The Washington times., 1914-11-12
NEW DEFENSE GUNS
HAVE lO-M|LE RANGE
Government Report Describes
Tests of Ordnance for
Manila and Panama.

Tests recently made by the United
States Government of powerful guns
r0ortars for use in the defenses OF
Manila bay and of the Panama canal,
nd concerning which the utmost
.errecy has been maintained, are de-
cribed in the annual report. made pub
lic today, of Brig. Gen. William Crozier.
cnief of ordnance.
During the past year" General
Crozier's report says. there have been
,C.npleted and successfully tested a
rur.:hcr of fourteen-inch guns of
-reater length and power than those of
Tho type referred to in my last annual
eport. Some of the newer type are to
ge mounted in the turrets to be erected
IS q part of the defenses of Manila bay.
Gnc others in the defenses of the
sanama canal. These guns fire a 1850
.rourd projectile, with a muzzle velocity
Of 80 feet per second. The maximum
"ange is about 1S.oeO yards, or slightly
. more than len miles. The theoretical
'enetration, in best quality armor. is
e.5 inches at the muzzle, and 11.2 inches
g.. 1900 wards"
The gun factory at the Watervliet
.trsenal has been working two or three
lifts during the year. and by this
ncans the department has been able to
manufacture all its own guns. In addi-
.iun to the fourteen-inch guns, other
owerful mortars of smaller caliber
ave been manufactured to further in
,rcase the efficiency of the coast de-
Nnses.
Shortage of Ammunition.
Twcnty-three Of the latest type of
Inch mortars were made during the
d! ear, the report says, and sent to the
l'anama canal These are more power
.ul than the earlier type, and have
- maximum range of slightly more than
eleven miles
A new 2-inch field gun and a new type
Sin field howitZer have been develop
i. The most powerful howitzer, how
yer. is one of which especial mention
made in the report. This howitZer,
.hich has been developed for use in the
'anama canal Notifications, is describ-
in General Crozier report as being
of unusually great power" 1t is OF
ire wrapped construction, and fires
sixty-pound projectile, with a muZzle
elocity of 1,300 feet per second, and a
-.laximum range of 10000 yards.
In outlining the needs of the army
n case Of war, General Crozier calls
LartiCular attention to the shortag ge
# ammunition. "The amount of am
munition on hand for field pieces is
far short of that considered advis-
able," the report says, although ap-
propriations for this purpose have
been materially increased"
There is q better supply of small
arTs ammunition.
In case of war with Il first-class
power," General Crowder reported,
the army to be raised under such
Conditions could be supplied with
Small arms ammunition required
Further needs could be met by the
rapid manufacture Of this class of
ammunition.
Powder Purchases.
Legislation prohibiting the Ordnance
Department from purchasing smokeless
powder az private factories was criti-
Used as unwise. 1.-The wisest policy is
lor Congress to fix. as it has done.
what it considers reasonable price to
ne paid for smokeless powder. and. with
hat restriction to authorize the depart
aent to give private manufacturers a
air share of the work of manufac-
gIre." the report says.
The report of the chief of ordnance
offended the results obtained by the
fse of systems of scientific manage
inent in Government arsenals, and in
sisted that the system had been profit
bic both to the Government and to
he employees. General Crowder ex-
rcssed the belief that much of the
legislative opposition to this systm was
Tuwise. He recommended, however.
tnat Congress take no action on any OF
The measures pending before Il attack
inE the efficiency system until the COM
ipission on industrial relation now
conducting an investigation along this
line, makes q report.