Evening star., 1901-10-24
TEST OF A BIG GUN
GATHMANN TORPEDO SYSTEM TO BE;
TRIED At SANDY HOOK.
Claim That Extreme Range and
Efficiency Are Combined-Test
VIII Be n Competitive One.

The preparations for the test of the Gath
mann gun are nearly complete. The last
Congress made an appropriation of $50 800
to enable the Secretary of War to test the
comparative destructive energy of the
Gathmann torpedo gun, now at Sandy
Hook, and the army 12-inch service rifle;
such tests to be made against two similar
targets, representing the side structure Of
the latest type of battle ship; each of said
structures to be faced with a Kruppized
armor plate eight feet by sixteen, and
twelve inches thick and at least ten shots
to be fired from the army rifle against one
structure and one or more Gathmann tor
pedoes against the other. This important
test Is to take place next week
Various government officials, here as well
as in Europe, have given their opinions
frequently that they do not think outside
explosion, that is to say, the Gathmann
torpedo system, will demolish armor such
as our modern battle ships carry. The
matter. This government has already
spent several hundred thousand dollars for
the Gathmann experiments, and this test
should be conclusive.
The question is, what is the extreme
range at which Gathmann torpedo shell
can demolish a structure such as is now
erected at Sandy Hook? Far-sighted ord
nance officers have been aware for a long
time that great efficiency at long range Is
most important, and this has been the aim
of all improvements all over the world, and
this Is the question that naturally arises
first in their minds. 1t is well known that
the weak point of the otherwise powerful
pneumatic gun is its short range. If the
Vesuvius could throw shells, loaded with
400 pounds of guncotton. to a range of four
miles. she would today be the most forn1id-
able engine of war afloat.
II. w. Wilson in 'Ironclads in Action
says: ''The perfection Of an aerial torpedo,
with great range and accuracy, would be
the deathknell to the present form of bat
tie ship, and 1t Is hard to see what pro-
lection could be devised against it, Lieut.
G. E. Armstrong, royal navy, says in "Tor-
pedoes and Torpedo Vessels in a series of
royal handbooks edited by C. N. Robson.
commander. royal navy: THE power of
guncotton We have overwhelming proof of.
What all the guns of the japanese feet
failed to bring about in four hours the
power of one torpedo alone accomplished in
one second"
In the latest report issued by the bureau
or naval Intelligence under charge of Cap
tain Chas. D. Sigsbee-himself a member of
both the great naval boards--we find sew
eral statements in reference to the ranges
now being practiced by the military ma
tions, varying from 5000 to 5000 yards. In
the British practice there were about %
per cent of hits at four miles range. The
German coast defense guns. throwing pro-
JectlleS weighing $500 pounds, have target
practice at a range far as six miles
AT the proving grounds, where the armor
for various navies are tested, they are test
ed to withstand shots from 12-inch guns at
range representing four to five miles
1t is certainly of the utmost Importance
to know whether the armor of today which
gives protection against the present most
modern guns, at long range, can also with
stand the Gathmann gun. Great efficiency
and long range are absolutely necessary TO
protect coast cities from commandment
We already have great efficiency IN tor
pedoes and pneumatic guns, and great range
in the modern rifles; but to be really effect
I've these two features should be combined
in one gun. Should the coming test prove
that the Gathmahn system possesses both
these qualities of range and efficiency it
will be the most desirable weapon for
either man-of-war or coast defense, as in
both cases it is most important to be able
to silence an opponent before he can do Sc
rious damage.
All Americans who have their coLntry's S
interests at heart will certainly agree With
President Roosevelt. The following is
quoted from the Army and Navy Register:
President Roosevelt has made Il careful
study of the needs of both branches of the
military service. He Is strongly impressed
with the idea of making the navy a ffgnt-
ing navy and the army a fighting army,
but the question Of increasing the number
of vessels and the number of troops Is sec
ondary in his mind to that of fighting quail
ties and readiness for conflict"