Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-12-26
GUNS ARE USELESS.
This Discovery Made by Recent Tests
 at Sandy Hook.

washington, U. C., Dec 14.-A serious menace to the efficiency of the coast defense system of the United States has been disclosed within few days by tests made at Sandy Hook. It was developed by these tests that the great twelve-.Dch guns which are mounted on most of the coast defenses of the country are practically ruined by one hour of con- tinuous firing.
 The tests made were exhaustive. They showed conclusively that d gun of the present twelve-inch pattern could not be depended on for accurate work after having been discharged continuously for one hour. Tho in formation adduced from. the tests has been communicated privately to members of congress who are parricu- larly interested in our coast d.fenses and has been received with a good deal of concern.
 The short life of the twelve-inch gun, of the present pattern, is sad by the army experts to be due wholly to the effect on the gun of the smoke less powder now in general use. The acids developed by the combustion of the powder acts 60 quickly and powerfully on the rihing of the bar rel of the gun that, together will the enormous initial velocity attaile1 by the projectile fired. the inner lining of the gun is nearly destroyed after a comparatively few discharges.
 The twelve-inch guns now in use are constructed with very long bar rel. SO that a great initial velocity may be developed before tha proie.- tile issues from the muzze. The fric- ton of the projectile on the inner lining of the gun is tremendous, the result being tearing of the lining. The action of the acids released by the explosion of the powder on the torn lining impairs not only the ac. curacy, but also the range, of the gun.
 How serious the situation is may be understood in a measure from the fact that 105 twelve-inch guns are either already mounted on the country's coast defenses or arc in course of construction. The guns cost the government $75.000 each. Every one now in use will have Co be replaced with gun of ano .ner pat tern. Of course. the displaced guns will not be total loss. but congress will have to make an appropriation for the reclining of the guns. so that their usefulness may be restored.
 The ordnance experts of the army propose to mount new gut in place of the twelve-inch rife. The Lew gun will be a fourteen-inch rife. with a shorter barrel. It will he, despite its increased calibre. trifie less ef- fective than the long Iweive-inch rife, but its life" will be longer aud 1t is expected to meet ali the re- quirements made of it. The tour teen-inch gun will cost about s12s.- 900, but after the construction Q: tue gun is begun the cost will decrease It is thought oy the ord nance experts that the new gua can be built for about what it now costs to construct the long twelvc-inch gun.
 By the use of the proposed new gun, an advantage will be gained in that. because of the increased weight of the fourteen-inch proiccti!e. tho gun really will strike a much harder blow than can be struck by the gun. It will not differ much in accuracy from the twelve inch rife. but it will he of shorter range.
 Preliminary arrangements already have been begun for the construction of the new pattern guns and it Is likely that the necessary consrcr>ion- al action will be taken at the present session. 1t will require some time to make the new guns and to install them in their mounts: but. mean time. the twelve-inch guns will be iE service and will constitute ample pro- tection to the country.