The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-10
DISAPPEARING GUN MOUNTS.
Report of General Miles Forwarded

Report of General Miles Forwarded
to the Senate.
The Secretary OF War yesterday for
warded to the Senate the report of Ges.
Nelson A. Miles on disappearing carriages
for seacoast Notifications. The report says:
The coast armament completed or pro-
vided for. to include the act Of March 3.
1899, embraces the following modern guns:
Twelve-inch breechloadng rifles on dis
appearing carriages, SO: 10-inch breech-
loading rifles on disappearing carriages.
los; s-inch breechloading rifles on disap-
pearing carriages. &c. 6-inch breechloading
rifles on disappearing carriages. 3S; 12-inch
breechloading rifles on non disappearing
carriages, &c; 10-inch breechloading lilies
on disappearing carriages. 9; S-inch
breechloading rifles on non disappearing
carriages. 4; 4-inch rapid-fire guns. 4; Al
inch rapid-fire guns. IS; 5-inch rapid-fire
guns, 81; 6-inch rapid-fire guns, "a; o.
Founders. 80; 15-pounders, so; 12-inch
breechloading mortars, 344.
"A glance at this list reveals the some
what startling fact that two-thirds OF our
12-inch, twelve-t hirteenths Of our 1O-inch,
and ixteen-seyenteenths Of our s-inch
guns are being supplied with disappearing
adopted types of mount.
Full appreciation Of this fact l believe
to be Of the gravest moment at the present
time. Our coast armament already rep
resents an expenditure Of upward Of $780,
100000, while to complete the entire pro-
posed scheme Of national defence will ul-
timately involve the expenditure of as
much more.
THE mechanism of these disappearing
carriages is complex in the extreme, con-
sisting of a great number Of parts and re-
curing constant daily care on the part OF
the artillery troops to keep 1t in proper
working order, even under the conditions
of peace practice. During the past year
accidents which have temporarily disabled
the guns have been of frequent occurrence
at the different artillery posts. due, in
some cases to defective material in 9TH
ers, and more rarely. to lack of proper
care but primarily due in most, If not all,
cases to defects inherent in the disappear
ing system.
1T should be also noted In the above
list that 49, or more than one-half the to-
tai number of 6-inch rapid-fir guns. are
to be placed on disappearing mounts, thus
preventing that rapidity of fire which is
the chief value Of this gun. and notwith-
standing the fact that the Board of Ord
ed a type carriage for guns OF this calibre.
I'm my opinion the disappearing car
riage as an element in coast defence is still
more or less an experiment Ii has yet
to be subjected to the rigorous test Of
actual war. 1t is costly to install and
maintain. and at least % per cent more
costly in the engineering work Of emplace
ment and magazines than the protected
barbette mount Experience thus far has
shown 1t to be more easily disabled than
any other type of seacoast carriage. The
modern coast-defence systems OF Europe
afford us n striking contrast in this re-
spect, since, with the exception OF very
few installed for purposes of experiment,
there is not, so far as can learn, single
disappearing gun carriage in use in any
foreign service today. l am informed by
probably the greatest living authority on
artillery matters in England, Sir Andrew
Noble, +. X. s.. that the consensus OF opin-
ion among artillery experts throughout
Europe is utterly opposed to the use Of dis
appearing carriages Of any kind"