The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1903-05-17

/ crew OF the 5 inch turret gun or TIL
battle Ship Massachusetts, was annihi
lated by the premature explosion of al
explosive shell, and three men were
killed and four wounded by the de
struction of a Il inch gun on the battle
ship Iowa. Fortunately not ATTENDED
with such terrible consequences, 4 !:
inch gun on the battle ship kear
sarge and - inch gun on the battle
| ship Indiana became injured through
the premature explosion of shells anG
had to be replaced.
Naturally these occurrences have
| aroused the anxiety of the naval au
| thorities here. who have begun a most
searching investigation. The more the
probe is moved about the greater be-
| comes the certainty that so far as the
nance of the navy is as reasonably safe
as may be expected. The guns, with
the exception of that on the Iowa, sub
jected to accidents have not been bro
ken. merely Scared and gouged by the
terrific effect of the premature eNp!O-
sion of shells inside their bor"S. j lie
IoWa's y inch gun is one OF lac
twelve oldest guns of that caliber How
in service, four Of them being on ttli::
battle ship. four on the monitor s'llri-
tan, two on the monitor Monterey and
two on the second class battle slip
Texas. The gun on the Iowa which
caused such damage had been fired
at least thirty-five rounds more than
any other at the same date of con-
struction, so that the authorities are
satisfied that the others are in no dan
Ter of causing a similar catastrophe.
At the same time they will be sharp
ly watched, and upon the slightest evil
dence of strain they will probably be
taken out of the ship.
Before installation in vessels each
ing grounds, five rounds at high pres
sure being fired. Sometimes a gun is
retained at the proving grounds for use
in firing shells representing a group of
projectiles submitted for acceptance or
for the trial Of newfangled inventions,
a IL inch gun several years ago. Sub
sequentiy the gun is issued to the serv-
ice. Before it gave way the Iowa's gun,
had been fred 125 times, but no signs
of stress had been reported. The fact
that the barrel of the gun broke off
about twenty feet from the muzzle is
an indication, however. that there it
was weakest, and an examination Of
the plans shows that at this point the
gun had not the reinforcement given
to the part in its rear.
The natural effect of these accidents
is to weaken the faith of the men in
their guns, which is serious thing for
the service. This, however, is not JUS
tilted. as every gun in the service of the
United States is equal If not superior in
strength to gun of the same caliber
in any foreign service. In fact, the
safety of the men is one of the first re-
CARDS of the ordnance department in
planning the weapons This was one of
the considerations entertained by Rear
Admiral Charles O'Neil, chief of ord
nance, when he designed the latest
models of guns. all of which produce
higher velocities and therefore greater
accuracy and destructive energy than
the old pieces.
1t must be said, however, that no es-
sentiai change has occurred in years in
the material or method of manufacture
Of navy guns. Those in use in the latest
ships are practically of the same type
as those first installed on the Atlanta,
Boston and Chicago. laid down twenty
two years ago. The essential difference
IS due to notifications of the gun in the /
way of Improvement Of breech mech |
the development of better pow
der and the use of larger powder !
charges. Thus greater power. greater |
'ange, greater accuracy and greater ra- |
,idity of fire have been obtained Roar !
Admiral O'Neii says that to these quail
ties must be added greater safety for
he men handling the weapons
shells are accepted in lots of 10O,'
avs Rear Admiral O'Neil at is obvi-
puSly iDanoSSibIe TO fire avary sbaIl ca