The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-11-08
u. 5. PROFITS BY
LESSONS OF WAR
Navy Has More Torpedoes
Than Ever in History,
Report Shows.
PROJECTILES MADE HERE
Rear Admiral Strauss, Chief of Ord
nance, Recommends Numerous
Improvements.
PROJECTILES MADE HERE

| Largely increased production and pur-
chase of ordnance material. chiefly due
I to efforts to accumulate greater reserve
! supplies, IL shown In the annual report
of Rear Admiral Joseph Strauss, chief
Of the Bureau of Ordnance. Navy De-
| partment, made public here yesterday.
This increase is particularly notable
with reference TO torpedoes and torpedo
material While the navy holds as con-
fdentiaI the actual number of torpedoes
on hand at any time. Admiral Strauss
states that l,6O2 torpedoes were under
manufacture and not yet delivered on
October S, while the bureau is soon TO
order 56I additional torpedoes-
Work for Local Yard.
These figures are known to be larger
than at any other period in the history
of the navy.
The Washington Navy Yard has been
made n torpedo manufacturing station.
and during the last fiscal year produced
100 torpedoes. and will make 800 torpedoes
next year. The Newport torpedo station
had in process so torpedoes, while 9l2 are
in possession OF the Bliss Tropedo Com
pany The capacity of the Newport sta
ton has been more than doubled.
The bureau contemplates the design of
a new standard torpedo for battleships
and destroyers, a new 2l-inch short-range
torpedo for submarines. and short
range torpedo to replace worn-out tor
pedoes on submarines OF the a and Il
classes on the Asiatic station.
The production OF mines has also been
greatly increased. plant for the manu-
facture of mines has been established at
the Norfolk Navy Yard, and in addition.
for the first time. an officer has been de-
tailed at the bureau TO have full charge
OF all operations in mining and mine
sweeping The cruiser Baltimore and the
gunbuat Dubuque have been equipped
as mine-layers and mine-instruction
ships. while six old destroyers have been
equipped for mine-sweeping. All de-
stroyers will be fitted for sweeping. and
all capital ships will be provided with
mine-sweeping sets.
A list of steam fishing vessels OF more
than 100 tons has been prepared. their
owners have been communicated with
and arrangements made for inspection Of
these vessels with a view TO their utiliza-
ton as mine-sweepers in time of war
These largely increased activities in the
United States navy with reference to
mines and mine-sweepIng are directly at
Europe. particularly the English opera
tions.
In disproof of the charge that the
United States navy Is Indifferent to in
ventions submitted from the outside, Ad-
miral Strauss calls attention to the work
of the special board on naval ordnance.
During a period of eight months the
board considered a total of 56 inventions
submitted to 1t. mostly from outside the
lo.n 80 Co.
and protection against torpedoes; ninety
one had to do with mines: 139 with bombs
and projectiIes. 1903 with guns and i'm
provements eighteen with armor. and
li9 with explosives, fuses, and miscellan-
eOus matters.
Sub Gun Designed.
Among new developments of the year.
Admiral Strauss mentions the manufac-
ture of a number of bombs for use by
aircraft. These have given satisfactory
results on tests. he states. and more
will be manufactured. The bureau has
also developed Il new one-pounder gun
to be used on aeroplanes. Plans are
already under way for increasing the
caliber Of this gun.
The bureau has designed a 3-inch gun
and mount for use on submarines and
4-inch anti-aircraft gun and mount. both
Ol winch HdNt plONth Oi leSlS " NC luiNe ,
satisfactory. Three-inch anti-aircraft guns
are being manufactured for use on all
battleships. Plans have been completed
for the mobilization of small guns to be
mounted on merchant ships in the event
of war.
Demand on the part of the belligerent
nations for explosives and materials !
used in the manufacture of explosives, |
and also for other ordnance material. has
caused a large increase in prices for the
current year. Admiral Strauss states. The |
price Of H-inch armor-piercing projec-
tiles increased SOS from January. 1915, to ]
March. 1915. The admiral recommends |
the establishment of a projectile plant
by the navy. in view of the increased !
prices and the unwillingness OF many /
manufacturers to meet the rigid speci- |
fcations of navy projeCtiles.