Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1900-05-11
STARTLING REVELATION.
A SHELL SUPERIOR In EVERY Rs-
sENTIAL QUALITY
Other Governmsnts-Ths Shell %
Can Withstand its Resistanos-Tn.

washington, May S.-Some facts almost
startling in their Importance were laid be-
fore the Senate to-day in executive ses-
| sion. They related. It is understood. to the
invention Of shell by a prominent offices
of the United States navy-a shell sus
| pertor in every essential quality to any
| now In use either by this or other govern.
ments. The quality OF penetration pos
sessed by the shell is said to be 80 great
that no armor now manufactured In tbs
United States or abroad has sufficient re.
sistance to withstand it.
The facts, which were in possession OF
only few Senator'S, were deemed 20 i'm.
portant that the Senate decided to con-
slider them In secret session.
To-day. after the Naval bill had heea
laid aside for the day. Mr.. Tillman asked
Tor secret session in order that hs
might explain to the Senate why he Dc.
sired the armor plate matter to be dis.
cussed in secret.
When the doors were closed he sx.
planned that several days ago he had Of.
fered a resolution calling upon the seers.
tary of the Navy to send to the Senate fol
its information the details Of tests made
by the departments officials OF armog
plate at Indian Head.
No answer to that inquiry has been re.
ceived. and in all human probability none
will be received.
1t seems that Mr.. Tfllman 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 ask
ed for. as 1t would place in the hands
not only OF the Senate, but of representa-
dves of foreign governments information
that properly belonged exclusively to the
United States. He was informed that Ad-
miral ONeil, chief of the Bureau Of Ord
nance. had been conducting for several
months series OF armor tests at Indian
Head. the results Of which were very re-
markahle. L prominent official OF the
Navy Department said, 1t Is understood
that the tests Of all sorts Of armor, In
cludtng the Krupp armor, had been made
with view Of ascertaining their enec-
tiveness against new shell that had been
Invented by an officer of the navy No
piece Of armor submitted to the test, 1t Is
understood. was able to withstand the
test. The shell, fired from high power
guns, penetrate ia aTmor s!Tu o.. as bG!-
lets fired from a Krag-Jorgensen rife
would penetrate green wood, the differ
ehce being that the armor plates split
from the point Of impact. It is said this
was true of the Krupp armor, as well as
ot the other armor tested.
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, 1t 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 i'm
proved 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 question, Mr.. Tillman
suggested that 1t would be desirable to
consider the subject In secret
Tho Senate agreed with him and to-
morrow the armor plate matter will be
discussed behind closed doors.