Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-12-15
Admiral Mason Recon-
mends Floating Magazines
For Atlantic and Pacific Fleets
and Eventually all Fleets.
Target Praetice..-Big Guns and
Mounts and Ammunition.

Washington. Dec. 14.-Declaring that
in the design of vessels of the battle
fleet. the space and weight assigned to
ammunition have been so restricted
that the ammunition on board under
certain conditions of battle, would be
expended in less than an hour, Rear Ad-
miral \. i. Mason. chief of the bureau
Of ordnance. in his annual report, urges
the building of two vessels of consider
able size, one on the Atlantic and one
on the Pacific coast, devoted exclusive
~ TO the carriage Of ammunition. and
he states that ultimately there should
he one of these vessels with each fleet.
They should be so fitted with appli-
aDces for assembling and breaking
down ammunition that they might
serve to as great n degree as possible
as floating magazines.
The lessons drawn from the war with
Spain. Admiral Mason says, lead him
to also recommend the equipping Of an
auxiliary vessel for use as a machine
ship and store vessel with the fleet.
In explaining his estimates for
considerably increased appropriation
Tor target practice, Admiral Mason
calls attention to the fact that he an
ticip2tes there will be in full or partial
commission during the fiscal year 1908.
"a battleships. II first-class cruisers. 66
second and third rate vessels, go tor
pedO boats and Is auXiliaries, making a
total Of III vessels. This. he says, rep
resents an increase Of So vessels over
the present fiscal year.
A marked departure from all previ-
Gus designs. Admiral Mason says, is
represented in the turret mounts for the
Pinch guns Of the South Carolint and
Michigan, which, it is stated, will OPP
crate to increase the rapidity Of fire.
A new type of turret sight also has
been developed for installation in these
two ships and it is stated that a new
type of sight for broadside guns is in a
preliminary stage of design.
Especial attention is called to the
batteries of the Iowa, Brooklyn and
other vessels. and Admiral Mason says
that unless they are equipped with
modern guns. mounts and sights. they
can no longer be considered efficient
vessels and fit for service.
1t is stated that experiments with
high explosives as bursting charges for
shells have progressed sufficiently to
justify the expectation that such an
explosive can be adopted in the near
future. The close relations with the
ordnance department Of the army are
referred to and in this connection, Ad-
miral Mason regards it as very desira-
bic that the material used by the two
departments as far as possible, had
been identical. in order to admit Of in
terchange in time of war. Efforts. he
says, will be continued along this line.
Considerable attention is paid to the
government smokeless powder factory
at Indian Head. Md, the output Of
which the last year is stated to have
been 1,OO1 500 pounds. With the compile
ton Of the sulphuric acid plant there. it
is believed that in the near future the
government will be entirely independ-
ent OF outside sources for the supply Of
mixed acids. AS the result of expert
ments. n new 3-inch gun. semi-auto-
matte. will be placed aboard all future
ShipS