The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-08-02
4 DISPUTE AABB0UR GUNS
Controversy Over the Type of New
Field Pieces.
General Butsinston's Action in Ask
ing for Proposals From Ordnance
Secretary of Wharf.-The FortiGca-
tions Board Makes Complaint.

The Board of Ordnance and Fortifica
Army are engaged in controversy over
the proposed new field gun. bids for the
manufacture of which were opened at the
War Department yesterday. The Board
of Ordnance and Fortifcations has inves-
tigated and tested several types of field
guns, and has also considered the ques-
tion of ammunition.
General Miles, president of the Board of
Ordnance and Fortifcations, insists upon
fixed ammunition. in opposition to the
views of General Burlington, Chief Of the
Bureau OF Ordnance. who favors loose am
munition.
The entire question has been urged re-
peatedly upon the attention of Secretary
fications failed TO reach any conclusion as
to G field gun, and the Bureau of Ord
nance, under General Burlington went
ahead and planned a new modeiof the 3.2-
inch gun now in the service. The breech
mechanism for the new gun was designed
by a craftsman IN the Ordnance Bureau.
The gun is not fully planned, as the Ord
nance experts are still working on new
powder chamber.
General Burlington determined to have
LOCO guns of The new type manufactured
AID proposals from different ordnance firms
were called for. Yesterday there was
meeting of the Board Of Ordnance and For
.ifieations and its attention was called to
the action taken by General Burlington in
dcctdzng to have manufactured a type of
gun which had not met with the approval
of the Board of o-dnarce and Fortifica-
tions. A protesz was made to the Sec
retary of War against the opening of bids
for these guns on the ground that the
Board Of Ordns nee and Fortifcations had
not yet adoptet the design as type. The
matter was called to Secretary Roots at
tention too late. however, to interfere with
the opening of tie bids. but he promised TO
investigate the ruhiect and examine the
designs of other field guns before any
award is made.
General Miles contends tina. the pre-
posed new type OF a field gun is obso- etc
End defective. He says It is Ear behind the
field guns of the European powers. and as
II Is proposed to u.s. loose ammunition
with IT, VIII be in no sense an improve
1ent over the existing type. II is p Oh
ablS that the Secretary of War will refer
the entire matter 10 the Board OF ord
nance and Fortifcations for investigation
and report.
AS General burlington is member Of the
board. lively discussion On the merits
OF different types Of field artillery will
take place. The bids for the proposed
three-inch guns were in two parts. One
set of bids was for forging and one for the
guns complete, The bids for forging were
as follows:
Bethlehem Steel Company. % cents per
pound; Midyale Steel Company. % cents
per pound: Crucible Steel Company Of
7 1Isrfea, i9 cents per pound
Guns coTnplete-Bethlehem Steel Com
pany. fifty guns. 81 100 per gun, the order
TO be completed within twelve months:
the American Ordnance Company agreed
10 finish and assemble fifty guns. more OF
less without furnishing the forgings. foE
S535 each