The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-10-27

washington. Oct. 2T.-Rear Admiral
U'Neil. chief OF the naval bureau OF ord
nance In his annual report made public
wants s1s, ls2.sos next year. of which
amount $40. 1000 is to be devoted TO arms
and argument for new ships.
The gun shop at the Washington navy
yard during the past year turned out 2S4
new guns, prepared sets OF forgings for
l46 more and has o. in course OF manu-
facture. The bureau Is preparing new
type OF three inch gun, 90 calibres In
length OF a semi character 10
replace all guns OF this size now In use
in the nav.
Admiral o'Nsii says that for the first
time In years the manufacture or arnor
has progressed in a satisfactory manner
1872 ions having been delivered at the va
rious shipyards during the year with pros
poets OF largely increasing the deliveries
NO IMPROVEMENTS.
No Improvement worth speaking or
seems 10 have been made in the quality
OF armor OF late. Guns powder and pro-
1ectales have each made decided al
vance, rendering II ell the more neces-
eary that there should be an Improve
ment in the quality OF armor, put none
seems 70 be In sight at present.
Rscently the armor manufacturers Voi-
unfairly made a reduction OF 10 smllnSs
per ton on the royalty for the hrupp
process.
with the exception OF ignition and smell
powder no black or other than smokeiess
nowder has been purchased or manufact-
,,red for the navy since the Spanlsn-Am-
erican war. All new ships beginning Win
tha Kear.arga aud Kentucky have been
supplied with OUTFITS OF smoke!ess powder
and IN addition some 30 OF the older yes
sells have thus been supplied
sMoKELEss POWDER.
THE manufacture OF smokeless powder
during the past year has progressed In
a satisfactory manner so FAR as qualiS
q concerned but not so much as 10 tho
amount delivered. so far as the staoih'y
OF the smokeless powder Is conoerneo
the results OF the years work nave peer,
of the most satisfactory character, anu
with few exceptions the ballisuo quahues
~ the nowder have remained unohangeo.
A novel experiment is now under way
-v,,h the purpose OF indicating any IN
turious change that may take place IN
smokeless powder by Incorporating IN IL
a fugitive coloring matter, such as re-
sanit!ne. $780, ~.
The most interesting event curing tne
wear IN connection with pro1ectnes is
the deyelopment of a new type or smell
combining the advantages OF the armor
piercing with the common SHELF that is'
having the perforating power or the reg
ular armor piercing protectile with lhe
capacity for large bursting charge.
The requirements for these shells on
test are that at a prescribed velocity tney
shall completely perforate. unbroken' a
plate of hard faced armor caliore IN
fhicknsss and then be In condition Tor
erreotiye bursting. number OF smells
OF this description have been ordered
and the nrst three lots have successfully
passed the requirements. These shehs
are fitted with soft caps.
A NOVEL DEVICE.
novel device tried during the year
was the tracer" which renders a smell
v,sible during the night 20 the gunner
hut invisible TO the persons at the target.
this being accomplished by the insertion
of a burning composition in the base OF
the shell.
The use OF electric power for handling
runs and turrets IL unqalfedly endorsed
as better than any other system
Admiral O'Neii finds that the best way