New-York tribune., 1901-03-17
PARIS.
FRENCH ARTILLERY TESTS.
I. -. r.

FUCcEss OF THE HARFLEUR EXPERIMENTS
A NEW RACECoURsE-DEsCHA
ON AnrERrcAN COLLEGE GIRLS.
copyright. 1901: BY The New-YoriI Trbune1
Try CABLE TO TIE TRTBUSEl
Paris. March 16-The artillery experiments
which have just been carried out at barneur IN
che presence OF representatives Of the Ministries
of War and Marine, were watched with eager
attention by foreign military and naval at
1aches The opinion Of experts is that the
Trench artillery in precision and rapidity Of fire
IS at present unquestionably in advance Of all
.orhers Secrecy is maintained in regard 10 sew
eral. technical points Of mechanism. bur pro-
sessionaf paper gives some highly interesting de-
tails and results Of the experiments. -Four guns
were tested-the 1a0-millmetre siege gun. which
throws torty-seven pound projectie: the new
T5-millimetre field gun, with its seventeen pound
shrapnel and two howitzers. The rate of IRE
Of the new field gun attained the unprecedented
average Of thirty shots in one minute and fifty
reconds Even when fired at this rate the shells
do not necessarily fall the same spot, In spite
of the automatic manner in which the gun Keeps
its position. BY mechanical manipulation OF the
copper cap which determines the explosion OF
the shell it can be made 10 burst little earlier
or little later, and 10 deyiate TO right or left
II is possible in this way. without resightinS the
gun or interfering with the rate Of fire, to DOT
with shell in zigzag fashion a space Of ground
three hundred metres square. a single gun mr.
ing almost continuously can thus spread havoc
In column Of troops Special interest was
taken by the experts in the experiments with
field howitzers, the utility of which against an
intrenched enemy. after being contested for a
time, is now considered TO be fully demonsuat-
cd The difficulty Of regulating the plunging fire
OF howitzers has been overcome, and absolute
accuracy is now obtainabie.
The great sporting event OF the year. the
opening Of the new St Cloud racecourse, took
place yesterday in a pouring rain. Il was
strange 10 see one OF the most fashionable
gatherings Of Parisians and cosmopolitans
paddling about ankle deep in mud. The site of
the new racecourse is most picturesque Mont
valerian looms up in the foreground, and all the
buildings and stands IN the Norman style
of architecture There are TWO tracks Of dif-
ferent lengths, both being left handed. The big
one is $500 metres in length, the small one
2100. The straightaway is 1000 metres long
and 81 metres wide. Among those present yes
terday, in spite Of the inclenent weather, were
Prince Murat, the Duke de Grammont Mr.. ". X.
Vanderbilt, NJ Edmond Blanc. Mr.. Paul Stew
art, Mr.. Paul ConlIling, Mr. w. ". Hoyt, Mr..
Francis welch. Mr. William Tiffany, Mr. Pres
oott Lawrence, the Countess Roederer, Nine.
Edmond Blanc Mrs. Prescott Lawrence and the
Countess de Fels. With a little fine weather
and sunshine ST. Cloud viii be the fayorite
Partisan sporting centre
Small dinners and theatre parties continue the
order OF the day. a charming dinner was given
last evening by Mr.. and Mrs Frederick Sharon.
Among the guests were the Duchess de Dino,
Mr. and Mrs. Julian Story, Miss Bowie and Miss
Newlands.
The great society lion in Paris just now is
His Hishness the Maharajah Of Poundjie who
wears al dinner and theatre parties two superb
ancestral pearls as earrings, and priceless dia-
rnond shirt studs.
Mr.. James Gordon Bennett has returned from
Scotland. much pleased with the inspection of
his new yacht. After giving a theatre party at
the Bouffes Parisiens to see Les Travaux
d'Hercule," he left town for Beaul;eu
Les Amants de Sazy." an extraordinarily
auoacious farce in three acts. by Roman Coolus
has been brought out at the Gynnase and has
given rise to much comment and discussion
Under the excuse Of being psychological study,
a slice carved from real life. a play has been
given which received enthusiastic praise from
an audience Of first night critics but IL is doubt