The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-13

cut out by machinery. We passed on to tho3
gun with hardened steel tube, with jackets6o
OF wrought iron built up around II. A very
short experience, that gained at the born-S
bardment OF Alexandria in 1880, dsmon~i
strated the vital imperfection Of this type.
Although not subjected to any extraor-}
binary test, such as extra rapid fresd
these guns broke down In every way. Tho1
steel tubes Of some OF them split, while theJ
jackets OF others were displaced to such any
extent that they we're put out OF action.
The demands for more rapid FIRE thau1
wss possible with the best mechanical ap-S
puances for the charging OF the uiuzsle-
loading gun led to the evolution OF thoI
breeohloader and ultimately TO the quickS
firing weapon Of large caliber now in use
In every navy and being rapidly adopteda
In land service. For field guns, the rapid
Are system has been brought to great per-
lection, and this Is also true Of the smaller
guns Of position and Of guns for sea serviceI
such a. the 6.inch gun.
As YET the number of shots that can DO
fired from the larger guns. such as the
l2.inch Ii restricted, but IN the naval
action the weight Of metal charged with
high explosives that can be thrown In ~
few minutes practically assures victorys
where there 10 an equality OF force, TO tn0I
side which gets In the quickest and besss
directed fire at the start. The Russiau
feet in thu battle Of Tsu Shima left . perma-
neut memorial to the truth OF this
What the effect Of the progressive changes
In guns and explosives Is going to have;
in the cave OF naval bombsrdmsnts Of coassI
tlefenses Ia problem Of the future. Hitherto
the land batteries have generally had the
lest Of it; but given . steady gun platforms
and fine clear weather, the chances seem
turning in favor of the ship On land
conditions are equalized, for both sides
Gun employ vertical a. we'll al horizontally
fire, the former A. the Japanese showed
at Port Arthur being effective in the highesss
degree when scientifically directed.
The unfortunate thing in the preseno
war from the professional point Of view ~
that In a great many respects the oondl1
tions were unequal, and 1t Ii morally ceI1
tain that wherever on the japanese sida,
there may have been circumstances or
causes Of success not known to the outside!l
world they viii naturally not be divulgedst
but will bo guarded with the stfiotese
secrecy, 90 that many Of the problems OF
modern war still rarnAin for solution.
Strategy and tactics even are bsing mode
fod in application by the rapid o6angs4s
that are taking place 10 the scisntifc and
mechanical appliances used in battle. and
II one looks ahead only q couple Of dacadseI
the possibility that science may discover
methods Of destruction so terrible that war
vim kin war presents itself. It only needs
that some new discovery In chemistry, or
| some means Of utilizing electricity In the
destruction Of ships and large bodies Of menu
| be placed at the disposal OF some government
! and war would be revol,toni2ed.
The .vril" OF Buwer's imagiaa'ioss has
not yet been found but we may he on the
threshold Of it's discovery; and tten all
the warships and guns OF the world will
become material for the scrap hear. for they
will be OF az little use against Il as the 81 ear
and shields OF tho old Vii<h &c In their cooltlo.
boats would now be against tie 'atcso
battleships put ahoat. De-.