New-York tribune., 1907-03-23
MAXIMS NEW WEAPON.
ANNOUNCED At DINNER.
WT Pierce III ArmOr- Canadians
Honor Sanderson.

g4o Canadian Society Of New York gave din
,.- last night az the Hotel Astor in honor Of Sir
Sosrr sanderson. the retiring British Consul Gen
- ,n New York. who resigned recently. Sir
-, Is soon TO return TO England 10 private life.
o.d his fellow British subjects from across the
.-o-sbern border OF the United States gathered to
an him before no went how grateful they were
so- his many courtesies to Canadians expatriated
gn New York.
.,a dinner the occasion Of the first announcement
.,,cernlnE a new safety detonating fuse which he
80 Invented after ten years OF experimenting. and
.,Sics he declared had been the aim OF inventors
sor wears BY It. he said, IL was at last possible
70 send armor piercing shell through armor and
.opse Il 20 explode at exactly the distance behind
sbe armor desired by the gunner. 1t would not
natter whether the armor was one inch or twelve
,,ohes in thickness the inventor said.
The invention. according TO Mr.. Maxim, marks
snother step forward in the art of war mechanics
sna means the final victory by armor piercing
shells over armor as at present hardened.
Mr. Maxim made the Canadian Society dinner
scns years ago the vehicle of the first word that
was given 10 the world concerning his now famous
invention. the high explosive maximite. In that
connection besides the new safety detonating fuse
ne said. he could tell the diners about a new
srnokeless r-stabillite-which he had just
begun TO manufacture. but which is still in the
process OF experimentation.
This new weapon. Mr.. Maxim declared would
wipe out many or most OF the dangers attaching
10 the use Of smokeless powder. Ordinary, smoke
less powder decomposes after a time, varying from
three months 70 a year and half. he declared ac-
eording 10 tie size OF the powder and the ordinary
powder then begins 10 decompose more or less
rapidly In the stage Of decomposition, he said
and as that process advances, the powder is likely
10 explode and cause such accidents as that which
baopened ton the French battleship lena recently.
The speaker prefaced his talk about high ex-
plosiyes hy a talk on the comparatively unde-
Tended condition Of the seaboards-Atiantic and
Pacific And he talked of the preparedness Of other
nations referring 10 the possibility Of a japanese
sortie on the Pacific Coast
Two big British and American flags were inter
fwined behind the speakers table, ar which sat
the societys president DR.. T. !. Bowles Sir Percy
was at his right and Sir Caspar Purdon Clarke,
director of the Metropolitan Museum Of Art, at
his left Others at this table were DR.. William
Ferguson president Of the Ne| York Graduate
Society of McGin University, Montreal: Hudson
Maxim, Corporation Counsel ". p. Ellison. the
Rev Dr. Anthony Evans, Of St. Dav1ds Society
E. Grote Higgins, president OF ST. Georges
Society. y Butler Duncan president Of St An
drews Society: DR. John Rowlands Shannon, first
rioe-pTesident Of the British Schools and Univer-
sites Club; Kennard Thomson president OF the
University Of Toronto Club; DR.. John A. Wyeth'
president Of the Southern Society and Dr. Neil
NcPhatta, president of the Canadian Club
DR.. Bowlas made a brief opening speech and
then 70 the tune os America" or God Save the
King the title fitted. the diners toasted Presl-
dent Roosevelt and King Edward.
Dr.. Wolfred Nelson then made an address intro
ducing Sir Percy. on international Comfy He
told Of many incidents Of good feeling between
Britain and America instancing particularly the
moral support given Admiral Dewey IN Manila
Bag by the British ships and the help given by
Admiral Davis 10 the earthquake sufferers OF Ja-
maica. He did not speak Of the Swettenham affair.
Then he referred in glowing terms to the retiring
Consul Generals long and meritorious career in
his country's service, and finally called for three
cheers for Sir Percy. These were given heartily,
and then Syb owens English entertainer. sang
q song in praise OF Sir Percy. One stanza ran:
ETsng -ou tonight o. who all our hearts has
A hne old English gentlenaan-sir Percy sanderson.
His duty, wei performed TO all he gave hearty hand.
And leaves record unsurpassed by any IN the land,
As a fine old English gentleman. one OF the good
The diners Joined IN on the chorus. and when the
song was finished cheered Sir Percy half q minute
more. When he could speak Sir Percy replied 10
The tribute follows:
To begin with. should Ike 10 refer for a few
moments 10 what saidewhen had the privilege OF
addressing you about this time last year. then
.nenti9ned thai ] had received a letter rom gen
thai Csnad5sr as Fllie ala not no aTaiI themselves
service in The United States and thae for different
that the services Of this consulate general were,
9nd always have been, as much al the disposal of
that should be only too glad if they would avail
themselves OF these services whenever they had
Since that time there have been 7 th6k. more
Frequent Inquiries from Canada, and al his request
government with desk IN my Office, an arrange
lnent which works 10 our mutual advantage. more
particularly IN matters connected with trade and
commerce. he comes in direct contact with the
commercial agent attached 10 this consulate gen
@ @srai ana they can exchange information and ez-
And 50 think We are moving on toward that
winch should Ike 10 see-namely, the same con
Aeence OF the part Of Canadians. whether in the
United States Canada. in British consular OFF,
tIs which they would place IN officers appointed
o.! Ilelr own government
50 far as members Of the Canadian Society are
S8s d ePe % that fd sqe bl Is Iae cae
g make TINS feeling general among Canadians. for
the Influence they exert I'm this direction IS
larger than the consular Officers themselves can
IN TIE course of my residence here ! have seen
NE canadian Society organized 10 foster cordial
sofial relations among Cana oans IN New YORK and
Us vicinity, 10 keep alive memories Of Canada and
70 assist INDECENT Canadians. One has only to
-e.aplnate these objects . see the Nalue OF such
g society and 10 appreciate the assistance which
can render 10 the consular Office;
IN me relief of distress II IS particularly helpful
es. IN view of the close proximity Of the Two coun-
rles, cases II officially treated must be referred
before assistance can be given. but this is by no
means an. In bringing Canadians together in
krFf1nE up good relations with Americans and in
ihsny other ways il Is doing good work.
Personally ] indebted 40 the society
Nhole an0 70 many Of its members individually
lor The assistance they have given me, sometimes
selves shall carry away with me the EecOllec-
uen ~ many pleasant evenings spent IN thei-
future
When Mr Maxim had finished bis talk Corpora
don Counsel Ellison said that IL desired
good government, whether by the municipal owner
ship or any other route. he cant be a bad citi-
3en He praised the present city government "I
o9a think ever had better" he said
1pe Key Dr. Evans was the last speaker.