Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-16
ORDNANCE OPERATIONS
EN. CRozIERE SUMMARY OF
SOME RECENT WORK.
Plans for Rearmamept NJ +h. Arnx
and OF the National Guard I'm
der Militia Bill.

army mas made a summary of the recent
operations OF the ordnance department in
connection with the plans for the rearma-
nhent or the army and the National Guard
unoer the provisions OF the militia law.
He says In part:
An eight-inch twist has been adopted for
oane corresponding to the new rifle. which
Is ABOUT to undergo trial. has been finished
AN eight-inch twist has been adopted for
.ne rining OF the new gun. Experiments are
being made looking toward a reduction Of
the weight of the barrel of this arm. Tests
nave been made to determine the most sat-
lstactory bullet for issue to the service.
me ball cartridges. cal. 30, used In the
NO. l. smooth bullet, old base: No D
smooth bullet. fiat base; No 3. smooth bull
let, hollow base: No T. caunelurezi hniiet
morrow base: No 5. smooth bullet fiat base.
let - - ee oui-
"Firings were held at 1000 yards range
alternating with the different lots; but thew
were all hired under identically the same
conoiuons The ascertained order OF merit
was as follows: First, No. 5: second, No. q:
third No. 3: fourth. No. f. and fifth No 4
AS result of these trials thu No s bullet
mas been adopted for the present service
magazine rifle now in the hands Of the
troops.
Wind Gauge Sight.
The wind gauge sight. model of 1902.
mas been adopted for the new Springfield
magazine rifle. This sight is made on the
general lines Of the model 1888 wind gauge
sight. but with improvements as follows.
viz: Base and rings for securing to thu
oafrel: without the use Of screws, made Ia
one piece; the left side of leaf rouybened
with cuts 100 to the inch: slide changad.
size OF notches in eyepiece slightly In.
creased: traversing screw Of wind gauge
moved from left to right side. and right and
left notches omitted This same model sight
has also been placed on the new Sprin1.
field magazine carbine
The manufacture OF 10000 rounds of
ammunition for the new magazine rife n
In progress
A design Of caisson for the 5-inch siere
pared N~~' ps-
The manufacture of forty sets Of russell
leather wheel harness and eighty sets Of
russell leather lead harness for the artil.
iery service Is In progress. 1t il the in.
tention OF the department to gradually sup,
ply russell leather artillery harness as fast
as the stock OF black leather harness on
hand Is used I'D.
The department Is manufacturing dispatch
cases. puttee leggtngs. box spurs and sabers
cups and meat cans have been issued to
the service for trial.
Gas check pads for seacoast guns design
ed to overcome the excessive reformation
tested. Ten rounds were fired rapidly after
the pads had been artihcially heated by ex-
posture to metal ring heated to about 600
degrees Fahrenheit As 2 result Of the
structton of pads viii be modified.
The tWelve-inch disappearing carriage
model OF 1901. constructed by the Midvals
Steel Works for the department. Is now ba.
ing erected for the firing test The car,
riage Is equipped with electric motors for
traversing and retracting: This carriage u
designed for the model Of 1900 twelve-incn
rifle. which Is to FIRE q projectile with an
initial velocity of 1900 feet per second.
New means Of giving elevations for firing
twelve-inch mortars are being tried. Two
for giving elevations between 10 and 70 de-
grees. are proposed for trial. One consists
essentially Of bracket with circular arc,
secured to the front face Of the right rim.
base, which is graduated In degrees Of arc,
and q removable level which admits Of set
ting to minutes of arc. The removable level
Is made by simply placing under the quad
rant arm OF the present quadrant an arc
base fitting the circular arc Of the bracket
The other. proposed by Lieut. O'Hern, ord
nance department.. consists essentially Of q
bracket secured to the front face Of the
rfmbase. carrying a graduated arc and q
level arm. which latter may be permanent-
ly attached or removed at will. The accus
racy Of setting In degrees IS secured by tho
intermeshfng OF corresponding teeth on the
graduated arc and the level arm. The set
ting in minutes is secured by a micrometer
screw on the level arm The necessity for
these improvements arose from the fact
that the use of the quadrant upon the
breech Of the mortar Is particularly objec-
tionable, for the reason that the level cam
not be seen by the cannoneer at the elevat-
ing wheel and final adjustment required re.
peated commands These improvements
will increase the rapidity Of firing of mor~
tars.
Investigations as to the care and clean
ing Of recoil cylinders Of seacoast gun cary
riages have been made Examination was
made OF the condition of the cylinders OF .
twelve-fnch disappearing carriage which
contained hydrolene oil not emptfed for q
period of seven months. It was observed
that a. to prevent rusting the cylinders
should be kept filled with oil at all times
except during firing. only. when a small
quantity will be removed as prescribed: co
the oil should be carefully protected from
dust and sand and from admixture of war
ter: 80 the cylinders should be emptied
once every three months and portions of OF
containing sediment rejected, and thor-
oughly cleaned once every six months OR
oftener If their condition demands.
Field Material for Artillery.
New field material for the artillery Is to
be painted with khaki-colored paint. Pads
for seacoast guns are to be hereafter stored
in presses and boxes. as to insure their
always being in good condition. Presses or
= Al lA