damag-
ing the property Of private citizens. This
is particularly true in the case of fortif-
cations defending the large harbors where
there is shipping constantly in range and
where private houses are in such close
proximity TO the guns as to be seriously
affected by the shock.
"At least three such practice ranges
should be provided-one for the North
Atlantic. one for the Pacific. and one for
the South Atlantic and Gulf