Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-10
GEN. CROZIER'S REPORT
OPERATIONS OF THE BUREAU OF
ORDNANCE.
Satisfactory Trials Of the Improved
Musket-The New Field Gun-Ex-
periments With Explosive Shells.

Gen. William Crozier, chief of ordnance,
in his annual report to the Secretary Of
War, says the improved musket has been
completed and tried with very satisfactory
results, the various changes not only i'm
proving the weapon. but cheapening and
accelerating the production. The rod bay
onet is a feature of the new rife. Its ad-
vantage is said to lie in the fact that it
lightens the weight of the gun and dis
penses with the bayonet and scabbord row
in use, and in the place of which intrench-
ing tools may be carried by the soldier.
The construction of 5000 of the new mus
kets has been authorized for issue and
service, and preparations for their snanu-
facture are in progress. While the auto
matte reloading principle has been applied
to the revolver, no rifle embody7ing the
principle has been exhibited to the War
Department. The bureau is considering
whether it is advisable to proceed with the
manufacture of the present service rifle at
the current rate until after the new musket
shall have been issued and tried, for the
reason that if the new gun meets eXpecta-
carded and replaced.
The New Field Gun.
Treating on the subject of the new field
the conclusions of the board Of ordnance
and fertilization on the recent tests of the
several systems to show why the ordnance
department model is superior. then says
the bureau is proceeding with the manu-
facture of field material from designs which
it has prepared concurrently with the de-
velopment of knowledge by tests. General
ly speaking, the new gun will have caliber
of three inches and will fire projectile
weighing fifteen pounds with an initial
velocity of LOO feet per second. The
breech mechanism will be of the ordnance
department type, with certain notifications
for insuring safety. The piece will have
recoil of from forty-five to forty-eiGht
inches. Defects developed at the tests on
the proving grounds are to be rem aIied. A
new feature will be the bulletproof shields
with which the pieces are to be provided
Mountain Guns.
Speaking of mountain guns and carriages,
General Crozier says none of those tested
has been found superior to the type now
in use, and adds: Should the obligations of
the United States for protective duty carry
its forces into the countries to the south
ward of US, where mountainous regions and
the absence of practicable roads prevail,
this class of gun will be necessary the
main reliance of the artillery
Efforts are being made by the bureau to
increase the rapidity of fire of sea-coast
: ullS ny the Introduction OF automatic APP
planes for opening and closing the breech
and by the use of special devices for ram
ming projectiles and inserting powder
charges.
Recent Joint Maneuvers.
One chapter deals with the recent army
and navy maneuvers. 1t was developed
that one months time was not sufficient
with the shipping facilities at hand to sup
ply by ordinary means of transportation
such large amount Of projecties and am
as was required by the coast for
tifications. 1t is suggested that special
means must be provided in future for get
ting ammunition to the coast batteries The
racers of the mortar carriages were found
too weak when the greatest charge of
smokeless powder was used, and will be
replaced.
A Redistribution Of Clerks.
Gen. Crozier recommends reclassifica-
ton of the clerical force of the ordnance
bureau by which, without increasing the
present number of seventy-five clerks the
salaries of thirty-six of them shall be in
creased to meet the character and respon-
sibilities of their work.
1.-THE experience of this office for several
years past" says Gen. Crozier, sis that
many valuable clerks in the lower grades
resign to accept positions in the other bu-
reaus of the War Department and in other
departments at increased salaries the linz
tied number of the higher-grade clerkships
in this office offering no prospects for pro-
motion to these men. During the past year
four of our clerks receiving 81 200 per an
mum and four receiving 81 900 per annum
have resigned to accept positions. at in
creased compensation, in other departments
of the government and in outside employ
ment. The department is thus depleted of
m q !, frI, l.
lions for filling vacancies occurring in it's
highest and most responsible positions.
This has proved a practical source of en-
barrasSment.'
The effort to secure mechanics under the
provision of law for service with artillery
companies have not proven a success, and
it Is recommended that the pay of such me-
chanics should be increased, even if it be
necessary to reduce the number to one for
each company instead of two, as now pro-
vided, and further, that maehinist SER
geants be provided the same as electric ser
geants are authorized.
With reference to the personnel Of the
ordnance corps Gen. Crozier says the eff
fort to supply the ordnance department
with proper officers under existing law have
failed and something else must be tried, and
adds that vacancies can be filled by holding
but some inducement to the eligible body of
officers, which contains abundant talent.
Experiments With Explosives.
cites, that it is practicable with the use
of new explosives employed to fire through
a hardened plate of twelve inches in thick
ness without exploding the charge until
after the plate has been entirely perforated;
in other words, that the charge can be de-
tonated within a ships body after pene-
trating the armor. The suggestion is made
that In future appropria tons greater pro-
portion should be applied for purposes of
practice than for new installation. OF all
the national armament the mobile artillery
is in the most backward state of any, con-