The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-10-30

of War Commented Upon in the
Annual RepOFt-An Appropriation
Asked TO Prosecute the Work
The eleventh annual report OF the Board
I OF Ordnance and Fertilization. consider
ing the subjects of ammunition, automatic
guns. field guns and carriages. and the
various other questions grouped under
thes- heads was made public by the de-
partI' ent today The board is composed
of Lieut.. Gen. Nelson A Miles. president:
Brig. Gen. A r. Burlington. Ordnance
Department; Brig. Cen G. L Gillespie,
Corps OF Engineers; Col. John l. Rodgers.
Corps Of Artillery; Col. Wallace F. Ran
doiph. Chief Of Artillery; Lieut. Col J. p
story. Corps Of Artillery; Thomas J. Hen
derson, civilian member. and Capt l. y
Lewis, Corps Of Artillery. recorder.
The l0-Inch Brown. segmentaI-tube wire
wound gun, one Of which exploded recent
y at Sandy Hook during a test. is dis
cusscd in the report as follows:
This gun was built under an allotment
OF 81, eJ9 made By the board September ID.
1895. On December ., 1888. the completed
gun vas inspected by the board at the
shops Of the Reading Iron Company.
/ Reading. Pa. and on January O. 1859. il
was shipped 10 the proving ground at
Sandy Hook
owing 10 delays on the part Of .he
trustees Of the Brown patents in dcsig-
I mating a suitable powder, the preliminary
IriuE tests OF the gun were not begun
until February q, 1901. The first proof
round, with pressure of 1000 pounds.
developed "A crack extending throughout
tie third chase hoop. As this hoop Is
1 simly thin covering used TO protect the
outer layer OF wine from mechanical in
jury, II was not believed that the defec-
had an any material way weakened the
gun, and on March 8, in the presence Of
the board, three additional rounds were
nred with prtssures ranging from Is TU
pounds 20 $3.50 pounds. II being evident
nom these and subsequent rounds that
with the special kind Of powder deter
mined upon By the trustees the required
velocity could not be obtained. the board
on April o, 1901, granted the request OF the
trustees 10 increase the chamber capacity
81 the gun. This alteration ueCessitat-d
sending the gun to the shops Of the man
ufaclurers. and IL has just been returned
70 the proving ground for continuation Of
ON January L. 1898. the board made an
allotment Of 81. 90 TO procure from the
AktlebOlaget BOfoTs-CfulIspau of Sweden
one l3-cm- rapid-tre Cast-steeI gun Of the
latest pattern, with pedestal mount and
w ROUNDS OF ammunition. An additional
allotment OF S3.el4 for the same DuruOse
was made April J.. lsSs Although Il wa
me understanding al the time Of making
The ailOtments that the material would -
delivered ready for test within twelve
months. the gun and prCjeCtiles we're not
received at the proving ground until July
Of the present year The company finding
the shipment Of powder impTacticable,
mas rogue Sted the department 10 procure
sufficient for 100 rounds in this country
me cost 20 De deducted from the contract
price originally agreed upon. This re-
quest has been granted. and the firing
test OF the gun VIII be begun as soon as
tn necessary powder IS procured
This carriage was constructed under 4
special act Of Congress. approved June 8
1870. appropriaung &S,e9J for the purpose.
and 10 has been tested, accepted. and paid
Tor on April =. 1899 the board recon-
meuded the adoption Of this carriage as
an additional type for the service. The
Secretary or War, In Withholding his ap-
pTOVal OF the recommendation, again re-
feTTcd the matter TO the board for further
consideration and report Before ma king
further tests the board. at the request OF
the licenSee, made an allotment Of s.. 615 10
to cover the cost Of certain changes In
the uaEerSing and retractiOn mechanism
ard IN the mounting These changes were
completed, and on June .. 1901. the car
rage was subjected 10 a further firing
test before the artillery committee Of the
board The report OF the committee
which was approved by the board, states
that the traversing and retractiCn mech
aHlsm are crude and unsatisfactory and
much Inferior 70 those found in the pres
ent service carriages. but II IS also the
opinion or the committee that neither Of
these features IS an essential part Of the
Howell disappearing system
The teu-inch pneumatic carriage was
q
sress. approved August !. 1884 appropriate
ing $1,000 for the purpose. Since its com
pletiOn, In December. 1898. various acct
dents 20 the mechanism have DELAYED the
Official tests On August >. 1871, the OH
cial test Of the carriage took place In the
presence OF the artillery committee OF
the board The report Of the committee
SHOWS Lndt the carriage failed 20 fulfil
the acceptance requirements This re-
port having been approved and adopted
as The report Of the board. was for
Warded 10 the Secretary OF War"
The questions Of shields for. coast de
fence guns and rapid-hre guns and
mounts, as Wei as. Reid guns and car
TlaBes are discussed and a report is
made upon the tests Of motor batteries a.
Portland Me, which have been success
full Statements are made concerning IN.
Hotchkiss I-pOunder and Nickers-MaNim
l-poundcr guns and the Luger automatic
pistol The report continues.
'on February g. 1901. The board recon-
mended that "A comparative test be made
At Fort WadSworth. y. Y. Of the rela-
4 tive merits Of pOsition-hndiug systems
employing a vertical base with those en-
ploying a horizontal base, and to deter
mine the value OF electric sedrChltghts for
coast defence. including a practical trial
OF The adopted system of artillery fire
control and direction. II was intended 20
rgpE'St On" "p-operatiOn Of the navy IN
all these tests.
The baaru had hoped to have these
/ trials In the autumn OF this year. but IN
consequence Of toe unsettled condition o.
the artillery. due 10 its reorganization. tI
VAS impossible to detail enough officers
a. eNt-ut' thc =; ORramme and the tests
must be deferred
In order 70 carry on the work Of the
board for the coming year an estimate OF
100000 has been submitted 70 the Secre-
tary Of War for transmission 10 Con
grCSS-
1t Is recommended that the appropria-
tion be made. as heretofore. in single
amount, to enable the board TO make all
needful and proper purchases. expert
EfI ~ Take Hoods Pills. Aid