New-York tribune., 1900-05-13
AGAINST THE GlTHU1NN GUN.
ORDNANCE EXPERTS OPPOSE SENATOR
HANNA'S AMENDMENT TO THE
NAVAL BILL.

Washington. May II (SpeciaD.-Secretary Long has
Congress strong protest from Admiral
ONeil, chief OF Naval Ordnance, against the adop-
ton of an amendment which Senator Hanna caused
to be inserted by the Naval Committee in the pend
ing appropraton BILL providing for the purchase OF
several Gathmann gun equipments for the haroor
defence monitors building According 10 the
amendment $4,000 is appropriated Each equip
ment Of guns OF Is inch bore. cost
ing s62 SEQ 10 throw Gathmann shells containing
800 pounds OF gun cotton, range not given
Senator Hanna instrumental in securing the
construct lion OF these four monitors and mas dls-
played unceasing interest in them from their IN
cepton. He assisted the naval experts assiduously
when the vessels under design, and did not
corceal his displeasure when the completed plans
failed TO provide for Gathmann outfits. The Con-
struction Board unit against these discred-
tied weapons. Two years before the Navy had been
charged with $4,000 10 purchase and test a Gath
mann gun. which exploded under its first fire at the
Indian Head proving grounds. wrecking a valuable
gun carriage and other service apparatus. besides
endangering the lives of all VINO were on the Gov
crlment reservation
In his official protest against forcing this Cleve-
land project the naval establishment, Admiral
O'Nei shows that the batteries of the monitors
were fixed after mature deliberation by the Board
He says the eight Pinch high powered rifles for
their turrets are already well advanced toward
completion and that the vessels have proceeded 10
such extent that expensive alterations would
be necessary 70 accommodate the Gathmann guns
be used in them. Continuing. he says:
The naval Pinch guns for these vessels will
about $4,000 each and represent the most i'm
ing range. at fifteen degrees elevation. of 9i2
miles designed to fire Pinch projectile OF $50
pounds weight, with muzZe velocity of 2.SW foot
seconds, and having a muzzle energy OF 1926 foot
proiectiles1 1917 inches of Harveyzed ISL inches
of krupp armor, al a distance or %9V yards' a anu
The soocaled Gathmaun gun is not a novelty. nor
Is
reason why II should be purchased from that COM
po pant " for @ such purpose They would simply
come brokers, buying the guns elsewhere ,sD and
The naval gun factory is adequately equipped for
and they can be made there much cheaper than
they can be bought m elsewhers ,,rsr. n,r IN
slight details from an ordinary she'll except In the
" to contain the dry primer and detonator which.
in the Bureaus opinion is the only feature of the
afs pany can lestimately lay % claim ~ TO-
DEFECTS IN THE GUN ASSERTED.
sas wesS M sS is to use G ns9S sa b
OF larger ealibre havins different thickness OF
P sSs sa IS f N slP
muzzls velocity may be obtained. such gun viii
powered naval guns, ana eonseauently win have 70
which impairs its effciency for naval use
The last Fortihcations bill appropriated $1,000
purposes, and one is in advanced stage
but has TO be tested, and IN advance OF its
there seems TO he necessity for making other
similar guns and no justification for installing
them in naval vessels.
II would be considered extremely hazardous to
fire shells containing hve hundred pounds OF high
explosive of any kind from guns mounted on ship
board, their environments such that should
any accident arise due 10 the premature expio-
sion of such shell in the bore OF a gun ~ would
be attended with most disastrous results. SO far
5 the Bureau can learn. such large OF
guncottou IL proposed 70 be fired has never
been attempted and, while II may be safely ac-
compiished a certain number Of times, there is
danger OF a premature explosion due 10 rupture
OF the she'll on account OF some unperceived defect
in the metal, TO an excessive pressure IN the gun
which unaccountahly occurs at times, or ~ some
other unforeseen cause. In all experiments thus
far in firing high explosives. even in small quantt-
ties Is considered a necessary act OF prudence
for all spectators to retire 10 the shelter of a
bombproof 10 withdraw 30 safe distance.
The Gathmaun company contends that wet gun
cotton Is safe that IL cannot he exploded unless
"a detonator he exploded In contact with H. snd
that. their shell has safety device containing
the datonatOr which ~ separates from the main
charge until after the shell has left the gun, 10
such thing Al premature explosion OF the main
charge the she'll occur. even should the de-
tonator act prematurely
Admiral O'Neii cit~s a uur1bc. Of Instances In
detail Of the instability and untrustworthiness Of