The Washington times., 1902-09-20
DISAPPEARING GUN
CARRIAGE APPROVED
Board Recommends That Its
Use Be Continued.
sIx-INcH TYPE DISCARDED
Rapid Fires to Be Used as Barbette
Guns = Exhaustive Tests Result in
Commendation-More Pay to Gunners
and More Target Practice Advocated.

The War Department yesterday made
public a long statement referring to
the report of the special board appointed
by the President under provisions of a
recent act of Congress to determine the
practical value of the disappearing
type of gun carriage over which there
has been SO much controversy during
the past two years.
1t will be recalled that one of the
principal objections made to the con-
firmation of the nomination, OF Gen.
William Crozier to be Chief of Ordnance
of the Army vas the fact that he with
General Burlington is the inventor OF
the disappearing gun carriage used IN
all of the sea coast defenses of the
United States. The present board has re-
ported strongly in favor of the disap-
pearing carriage, stating that both guns
and carriages were subjected to the most
severe strains practicable
The statemert made by sthe War De-
partment, which is, of course, ofhclal
in its nature, follows.
The board was composed of Col. Wal
lace F. Randolph. Chief of Artillery;
Capt. Eugene H. C. Loutze, u S. Navy,
detailed for that purpose by the Secre-
tary of the Navy; Maj. John G. d.
Knight, Engineer Corps; Mai. Charles
Shaler. Ordnance Department; Maj. Al
bert S. Cummins. Artillery Corps; Maj.
BENJAMIN H. Randolph, Artillery Corps,
and Mr.. John R. Freeman, of Provi-
dence, r. 1.
Findings Unanimous.
The finding of the board is unanimous.
and it has recommended that the manu-
facture of disappearing gun carriages
for the s-inch. 10-inch, and 12-inch
guns be continued. The board, however
recommends that no more 6-inch guns
be mounted on disappearing gun carri-
ages. This latter is not unexpected
since the development of rapid-fire guns
OF 6inch caliber has made it quite es-
sential that these guns should be mount
ed on barbette carriages
The gun carriages were carefully in
spected. both before and after each
series of firing and after each deliber-
ate round. and the only breakage during
the tests were two throttling pipes for
the disappearing carriages for the 12-
inch, breech-loading rifles.
The board decided in positive terms
that the elevation of the site above the
COT
choice of the style of carriage.
With the larger caliber of guns. 90
inch and 12-inch) greater rapidity OF
fire was obtained with the disappearing
type. with great advantage in the say
ing of time and with less fatigue OF men
over the barbette mount.
As far as the S-inch gun is con-
cerned, the rapidity of operation with
the two carriages appears 10 lie sub
tantially the same. Much better PIC
lection is secured for the gun detach-
ment with the disappearing mount.
In conclusion, the board says, "Thc
board desires 10 record its opinion that
the general mechanical principles in
ments of the Burlington Crozier disap
pearing carriage are admirably adapted
to their purpose"
Regardless of High or Low Site.
In making it's recommendation for The
continuance of the manufacture of the
disappearing carriages the board states
that the recommendation is made re-
gardless of the question of high or low
sites.
The board draws very favorable COM
parison between the allowance of gun
ners in the navy and those in the artil-
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 of
Government work. The board suggests
that more protection be given to the
gunners who are the only men serving