The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-11-08
NATIONS BIC GUNS
WOULD NOT Be A
SAFE PROTECTION

Washington, Nov. S--That the G-incn
| gun now I'm use at most OF the coast forti-
hcations of the United states would not
last through an engagement Of two hours
the period that would elapse from the
time the leading vessel of q fleet would
come within the range until the last ves-
sci would pass beyond the range of tho
guns s the statement made by Brigadier
General William Crozier, chief OF ord
nance, whose annual report was made
public at the war department today
Gen. CroZier thinks that IL Is of the ut
most Importance that some method be de-
vised whereby the necessary gunpowder
can be secured with less expense than
that involved IN using the very high veloc.
tiles Of projectiles now employed with
the accompanying rapid wearing-away OF
the rihing. in such manner as 10 destroy
the accuracy OF the gun after few
rounds.
The 12-lnch gun will last for about so
rounds and as the gun Is capable Of firing
for a considerable interval at tho rate of
A. rounds per hour. IL can be seen that
the limit OF the life OF this gun could he
reached in less than an hour and half.
Similar statements can be made with
regard TO guns OF smaller calbres, says
the report. although az the calibre dimn-
ishes. the admissible velocity Increases.
BY lowering the velocity Of the l2-inch
projectile from 25O0 feet To 2250 feet per
second. the life OF the gun IS Increased
To 200 rounds. The penetration OF armor
Is reduced by the process. that OF the l2-
inch gun a 10000 yards coming down from
about l0i4 inches 10 about inches. and
the range at which the projectle would
penetrate II inches OF armor plate being
reduced from about 5000 yards 10 about
600 yards.
The chief of ordnance state that il ap-
! pears that by using in the situations re-
! quiring the greatest power a l4-inch gun,
with 2i50 feet per second velocity of pro-
| Jectile instead Of the Pinch gun. with
$500 feet per second initial velocity the
army would secure a better gun and n gun
which would last four times as long.
Gen. Crozier states that the Taft board
! for the revision OF the report OF the Endi-
| colt board on coast defenses recommend
| this gun and that the department has de-
| cided TO use IL IN place OF the Pinch
| gun I'm situations where the highest power
| is required and the 12-inch gun as a max
| imum calibre has been abandoned.
Gen. Crozier says that plans and speci
| hcations are In preparation for the army
! smOkeless powder factory. for which con
! gress at its last session appropriate
! $4,000
In speaking of small arms. the general
| states that magazine rifle. 1893 model. was
J supplied TO the regular troops in the
| United States for their use during the
! target practice. and that the improved
! rife of 1905 model. with knife bayonet and
| rear sights. has been issued To the troops
| i'm the Philippine Islands and will be Is
| sued TO the troops I'm the States and the
| first issue recalled. As "A result of tests
| during the year some changes have been
| made in auto-loading magazine rifles
! which may eventually render them salts
! factory for service use. The manufacture
! OF small arms ammunition Is somewhat
| more expensive than formerly, due To the
| Increase I'm the cost OF brass and lead
! Gen. Crozier states that a number OF
! militia batteries have been supplied with
| the new three-inch field artillery material
and others are being rapidly furnished
! with IL.