Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-14
FLOATING MAGAZINES
REcoMMENDATIoNs OF ADMIRAL
MASON, CHIEF OF ORDNANCE.

Declaring that in the design of vessels
of the battle feet the space and weight as
signed to ammunition has been so restricted
that the ammunition on board, under GER
tain conditions of battle, would be expended
in something less than an hour, Rear Adj
miral N. E. Mason, chief of the bureau of
ordnance, in his annual report urges the
building of two vessels of considerable size,
one on the Atlantic and one on the Pacific
coast, devoted exclusively to ammunition,
and he states that ultimately there should
be one Of these vessels with each fleet.
They should be so fitted with appliances
for assembling and breaking down ammuni-
tion that they might serve to as great a de-
gree 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 auxili-
airy vessel for use as machine shop and
store vessel with the fleet.
In explaining his estimates for consider
ably increased appropriation for target
practice, Admiral Mason calls attention to
the fact that he anticipates there will be in
full or partial commission during the fiscal
year 1908 twenty-four battleships twelve
first-class cruisers. sixty-six second and
| third rate vessels, sixty torpedo boats and
fifteen auxiliaries, making a total of III
vessels. This, he says, represents an in
crease of thirty-eight vessels over those
cared for and maintained during the present
fiscal year, five of them being battleships,
two, first-class cruisers; nine, second and
third rate vessels, and twenty-five, torpedo
vessels.
A marked departure from all previous de-
signs, Admiral Mason says is represented
in the turret mounts for the Pinch guns
of the South Carolina and Michigan, which,
1t is stated, will operate to increase the
rapidity of fire.
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 preliminary stage
of design. this being likewise marked de-
parture from existing models.
Especial attention is called to the bat
teries of the Iowa, Brooklyn and other YES
sells, 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 serv-
ice.
On the subject of armor It is stated that
the standard of quality required by the bu-
reau is still met in a most satisfactory
| manner, while experiments with high ex-
pios1veS as bursting charges for shells
have progressed sufficiently to justify the
expectation that such an explosive can be
adopted in the near future. There is ample
reason also. Admiral Mason remarks, to
anticipate the development Of satisfactory
decorating fuse.
The close relations with the ordnance de-
partment of the army are referred to- and
in this connection Admiral Mason regards
it as very desirable that the material used
by the two departments, as far as possible,
should be identical, in order to admit of
Interchange in time of war. Efforts, he
says. will be continued along this line.
Considerable attention is paid to the gov
eminent smokeless powder factory at In
dian Head, the output of which the last
year is stated to have been 1,001, 500 pounds.
With the completion of the sulphuric acid
plant there it is believed that in the near
future the government will be entirely in
dependent of outside sources for the supply
of mixed acids.
AS the result of experiments new 3-inch
gun, semi will be placed aboard
all future ships.