New-York tribune., 1902-05-18
IMPORTANT ORDNANCE TEST.
UTILITY OF THE BUFFTNGTON-CRO
DISAPPEARING GUN CARRIAGE
DEMONSTRATED

washington. May l1.-Five solid shots OF a
"Io pound projectile propelled by $50 pounds of
powder over a range of nearly two miles con
Vlnced a distinguished company assembled a.
fort Washington this afternoon that the Ruf-
Hhgton-Crozier lO-inch disappearing gun car
rage Is one OF the most valuable auxllaries Of
the modern system of coast defences of the
United States Secretary Root escorted the com
pany on board the Sylph down the Potomac to
the proving grounds. fifteen miles below the citv
IN the party were members Of both houses of
congress, representing the committees that final
y VIII decide the mooted question Of the adop-
ton Of the Burlington -Crozier invention. and
many high officers of the army and navv Prom
lnent among the Congressman were Senator'S
Platt, OF Connecticut; CockreII OF Missouri:
Foster, Of Washington; Tilman, OF South caro-
lima; Warren. OF Wyoming; Quarles. Of WIscon
sin: Perkins, Of California; Burrows, OF Michf-
gan; Teller. OF Colorado; Gallinger Of New
hampshire and Harris. of Kansas; Representa-
tves Overstreet and Hemenway Of Indiana; Lit
tauer and Emerson, of New-York; Hull and
Lacey Of Iowa; Slayden of Texas; BrantIey Of
Georgia; Broussard. OF Louisiana; MondeIl OF
Wyoming; Bell and Shafroth. Of Colorado, and
Scott. OF Kansas. Secretary Root headed the
military contingent among it's members being
Brigadier General Gillespie. chief OF engineers:
Colonel Randolph. chief Of artillery: Captains
Gibson and Wheeler of the Ordnance Depart
ment. and several naval officers. including Lieu
tenants Norton and Block.
The object Of the trip was 70 show the utility
and safety OF the Buffngton-Crozier disappear
ing carriage which has been severely criticised
by Gtnsral Miles and assailed IN the Senate by
Mr. Proctor. Of Vermont. a member Of the Mill
tary Affairs Committee and an ex- Secretary 4
War. The range over 4 course Of nearly
tEO miles straight down the Potomac River The
hIce projeCties were hurled this distance with
noise that seemed greater 70 the spectators
than could have been that caused by the eAplO-
sion OF Mont Pelee. and when they struck the
water they sent up great geysers that seemed 20
BE- hundred feet high. The military experts
present declared that the reCoil Of the immense
gun after every discharge was perfect. and that
the entire machinery, among the most delicate
pieces Of mechanism Imaginable responded sat
isfactorIly TO the demands made on il.
The trial Of peculiar value this time
General Niles. the senior officer Of the army. is
known be opposed the adoption - the
carriage that tested. and Mr.. Proctor, one
Of the most influential members u the Senate.
has been fighting its adoption for week in the
consideration in the Senate Of the FortihcatiOns
bill
Secretary Root. who watched the trials with
keen interest. said their close TO representa-
tive Of The Tribune: Il have witnessed numer-
Gus tests or the disappearing gun carriage.
Those OF to-day quite satisfactory
others have witnessed. ! entirely satisfied
with IT, and feel confident that Congress Will
make the Necessary appropriation for its adop
ton all OF our principal points Of coast de-
feD