Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-11-08
from W ashing,vn.

To his annual report to the Secretary
of War. made public today, Brig. Gen.
Croxief. Chief Of Ordnance, show that
the army is well supplied with arms AID
ammunition of The most improved d :
sign TO carry on war /. The regular
troops have been supplied with the new
magazine rife, the invention OF Amer
lean army officers, which is regarded as
the most efficient weapon of its kind 10
the world. The new design Of FIELD
artillery piece has also been Issued
and AMMUNITION for all kinds OF
weapons is being manufactured by the
government and for the government In
sufficient qusntity to meet all demands.
The United States has recently adopted,
Gen Crozier says, a new design OF bullet
for the rife. The new bullet weighs l5O
grains, as against 900 grains, weight
of the old. The improved bullet st!aius
muzzle velocity of sbont $500 feet q
second, an increase of 600 feet second
over that of the old bullet. is believed
that greater accuracy can also be obtsined.
General Crozier declares that it has
become necessary to increase the size OF
the maximum gun for coast defenses
from 12-inches to .l4-inches. He calls
attention TO the fact that the Pinch gun
firing a projectile Of l, 900 pouads With a
velocity OF 2, 500 feet second only lasts
60 rounds, and, as the gun is capable OF
firing at q rate of As rounds an hour, the
life of the gun could be reached in less
than an hour .apd half. In attempting
TO run by forti6cat,ous guarding the
entrance to- harbor the period that
would elapse from the time that the
leading vessel of the fleet would come
within range until the last vessel would
pass beyond the range of the coast guns
would be about two hours, which makes
il evident that the l2.incb gurs woulc
not last through such an engagement.
Similar statement, says Gen. Ciozier,
can be made of guns of smaller cslibers.
By increasing the cslber to IA inches he
declares he can get higher penetrating
power with projectile weighing l, $50
pounds and life for the gun OF about
240 rounds. For this reason he has de-
cided, with the approval of the Secretary
of War, to build the larger size gun for
the coast defenses of this country.
The question of whether the govern
ment violates its own Law when contracts
with the railroads to haul troops cheaper
than the regular party rates still puzzes
the Interstate Commerce Commission.
The old law provided that the govern
ment could make the lowest possible con-
tract with railroads for hauling troops.
AS this section was not one OF those
amended by the Hepburn bill, War De-
partment officials maintain that they
bave the right to 60 ahead aud get their
soldiers transported as chesply as pos
sible. The Interstate Commerce Com
mission will let them know within few
days Just how they stand on this prop
ositiop. In official circles favorable
opinion is expected. ,.
Very few visitors called atthe White
| House today, and those who came made
their business brief. The President was
engaged most of the morning in clearing
up routine work prior to his departure
for Panama, and when he ! ft Tor his
lncheon at l.30he left his desk empty OF
papers. During the morning he received
call from Count Aoki, the japanese
Ambassador, who came 10 bid him fare
we'll; James O'Connell, vice president
of the American Federstian Of Labor
who broght him some data relating to
the labor conditions in Panama and the
canal strip; and Assistant Secretary
Keeps of the Treasury Department, who
took up departmental matter.
Signor Montagna, secretary and charge
of the Italian En- bsssy, while at the
State Department today, announced that
| he expected the Italian Ambassador, Be-
| ron Mayor Dies Planches, 10 return to bis
post in this city towards the latter part
of this month or early in December. This
effectually disposes Of the many reports
that have been in circulation to the Ell
feet that the Baron was either to i'll tc
return here, or as some put it, that be
had resigned from this post in hut be-
cause he could not get along with secre'
tary Root, :,
The President has granted medal o
honor to Edward Murray, Pennsylvania
Railroad conductor of Pittsburg fol
heroism 10 erd ,Dgering his own lite tt
save the lives of two chilpreu. who CT
January %, stepped upon the track IL
front of Murrsy's train.
| The President Is trip to Panama, on whiri
he 81 .rts this afternoon, will be an absolute
novelty in American history. For the hrs
time since the United States Joined the 50
ciety Of independent nations. its Presiden
| will set foot on foreign soil.