Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-08
LIFE OF A GUN SHORT
The TWelve-Inch Would Not
Last Two Hours.
GEN. CROZIER'S REPORT
Advocates Adoption of Fourteen
Inch Weapon.
FURNISHING RIFLES TO ARMY
Slight Alteration to Be Made in the
Small Arm-Field Artillery
for Militia.

The 12-inch gun now in use at most of
the coast Notifications of the United States
would not last through engagement of
two hours, the period of time that would
elapse from the time the leading vessel of
fleet would come within the range until
the last vessel would pass beyond the range
of the guns, is the statement made by Brig.
Gen. William CroZier, chief of ordnance, in
his annual report made public today.
General Crozier thinks that 1t is of the
utmost Importance that some method be de-
vised whereby the necessary power can be
secured with less expense than that in
volved in using the very high velocities Of
projecties now employed, with the accom-
panying rapid wearing away Of the rif1ng.
in such manner to destroy the accuracy
of the gun after few rounds The Pinch
gun of the model of 1890, firing a projec-
tile of LOCO pounds weight with a velocity
of about 1850 feet per second, Will last
for about sixty rounds. and the gun is
capable of firing for a considerable interval
at the rate of forty-fve rounds per hour 1t
can be seen that the limit of the life Of that
gun could be reached in less than an hour
and a half
Guns of Smaller Caliber.
Similar statements can be made with re-
gard to guns of smaller calber, says the
report, although as the caliber diminishes
the admissible velocity increases. By low
ering the velocity of the Pinch projectile
to 2,250 feet per second the life of the gun
is increased to 200 rounds, and by SINH
larly lowering that OF the 6-inch projectile
to 2,G0O feet per second the life of the gun
goes up to $50 rounds. The penetration
of armor is reduced by the process, that
of the Pinch gun at 10000 yards coming
down from about 10Y inches to about
inches and the range at which its projectile
would penetrate twelve inches of armor
plate being reduced from about 5000 yards
to about 5000 yards, Krupp hard-faced ar
NOR being referred to in both cases.
To restore the offensive power, the most
obvious course Is an increase Of the caliber
of the gun. He says a 16-inch gun has
been successfully built and tested and If
1t should be considered necessary there is
no reason why that ca1iber should not be
adopted for our guns of the highest
power.
A Fourteen-Inch Gun Preferable.
But the chief of ordnance states that it
appears that by using in the situations re-
qu;ring the greatest power a fourteen-inch
gun. with 2150 feet per second velocity of
projectile instead Of the twelve-inch gun,
with $500 feet per second initial velocity.
the army would secure lighter gun. a
cheaper gun, a heavier projectile greater
muzzle energy, still greater proportion OF
energy at each distance beyond the muzzle,
and life four times as long. Upon the
recommendation of the Taft board Tor. the
revision Of the report of the Endicott board
on coast defenses, the department has de-
cided to use the fourteen-inch gun in
place of the twelve-inch guns in situations
where the highest power is required. and
the twelve-inch gun as a maximum caliber
has been abandoned.
General Crozier says that plans and specd-
aon ttn,,c IN tso,, fN. fIa
smokeless powder factory, for which Con-
gress, at its last session. appropriated $780,
COO and that upon the selection of the site
the work of erection will be pushed Wig
orously to completion.
The New Army Rifle.
In speaking Of small arms, the general
states that the magazine rife, 1908 model,
was supplied to the regular troops in the
United States for their use during the tar
get season and that the improved rifle of
1905 model with knife bayonets and rear
sights. has been issued to the troops in the
Philippines and in Cuba and will be issued
to the troops in the states annd the oder
issue recalled. AS result Of tests during
the year, some changes have been made to
the Schuboe auto-loading magazine rifle,
which may eventually render it satisfactory
for service use. An auto-loading magazine
rifle is also being developed at the Spring
field armory and may be subjected to tests
during the coming year. The manufacture
of Small-armS ammunition Is SOM what
more expensive than formerly, due to the
increase in the cost Of brass and lead.
The report says that some complaints
have been received that the ammunition
OF government manufacture is not as ac-
curate as that manufactured by private
firms, but after test OF the two powders
at the recent target practice by some of
the regular troops 1t Is believed that the
government ammunition is as satisfactory
as any that can be manufactured by meas
ured charges.
Among the changes made in the equip
ment issued to cavalry, infantry and artil-
lery during the year was that Of the cup.
which was formerly made of steel heavily
timed and which Ia now made OF
aluminium. 1t being adopted after ex-
tensive service trial.
Field Artillery for Militia.
Gen. Crozier states that thirteen militia
batteries have been supplied with the new
three-inch field artillery material, and
others are being rapidly furnished with It,
He says the organization of the regular
army now provides for only thirty batteries
OF mobile artillery, but for first-class
war at least $50 batteries would be re-
quired. Therefore the reliance of thu
country must be largely upon organiza-
tons OF some kind OF which the members
shah be self-supporting and devoting only
q portion Of their time to military training
Gen. Crozier says that no more profitable
use could be made. during portion OF the
year, OF a considerable number Of officers
OF field artillery than to assign them as in
structors Of militia batteries under proper
system to be prescribed Practical instruc-
ton in firing could probably be best given
by joining the militia batteries with the
regular ones in the summer encampment;
but much valuable instruction in the care
of the material and theoretical explanations
Of the use thereof in the field could well be
given at the armories and on the drill
grounds of which the militia batteries have
use.
The triangular bayonet formerly used
with the Springfield rife has been utilized
in the manufacture of fencing bayonets.
The supply of these bayonets having been
exhausted, new design conforming in
general appearance to the model of the 1900