The Topeka state journal., 1902-11-10
OUR new MUSKETS
Gen. William CrOzier, Chief of
Ordnance Bureau,
Files His Annual Report to the
Secretary of War.
MANY IMPROVEMENTS
Are Noted in the Infantry Arm
and Field Guns.
The Rod Bayonet Is a Feature
of the New Rifle.
NEEDS OF THE NAVY
Set Forth in the Report of Ad-
miral II. C. Taylor.
NEEDS OF THE NAVY
Set Forth in the Report Of Ad-
miral II. C. Taylor.

Washington, Nov. 10.-General Will
liam Crozier, chief of the bureau 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 vari- |
Gus changes not only improving the |
weapon, but cheapening and accelerat-
ing the production. The rod bayonet is |
a feature of the new rifle. It's adVant- |
age is said to lie in the fact that it |
lightens the weight of the gun and dis
penses with the bayonet and bayonet |
scabbard now in use, and in the place |
of which intrenching tools may be car |
ried by the soldier. The new piece |
weighs but a little less than 91a pounds, |
considerably lighter than the German ,
and the Mauser, yet has greater velocity I
and greater penetration. 1t is noted
that opinions differ as to the value OF
the rod bayonet. The construction of
5000 of the new muskets has been aO-
thorized.
General Crozier embraces in his re-
port the conclusions of the board of
ordnance and fortifcations on the re-
cent tests of the several systems for
new field gun to show why the ordnance
department model is superior. He says
the bureau is proceeding with the manu-
facture of field material from designs
which it has prepared ooncurrently with
the development of knowledge by tests.
Generally speak king, the new gun will
have a caliber of three inches and will
fire a projectile weighing Is pounds with
an initial velocity of 1,700 feet per sec
ond. The breech mechanism will be OF
the ordnance department type with GER
tain modifica tions of securing safety.
The piece will have a recoil of from 40
to 4S inches. Defects developed at the
tests on the proving grounds are to be
remedied. A new feature will be the
pieces are to be provided. Captain
Charles B. Wheeler is given credit for
the design of the gun carriage. Speak
ing of mountain guns and carriages,
General CrOzier says none of those test
ed has been found superior to the type
now in use.
Attention is called to the desirability
of attaching electric motors to the dis
appearing gun carriages. Efforts are
being made by the bureau TO increase
the rapidity of fire of sea coast guns by
the introduction of automatic appli-
anees for opening and closing the breech
and by the use of special devices for
ramming projectiles and inserting pow
der charges. Reference is made to the
discussion that is had relative to the
use of the disappearing gun carriages
and to the action Of congress and the
determination of the matter by the war
department after tests by an army
board which recorded its opinion that
the mechanical principles involved in the
chief elements of movements of the
Burlington -Crozier disappearing carri-
purposes"
one chapter deals with the recent
army and navy maneuvers. It was de-
veloped that one months time was not
sufficient with the shipping facilities at
hand, to supply by ordinary means of
transportation such a large amount of
projectiles and ammunition as were re-
quired by the coast fOrtifications. 1t IS
suggested that special means must be
provided in future for getting ammuni-
ton to the coast batteries.
The effort to secure mechanics under
the provision of law for service with
artillery companies has not proven
success and it is recommended that the
pay of such mechanics should be in
creased, even if it be necessary to re-
duce the number to one for each COM
pany instead of two as now provided
and further. that machinist sergeantS
be provided the same as electric ser
geants are authorized. Attention is call
ed to the fact that the expense of the
maneuvers was not great, the total val
ue of the powder shipped to all the
posts being only $5,963.
With reference to the personnel of the
ordnance corps, Gen. Crozfer says the
effort to supply the ordnance depart
ment with proper officers under exist
ing laws failed and something else must
be tried, and he adds that vacancies can
be filed by holding out some induce
ment to the eligible body of officers
which contain abundant talent.
Results have demonstrated, the report
cites, that it is practicable with the use
of new explosives, employed to fire
through hardened plate of 12 inches in
thickness without exploding the charge
until after the plate has been entirely
perforated; in other words, that the
charge can be decorated within z ships
body after penetrating the armor. The
suggestion is made that in future ap-
propriations a greater proportion should
be applied for purposes of practice than
for new installation. OF all the nation
al armament. the Mobile artillery is in
the most backward state of any, it is
+nd