The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-09-19

The board appointed by the Secretary
Of War to test the disappearing gun
carriages in accordance with the law
passed at the last session OF Congress.
has made its report The board finds
the device to be entirely worthy Of
confidence" and recommends that its use
be continued.
The board was composed OF Col Wal
lace F Randolph. Chief of Artillery:
Capt. Eugene Il. c. Loutze. [. s. Navy.
detailed fer that purpose by the secre-
tary of the Navy; Mai. John G. D.
Knight. Engineer Corps; Maj Charles
Smaller. Ordnance Department: Mai Al
bert s. Cummins. Artillery Corps: Maj.
Benjamin II. Randolph. Artillery Corps.
and Mr. John r Freeman, Of Prou-
denee. R.
4 Representative Board.
It would be seen that the board was
q representative one. containing officers
Of the Engineers, CorIG, Ordnance De-
partment. and Artillery Corps. and enc
civilian expert It is stated that lis
I tests were extensive. and that both suns
and carriages were subjected TO the
greatest possible stra.n.
Findings Unanimous.
The finding. of the board is unanlmous.
and it has recommended that the manu-
facture Of disappearing gun carriages
FOR the. s-iach. Ie=Ineh, and Iz-inch
guns be Continued, The board. howsve1.
recommends that no more 6-incb guns
be mounted on disappearing gun carrf-
ages. This latter is not unexpected,
since the development OF rapid-nre guns
CT 6-ineh caliber has made it quite es-
sentiaI that these guns should be mount
ed on barbette carriages
The gun carriages we're carefully in
sDected. both before and after each
series Of firing. and after each delIbel
ate round, and the only breakage during
the tests were two throttling pipes for
the disappearing carriages fec the L.
inch. breeeh- loading rifles.
The board decided in positive terms
that the elevation Of the site above tb,
sea-isyei does not materially affect TIE
choice of the style Of carriage.
With the larger caIiber OF guns. f1e-
inch and u -ineh) greater rapidity OF
IRE was obtained with the disappearing
type, with great advantage in the saw
ing Of time and with less fatigue OF nen.
over the barbette mount.
As far as the S-inch gun is con-
eerned, the rapidity OF operation with
the two carriages appears 10 lie sub
Itantially the same Much better pfo-
lection is secured for the gun detach-
ment with the disappearing mount.
In conclusion, the board says, The
board desires 10 record Its opinion that
the general mechanical principles in
volved in the chief elements and move
ments of the Burlington -Crozier dfsap-
pearing carriage are admirably adapted
to their purpose
Regardless of High or Low Site.
In making its recommendation for the
continuance Of the manufacture of the
disappearing carriages the board states
that the recommendation is made re-
gardiess of the question of high OF low
sites.
The board draws very favorable COM
parison between the allowance of gun
ners in the navy and those in the artiI-
lery and earnestly recommends an in
creased pay for the latter, in order that
expert mechanics may be induced to en-
gage in this very important branch or
Government work. The board suggests
that more protection be given to the
gunners who are the only men serving
who are much exposed. 1t is proposed ts
provide this protection by small move
able shields.
Ammunition for Target Practice.
Comment on the allowance CT ammuni-
ton for targ,t practice is freely made
by the board which recommends the
abandonment OF all target practice wita
reduced charges as tending 10 create
false impression in the EGss'ds OF officers
and men. The suggestion Is made that
subcaIiber practice be continued and en-
couraged and that when firing for target
practice that the full service charge
should be used and that the allowances
should be increased to not less than
fifteen shots per gun each year.
The proceedings, findings, and various
recommendations Of the board have teen
approved by the Secretary of War and
immediate steps will be taken to carry
out such recomn endattoas as do not re-
quire further action OF Congress.
The construction of guns and car
ria ges being already authorized. depea-
dent upon these tests. no further Iegis-
Iation is required, but the subject OF in
c-easing the compensation for gunners
is something which viii have TO be laid
before the military committee before
any practical results can be obtained.