El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-11-08
j. s. Bic GINS
PROVE THE BEST.
Power Increased by Adding
to Length of New IA Inch
Guns on Battleships.

Washington. D. c.. Nov. S-Battle
ships now building for the United states
navy will carry 14-inch, 30 caliber'
guns which are believed by ordnance
experts to be the equal of the 15-inch
weapons in foreign navies although OF
lighter weight. In his annual report
rear admiral Joseph Strauss, chief Of
the navy ordnance bureau, saws
with the object of keeping pace
with the increased range Of modern
naval warfare the bureau has increased
the power Of the 14-inch guns for the
California. Mississippi, and Idaho by
increasing the length of the gun to 30
caIibers and charging its chamber ca
pacftv. In order that these latest addi-
lions to the navy should carry the high
est type Of artillery the bureau took the
bold step OF ordering their guns with
out manufacturing q trial gun The
bureaus confidence in its design has
been fully justified The first gun
proved not only gave the designed We
locirv and pressure exactly. but its ad-
ditional longitudinal strength winch
has been provided for has resulted IN
these guns having less drCOp. than any
guns of large caliber heretofore pro-
duced As il stands these guns, al
though Of lesser caliber and weight
than the 15-inch guns now mounted
abroad. are capable OF penetrating the
heaviest side armor at obhque impacts
and at the greatest effective battle
range. and give US the advantage of
fatter ira jectOry, with greater volume
OF fire due 10 the increased number that
we are permitted to mount on any ship
OF equal displacement
In August. 1914, type OF l6-lnch
gun Of 45 caiiber length was tested
This gun fulfilled the highest eNpecta-
lions of its design, and the bureau be-
lieves IL to be a s powerful gun as IS
in existence today
Nays Arsmament Up to Date
The report shows that the navy 8
armament had been kept well M to
date older type 5-inch guns having
been replaced on all ships Of the first
line that anti aircraft rifles Of sizes
up TO 4-inch rifles have been designed
and that mounts for the disappearing
guns for submarines have been built
The latter weapons viii be given an IN
creased elevation so that they may tire
at aeroplanes-
As 10 the value Of armOr piercing
shells the report says experiments dur
ing the year have strengthened the
view that missiles Of this type buL
carrying high explosives in limited
Quantities are superior TO high cNplo-
sive shells that depend wholly upon
the force Of an outside explosion TO &C
complish their mission 4 French Off
cial report is quoted to show that plain
shells carrying high explosive in larger
quantity were absolutely poWerless
against armOr OF any Importance
Development in Nine Planting.
Great strides in development OF the
mine planting equipment Of the fleet
in the last few months are recorded IN
the report II says
The Dubuque has been fitted out as
q mine layer and mine instruction ship
Six old torpedo vessels are being
equipped for sweeping A mining d.
vision has been formed in the fleet All
capital ships are being provided Win
sweeping nets. All destroyers are be
ing fitted for sweeping A mine-sweep-
ing manual has been prepared and SUD
rnitted to the fleet for comment.