Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-12-29
DEFECT IN BIG GUNS.
COAST DEFENSE ORDNANCE IS
SHOWN TO BE INEFFICIENT.
Great rwelvelnch Guns Practically
Useless After an Hour Of contin-
uous Firing.

Washington. d. c., Dec. 26.--A So
rious menace to the efficiency OF tho
coast defense system of the United
States has been disclosed, within few
days by tests made at Sandy Hook. IL
was developed by these tests that the
great 12inch guns whicn are mounted
on most OF the coast defanses of the
country are practically ruined by ono
hour Of continuous firing
The tests made were exhaustive.
They showed conclusivcls that gnn
OF the present 12-incn pattern could
not be depended on for accurate work
after having been discharged continn-
ously for one hour. The information
adduced from the tests has been conn
municated privately to members of
congress who are particularly inter
ested in our coast defenses and has
been received with great deal OF con-
Germ.
The short life OF the l2-nch gun or
the present pattern, Is said by army OK
perts TO be due wholly to the effect ON
the gun Of the smokeless powder now
in general use. The acids developed
by the combustion OF the powder acts
SO quickly and powerfully On the
riding Of the barrel OF the gun that,
together with the enormous initial We
locity attained by the IrojectiIe fired
t,.ts
stroyed after comparatively few dis
charges.
The l2lnch guns now IN use are com
structed with very long barrel, so
that great initial velocity may be-
developed before the projectilc issues
from the muzzle The friction Of the
projectile on the inner lining of tho
gun Is tremendous, the result being n
tearing Of the lining The action OK
the acids released by the explosion OF
the powder on the torn lining iinpairs
not only the accuracy, but also tho
range, OF the gun.
How serious the situation il may be-
understood, In measure, from th0
fact that 105 12-inch guns are either A.
ready mounted on the country's coast
defenses or are In course OF construc-
ton. The guns cost the government
$4,000 each Every one now In use
will have TO be replaced with o gun OF
another pattern or course. the dis
placed guns will not be total loss.
but congress will have to make IN ap-
preparation for the reclining Of tho
guns so that their usefulness may b
restored.
The ordnance experts of the army
propose to mount new gun In place
of the 12-inch rife. The new gun will
be 14-inch rife, with shorter bar
rel. It will be, despite its increased
calibre, trife less effective than tho
long 12-inch rifle, but its life" will be
longer and 1t is expected to meet all
the requirements made Of IT. The II
inch gun win cost about $125,0c0. but
after the construction OF the gun is be-
gun, the cost will decrease, naturally.
IL 10 tbOubNt Ny titt NiAiNii@t tAi<et&0
that the new gun can be built for about
what 1t now costs to construct the long
12-inch gun.
BY the use Of the proposed new gun,
an advantage will be gained In that,
because OF the increased weight Of the
l4inch projectile, the gun really will
strike much harder blow than can bo
struck by the Pinch rife, but It will
be OF shorter range.
Preliminary arrangements already
have been begun for the construction
OF the new.pattern guns and II Is like
ly that the necessary congressional ac-
tion will be taken at the present ses-
sion. 1t will require some time to mako
the new guns and to install them In
their mounts; but, meantime, the II
inch guns Will be in service ard win
constitute ample protection to the