Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-05-12
ARMOR PLATE USELESS
Against a Shell Now Being Tested
by Navy Officials.
AMERICAN OFFICERS INVENTION

Because OF the Latest Discovery sn
the Art OF Warfare the Senate De-
cides to Discuss the Armor Plate
Matter Behind Closed Doors.
Washington, May 9.-Some facts al
most startling in their Importance
were laid before the senate yesterday
In secret legislative session at the con-
clusion OF the regular open session.
They related, it is understood, to the
invention OF she'll by a prominent
officer of the United States navy--a
shell superior in every essential quail
1ty to any now in use either by this
or by any other government. The
quality of penetration possessed by
the shell is said to be so great that no
armor now manufactured in the Uni
ted States or abroad has sufficient re-
sistance to withstand it.
The facts, which were in possession
OF only few senator's, were deemed
so important that the senate decided to
consider them in secret session.
After the naval bill had been laid
aside for the day Mr.. Til1man asked
Tor secret session in order that he
might explain to the senate why he
discussed in secret.
When the doors were closed he ex-
planned that several days ago he had
offered resolution calling upon the
secretary of the navy to send to the
senate for it's information the details
OF tests made by the departments Of
hcials OF armor plate at Indian Head.
NO answer to that inquiry has been
received and in all human probability
none will be received.
1t seems that Mr.. Tillman called at
the navy department and was informed
that 1t would be unwise at this time
to make public the details of the tests
he had asked for, as 1t would place in
the hands, not only of the senate, but
or representatives OF foreign govern
ments, information that properly be-
longed exclusively to the United
States. He was informed that Ad-
miral O'Neil, chief OF the bureau of
ordnance, had been conducting for sew
eral months a series Of armor tests
at Indian Head, the results of which
were very remarkable. A prominent
official of the navy department said.
1t Is understood, that the tests OF all
sorts of armor, including the Krupp
armor, had been made with a view Of
ascertaining their effectiveness against
new shell that had been invented by
an officer Of the navy. No piece OF
armor submitted to the test, 1t is I'M
derstood, was able to withstand the
test. The shell, fred from high power
guns, penetrated the armor almost as
bullets fired from a Krag-Jorgensen
rife would penetrate green wood, the
difference being that the armor plates
split from the point of impact. 1t is
said this was true OF the Krupp armor,
as well as OF the other armor tested.
The shell which was so effective was
not described; indeed, the navy depart
ment is guarding jealousy all details
concerning Its construction.
The argument of Mr.. Tillman Is that
with such projectile in the possession
OF the government, the details of which
, sooner or later will become known to
other governments, IL would not be the
part OF wisdom for the congress to
enter into contracts to purchase the
high priced armor unless 1t could be
so improved as to resist projectiles of
the kind used at Indian Head.
Feeling that more or less OF the
matter concerning the tests recently
made by the government would be
used in the debate upon the armor
QuSStAOA nli. Allliustn ouESeSlSQ IQaI II
would be desirable to consider the
subject in secret.
The senate agreed with him, and to-
day the armor plate matter will be
discussed behind closed doors.
Yesterday afternoon, with one of
these shells, a six-inch naval rifle
plugged a clean hole through a plate
OF HarveyiZed armor II inches thick.
This marvellous achievement was wit
| messed by Assistant Secretary Hackett,
for whom a secret trial was made at
Indian Head. The gun was charged
with smokeless powder.