The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-11
GEN. RO/IERS REPORT.
New Ninc for the Troops The Disappearing
Gun Carriage stands the Test

WAsHINGION. Nov. 10. In his annual
report 10 the secretary Of War. Cen Cyozicr
chief of Ordnance protests against the
application Of the detail staff system To
The Ordnance Bureau, and points out that
line Officers will not accept assignments
10 duty with the ordnance corps, pref"rriug
g. remain with their regiments.
Gen. Cro2ier tells If the design for "A
new mtskct for troops IN III" field and
explains thar IN" ncw arm gives a velocity
~ 1900 feet per second and j. provided
with cleaning rod which can also bc used
rs a bayonct The now rifle l. much lighter
Than the present service rife with havunc,
and scabhard. Tn" construction of 500
Of the new muskets has leon authorized
bu work not vet begun. Gen Cro2er
thinks Il advisable 10 60 ahead with the
Manufacture &C ia" new rin" in sufficient
quantities to provide reserve supply
md discontinue the manufacture of the
old type guns. Assuming that 5000
will be needed a a proper r"~"rv" supply
II would take eight year, under "Nlstihg
conditions 10 accunulai" that numb"r Of
guns, but with the contemplated capacity
of the Sprin gfcld and Rock Island arsenal.
tina time required will be only two and a
half years.
Regarding the disappearing carriage
Gen. Crozl.r say.
The efficiency of ~" type used VA never
called in quests u until thr commanding CEN
cral OF IN" army report ed IN" -N-tcnl a. beng
complicated. expensive. uncertain and I'M
neoess.lry G m-, va, followed ~ ac,ion 10y
Ont y. 1900. the board by q majority vote n O..
tnen constituted. recommending that no
additional disappearing carriages l." manu-
facanred for Use ON high or medium Ito, and
that no more should II" manufactured for
u.e on low sites until the proport ,uu of tho>r
N hn I,sI an M III los II In I..,
reduced to on"-thTd OF the total number
TO be % located This action never having
received IN" approval Of the Secretary OF
War the manu- actur" Wa continued unt Il
Congress at IL last session directed TINT the
further production 81 ne catrlar", should
system by board of di-iut"rc-tcd officers
includihg also civilian mechanical engineer
The gun carriage -urvivcd tho test Nithou,
the least symptom Of weakness, and M the
conclusion Wer" ~ perfect condit ION for an
indefinite continuarc" Of their service
As to M general condition of The scacoas,
ueierc'e ia" report say;
he NjftcruelI' ,iu be- r.ado tL,, tho have
srmlm.ht, though ho' comrlcr", - IN 4,
satisfactory state of adyancom cnt and thai
US STATUS = such A. 10 warrant u change
IN me dl~t rlhuiion ol n" Rational emery,
represented hN appropriations of Congress.
winch has, W 10 ~" present, pr"vailcd A
greater proportion than IN iilr pl.f sLn,tLJ
hc devoted to ih" prH,tiu. which |. rc,o..,rv
70 prpduc" -kI!l dud familiarity "i the prr-
s"nnrl WIN m" material aud les pro
o. "a" hrtiIlcr>t IL 10 hit ~" marx but .tutn
tNd"nt 10 this Is the ability 10 hRudI" its
weapons, without which he oanno, oven
SHOOT ana maintain AN action. Tho best
pracflr both for producing familiarity
WIN ~" mechanism and accuracy oil Grr
that viii full seryio" charges
lie iapld IRE, armament j. not so well
edvancrd a. he heavier. and no dimnu,ion
OF rnort i advisable IN pushing This element
or th" dei'uc"s. The mobile artillery. thUt
designed for "a" IN connection with the opera.
tons OF armies, and consisting of field. siege
ana mountain guns, II now in the most back
ward state Of all the national armamrni
in regard to the standard field Iuateriti
the period Of design and experiment has b,,I,
Is just beginning the fund, on hand are
enough ior "a la'r rttIt, I'M rh"y should he
tnm"dlai"N supplemented sufficiently 10
I"rnit u IJrg" Increase In the Tnfe of pro-
uh'iioh hs soon ~ IN" luHuuiHCtur" IL WoIl
Ohh'f way, N regard 10 'irg" material,
oven a. -bti,ldCtOtN condition u tins docs
pgt ,phtal9 lhc present Armament l. fairly
t1lt1cht, NV very considerable improve
a,e.is ars-in ~tGht. and should bc IN process
VI clnO"dimcut.