Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-21
ADMIRAL O'NE|L TALKS
Mo Reason to Believe Defects
in English Ordnance
ON NAVAL VESSEL s
AMERICAN OFFICER GRANTS IN
TERvIEw IN PARIS.
Difficulties With Heavy Guns Applica-
BILE to ALI Countries-SomB
Comment.
Special Correspondence of The Star.

Special Correspondence of The Star.
PARIS, May 49, 1905.
Rear Admiral Charles O.Nef of the
United States navy, In an interview this
week. said II have no information con-
corning any alleged defects in British naval
ordnance except what 1 have read in the
| newspapers, and / am of the opinion from
my knowledge of ordnance in general, that
undue importance has been given to the
matter. The British naval guns are I'M
dcubtedly constructed of the best material,
and on the most scientific principles and it
Ia not likely that they exhibit any defects
except such as are common to all modern
guns for high velocties gun is like any
other piece of mechanism and In time will
show the effect of wear and tear. 1t is said
that the powder used in the British navy,
that is the old form of cordite, is more de-
structive to the bores of guns than the
pure nitro-cellulose powders are, and l be-
iieve this to be the case. Still, cordite has
some excellent qualities which the nitro
cellulose powders do not possess. that is.
Its balliStic properties very high, and
therefore less weight of charge is requir-
ed, costing less money, and it is easier to
handle. and occupies less space, all Of
which are important matters on board
ship
I'm the United States nickel steel is being
used to great extent for naval guns 1t
carbon steel, but Is tougher and has a
higher elastic strength. But 1 am not in
position to say much to what effect a
| long series of firings will have the bore
OF such guns. 1t should be remembered
| that an unusual amount of work has been
thrown on guns within the last few years,
due to the increased pressures to which
| they have been subjected.
I'VE may be sure of one thing and that
| Is that whatever difficulties any country
may have with its heavy guns that diff
Guilty will apply to the heavy guns of all
countries, as there is but little difference in
the character Of the materials used, or in
the methods of construction. The fact
that the British guns are wire wound has
nothing to do with it. 1t is necessary to
fire certain number of service rounds in
target practice in order to properly train
the gun crews and to be certain that the
entire installation is in proper order and
can be relied on under conditions of the
most severe service But each time gun
Is fired under such conditions it is preju-
dicially affected to some extent. 1 do not
think any one can say definitely how many
times gun can be fired before it becomes
inaccurate. Each gun has its own life, as
has been shown on various firing grounds.
Ordinarily, the most that can happen to a
gun is the wearing away of the rifiing. and
the consequent enlargement of the bore,
which causes the shot to tumble and
leads to inaccurate shooting, and the only
real remedy for this is to re-tube the gun,
rather an expensive process, and one which
performed at gun factory after the gun
is removed from the ship. This process is
not common In the United States nor in
any European country. except Great Brit
ain. and the erosion of British guns is I'M
doubtedly due to the use of cordite. atlA
I'm these days of high velocities and high
pressures guns should be frequently exam
ined, in order to see IL any enlargement OF
the bore or other difficulty has occurred,
land every frst-class navy should have a
liberal number of guns in reserve. 1t has
been stated on good authority of late that
the latest types of guns designed for very
high velocities are not accurate at long
range and this, II true, is no doubt due to
the intense vibration and jump which takes
place when such guns are fired, and to the
elasticity of the gun mounting, and the
ships decks or turretS, so that different re-
suits will be found in different vessels, de-
pending upon the rigidity of the structure,
guns of each vessel to determine the area.
One of the chief difficulties in the way of
naval shooting is imperfect sights, or sights.
that are thrown out of adjustment when the
gun is fired, and the other is gun pointers
who are not properly trained. Very great
Improvement has taken place within the:
past year or two in the craftsmanship OF
the United States vessels. due to the intro
duction of a systematic and practical meth
cd of training the gun pointers. which, by
the way, we owe to Admiral Percy Scott
of the British navy, and ships whose bat
teries were at one time pronounced almost
hopeless so far as good shooting is con-
cerned now make excellent returns at tar
get practice, showing how much the per-
sonal element has to do with the matter.