Evening star., 1900-12-15

some sixty guns or more. but the whole
machinery of war again lacks the proper
soul or adequate weapon.
In order to form Il correct estimate Of
the merit OF any system OF ordnance two
things are chiefly to be considered-etficien-
cy and expense. That weapon is best which
at given cost will be most effective in the
destruction OF any opponents vessel and
coast fortifcations.
Army Rifle and Aerial Gun
THE 16-inch army rifle in construction al
Watervleit arsenal" said Mr.. Gathmann,
when completed, will be the heaviest and
most costly piece Of ordnance in the United
States. The cost Of this monster Is about
Sl2o,o0O. If proper carriage is construct
ed for 1t there will be another expense at
least equal to the cost of the gun. The
muzzle energy Will be some 10 600 foot-tons
Let us compare this monster piece OF
ordnance with the 1S-inch aerial torpedo
gun. The cost and weight of ,ne torpedo
gun Is about one-half Of the former; still,
the muzzle efficiency is more than three
times that of the 125-ton army rifle At far
ranges the difference will be still greater in
favor Of the aerial torpedo system. At five
miles the torpedo will still have potential
energy OF $4,000 foot-tons, and this though
the target Is struck glancing blow. This
Is equivalent to the ramming energy of the
heaviest battle ship moving at full speed.
One Hit VIII Suffice.
"A great number of hits from IL OF even
lG-inch guns is by no means equivalent to
placing Il vessel out of action" he e.
marked. The vitals of modern men-of-wa
are not easily reached by present types Of
guns, but one hit from the aerial torpedo
will be fatal under most all conditions par
ticulariy If the heavy armor belt receives
the blow. The efficiency of the torpedo
she'll is in that case akin to ramming, and
several armor plates will BE- pressed or
driven into the ship, opening breach inn
possible to mend.
Now let us compare the efficiency Of the
present most modern 10 and Pinch guns
with this new gun for firing aerial torpe-
does. The first are relatively mere toys, not
n cost and weight, but IN efficiency.
Illustrated by Examples.
For example, let US take a first-class
battle ship for target. One aerial torpedo
gun will disable. sink or destroy such q
craft as readily as ten Pinch guns at close
range. If We widen our fighting range and
place opponents battle ship beyond 5000
yards, then the efficiency of this one 1S-inch
torpedo gun will be superior to almost any
number of the present type OF guns COM
pined.
.'All well-posted men know that at two
miles or further range the best and heaviest
armor cannot be penetrated by guns OF the
present type.
I'm a duel two first-cass battle ships two
miles distant, could actually fire all their
ammunition at one another and still remain
afloat. Place 1S-nch caIiber torpedo guns
IN one of the battle ships, and the duel
would be ended within few minutes, and
The battle ship carrying aerial torpedOes
would disable its opponent before the latter
could do serious damage.
For Coust Defenses.
1T naturally follows that ships of war
will be comparatively powerless against
properly constructed coast defenses,'' con-
tinued the inventor. "a battery Of 1S-inch
n ;yh I've bea por1l5 bay
enormous advantage over anything that
could be brought to bear against them from
the sea, land guns can be pointed with
precision unattainable on sh pboard. 1t fol-
lows further that by adopt ng aerial tor
pedo guns our country can save untold
millions Of money and still have absolute
coast defense, which cannot be attained by
present ordnance, should aerial torpedo
guns be brought against us.
I'VE are in the age of mechanical revolu-
ton, and the same calamity that befel the
Spanish navy threatens any other though
they least expect 1t. Neither bravery nor
good viii can successfully compete with
superior implements Of war machines.
This many individual business houses, az
well as whole nations. have found to be
correct, but often only when it was too late.
VIII Aid Arbitration.
1.-The struggle for supremacy between
armor and guns, which has lasted over
forty years." said Mr.. Gathmann. In conclu-
sion, will cease with the advent of aerial
torpedoes, and when we hear Of a success
ful armor test we can take 1t for granted
that my system of ordnance has not been
used in this test.
'In war the first duty is to destroy or
disable enemy quickly; therefore. II the
of Congress are invested ac-
cord!ng to science and according to bust.
ness principles, the United States will fast
become the greatest power In the world
THE adoption Of aerial torpedo guns by
the United States will aid greatly in main
tanning harmony between nations,
for should sputes arise they would be
more easily and fairly settled by arb:tra-
ton. which would be a great step forward
IN civilization"