Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-10

new s~lxteen-inch rine. A gun built for the
Italian government had a calIber Of 17.75
inches and threw a proiectiie Weighing
1900 pounds, but its muzEle energy was
only a0.O0o-foot tons as compared with
IS, O00-foot tons, which is the muxzle en-
ergy Of the watervliet gun. France built
9 gun with q ealiber Of 1875 Inches, with
a projeotile Weighing LOO pounds. but Il
developed a muxzle energy Of only $4,000
foot tons and a muszle velocity Of only
100 feet per second. A gun built BY the
Armstrong; for the British navy had a
caliber Of 1875 inches and throws a proiec-
tile Weighing 1900 pounds. with a muzzle
velocity OF 2.10o feet per second. The
british gun comes the nearest to rivaiins
the new gun in power, but II falls short
IS per cent.
The gun will be mounted upon a disap-
pearing carriage equipped with a counter
poise, Weighing 1870 tons. for elevatins the
gun to the firing position. In spite Of its
enormous bulk and weight. the gun is a.
easily handled as the lighteat field piece.
The breech block weighs an even ton. but
a child can operate the machinery which
opens Il and swings It clear Of the gun.
Three separate movements are required to
open the breech, but they are all controlled
by q set OF worm gearing that is very sim
pie In operation and requires only a few
turns OF the crank. When the crank IL FIRST
set in motion the bresrh makes a half
turn, releasing the threads Of the inter-
rupted screw By which 1t 10 held In place
in the breech, a few more turns sufice to
withdraw the block from the breech and
then the entire breech block is swung clear
Of the breech on a heavy hinge or consul,
leaving the chamber open to receive the
charge. Every part OF the gun is built as
accurately as the works Of a watch. To
prevent the possibility Of a premature dis
charge there are two cunningly devised
safeguards. The gun may be fired either
by electricity or by an ordinary friction
primer. When the breech starts to open
the very first movement ~disconnects the
electrical firing apparatus. and 1t remains
disconnected until the last movement In
closing the breech. The nrst movement to
open the breech also prevents the inser-
ton Of a friction primer. Az the breech
block makes It's first turn a thin, fat piece
Of steel slides over the vent and remains
there until the last turn of the crank that
locks the breech. II smokeless powder is
used 576 pounds will be required for a
charge; II the old-fashioned black powder
is used 1,176 pounds will be necessary.
Colonel Joseph Pearson Farley. COM
mandant at Watervliet. has been response
BILE for the successful construction Of the
sixteen-inch gun. HIS initials are counter
sunk in the steel face Of the gun and he is
said to have remarked that he would rather
have his name there than any other place
in the world. Colonel Farley served dur
ing the civil war with the army Of the
Potomac and In the siege Of Charleston,
s. G. Since the war his service has been
at arsenals and ~foundries, as a member OF
ordnance boards and as assistant profess
Sc 60 axe Halted states military academy
In addition to his duties as commanding
officer OF the arsenal. Colonel Farley Is
president Of the board for the examination
Of ordnance officers for promotion and
president OF the statutory board for the
test OF rined cannon. No type OF gun lie
accepted for the service without passing
the tests prescribed by this board.