MISCELLANEOUS. Subtarget gun machines.-April 18, 1903, the Board made an allotment of $1,000 for the purchase of four subtarget gun machines, a device designed to aid in instruction in aiming small arms, and intended to replace the tripod and sand bag. May 5, 1904, $1,000 was allotted for the purchase of four more machines of improved pattern, and the eight machines were tested at as many different posts. On March 7, 1907, a further allotment of $500 was made to procure two machines for experimental test at the newly established School of Musketry at the Presidio of Monterey, California. Early in December, 1906, four of the gun machines were sent to Fort Riley for test by the Cavalry Board and four to Fort Leavenworth for similar test by the Infantry Board. The instructions contemplated that two squads of the same number each of inexperienced men be instructed, one squad on the subtarget machine and the other by the usual methods. Both squads were then to take up the regular course of firing on the range and the records made compared with one another. Morris tube outfits.-March 2, 1905, an allotment of $250 was made for the purchase of two Morris tube outfits and their adaptation to coast-defense guns for test in connection with the development of a system of training gunners. Additional allotments for completing and installing the devices were made as follows: June 29, 1905, $270; December 7, 1905, $75, and July 14, 1906, $10. A preliminary report was made by the Artillery Board on May 12, 1906, and as the result of its recommendations the allotment of July 14 was made. Final report has not been received. Powell gun-sling catch.-March 2, 1905, the Board made an allotment of $150 for the manufacture of 150 gun slings with an improved catch or hook, designed by Lieut. Leighton Powell, Sixth Infantry. The slings were manufactured at Rock Island Arsenal, and on September 21, 1905, a further allotment of $117 was made to cover their cost. They have been distributed for test by troops in service and reports are expected shortly. Disappearing platform for searchlight.-April 6, 1905, the Board made an allotment of $2,500 for the construction and erection of an experimental disappearing platform for a 36-inch searchlight of design submitted by Capt. E. H. Schulz, Corps of Engineers. This device is intended to meet the need for masking lights, and also to prevent their location being discovered during daylight. Preliminary tests showed that the platform was difficult to elevate as constructed, and on June 7, 1906, an allotment of $400 was made to procure and attach additional counterweights. Final tests were conducted by a committee of the Board in December, 1906, with the result that on January 3, 1907, the Board recommended that the device be not adopted, as the purpose for which it was designed could be more economically accomplished by other means. Gottlieb searchlight controllers.-January 4, 1906, an allotment of $755 was made for the construction and test of one each of two forms of controllers for searchlights proposed by Lieut. E. Gottlieb, Coast Artillery Corps. The controllers were installed on a searchlight at Fort Williams, Me., and tested in the presence of a committee of the Board. The tests suggested the possibility of other improvements, and resulted in the action outlined in the next paragraph. Improvements in searchlights.-On December 6, 1906, the Board allotted the sum of $4,000 to cover the expenses of conducting experiments proposed by Lieut. E. Gottlieb, Coast Artillery Corps, with a view to improving the arc mechanism and other details of searchlights, and on June 6, 1907, a further allotment of $2,000 was made to cover the cost of completing the work. It is hoped the material will be ready for test during the fall of this year. Sunshades for azimuth instruments. At its meeting April 6, 1905, the Board made an allotment of $150 for the construction of two or more experimental sunshades for azimuth instruments to test their utility. The tests are in progress, but final report has not been received. Tests to determine drift of mortar projectiles.-April 6, 1905, an allotment of $750 was made, on the recommendation of the Chief of Artillery, for the purchase of the necessary ammunition for a test to be conducted at Fort Terry, N. Y., to determine the drift and probable error of mortar projectiles. As the program adopted could not be carried out with the mortars mounted at Fort Terry, the Chief of Ordnance directed that a modified mortar carriage at the Sandy Hook Proving Ground be sent to Fort Terry for conducting the test, which has been delayed by the necessity for triangulating a base line and the fact that during the months of April, May, June, July, and August there were but four clear days. Transmission of visible signals.-December 7, 1905, on recommendation of the Chief Signal Officer, the Board allotted $2,400 for experimental work connected with the transmission of visible signals by electricity or otherwise. A portion of this allotment was expended in the purchase and test of a device designed by Capt. T. E. Merrill, Artillery Corps, but the instrument was not favorably considered. Part of the allotment has been used in the purchase of a range indicator for fire direction, now at Fort Monroe undergoing test, and the balance is to be employed in testing new forms of acetylene lanterns and electric hand lamps. Insulating compounds.-January 4, 1906, the Board made an allotment of $1,300 to enable the Chief Signal Officer to make experiments with insulating compounds for subterranean and submarine cables, with the view of determining whether or not the percentage of Para rubber heretofore required can be reduced. The tests are in progress, but final report has not been received. Vega telephot camera.-An allotment of $600 was made on June 6, 1907, for the purchase of a Vega telephot camera, manufactured by a Swiss optical firm. It will be tested by the Chief Signal Officer when received. Semple smoke compound.-January 4, 1906, an allotment of $60 was made for procuring 50 rounds, complete, of 1-pounder ammunition charged with a smoke-producing compound proposed by Mr. J. B. Semple, as it was desired to make a further test at Fort Monroe. This ammunition was tested in 1906, and the Chief of Artillery then requested that 50 rounds of 75 mm. subcaliber ammunition, with projectiles filled with this compound, be sent to the Artillery Board for test in mortars. November 1, 1906, an allotment of $175 was made to cover the cost of the ammunition. The tests demonstrated that the use of the smoke compound was of no particular advantage in mortar subcaliber practice. Stability tests of mine and fire-control stations.-March 1, 1906, on the recommendation of the Chief of Engineers, the Board made an allotment of $2,704.32 to provide six rounds of ammunition for 12inch rifle and four rounds for 10-inch rifle, to be fired from guns at Fort Warren, Mass., in the vicinity of the type mine commander's station, constructed of expanded metal and cement plaster, to determine its stability and suitability for adoption; and on June 7, 1997, a further allotment of $750 was made for four rounds of ammunition to test the stability of Portland cement interior plastering for fire-control stations. The tests have resulted in prescribing that future construction of such buildings shall follow the method tested. Le Blanc searchlight controller.-March 7, 1907, an allotment of $500 was made for the equipment of a 60-inch searchlight with an electrical controller, designed by Mr. A. Le Blanc, which will be tested when installed. Experimental redoubt.-During the course of the army maneuvers at Fort Riley last year there was erected by the Engineer troops a typical field earthwork or redoubt, and the practicability of using this construction was proposed to test the adopted system of fire control for field artillery and the destructive effect of the shrapnel and explosive shell employed by that arm of the service. Accordingly, the Board, on June 6, 1907, made an allotment of $5,000 for the purchase of the requisite ammunition to conduct a test, which has been completed, but report has not been received. ESTIMATES FOR THE COMING YEAR. The Board has this year submitted to the Secretary of War, for transmission to Congress, an estimate for $100,000 to carry on its work for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1909. It is recommended that the appropriation be made in a single amount as heretofore. The amount appropriated for the present fiscal year was $25,000, and the estimate submitted is consequently an increase of $75,000. For many years Congress annually appropriated $100,000 for the work of the Board, and this sum was only reduced in 1905 on the statement of the Board that its available balance was such, in view of the experimental work then in contemplation, that a less amount was required. The balance has now been reduced to such an extent as to require an increased appropriation. It is practically impossible to say in advance just what experimental work is to be carried on, as new conditions are constantly arising and the Board should not be restricted by lack of funds in making necessary experiments, experiments which may result in the saving of many times their cost from the regular appropriations. Since the 1st of January, 1906, for example, the Board has expended over $56,000 on a series of armor-plate experiments, almost every round fired showing the desirability of other tests, and the program was constantly varied to meet the new conditions developed. The information gained has, at the same time, been of the greatest practical value. It is believed that the sum for which estimate is submitted is required in order that the Board may properly and advantageously carry on the work intrusted to it by Congress. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. In compliance with the act of February 24, 1891, which requires "a detailed statement of all contracts, allotments, and expenditures made by the Board," an exhibit, marked Appendix A, accompanies this report, giving a detailed statement of allotments and expenditures from July 1, 1906, to June 30, 1907, the period covered by this report. No contracts have been made by the Board during the fiscal year. On July 1, 1906, the Board had on hand $104,695.27, and by act of March 2, 1907, $25,000 was appropriated. To be added to this is the sum of $965.87, revoked from prior allotments, making the total available for the year $130,661.14. During the year covered by this report the Board made allotments amounting to $37,597.84, leaving a balance, June 30, 1907, of $93,063.30 for continuing the work of the Board, of which amount $14,110 is available for special purposes only, as shown by Appendix A, leaving $78,953.30 only available for general experimental purposes. J. F. BELL, Maj. Gen., Chief of Staff, President of the Board. WILLIAM CROZIER, Brig. Gen., Chief of Ordnance. A. MACKENZIE, Brig. Gen., Chief of Engineers. Brig. Gen., Chief of Artillery. Lieut. Col., Coast Artillery Corps. Lieut. Col., Coast Artillery Corps. THOS. J. HENDERSON, Civilian Member of the Board. Major, Ordnance Department, Recorder of the Board. The SECRETARY of War. TABLE SHOWING ALLOTMENTS AND EXPENDITURES MADE BY THE BOARD OF ORDNANCE AND FORTIFICATION FROM JULY 1, 1906, TO JUNE 30, 1907, INCLUDING STATEMENT OF UNEXPENDED BALANCES. June 1. October 19, 1897, for powder for test of 5-inch August 11, 1904, for completing and attach- September 23, 1904, for cartridge cases and .30 153. 14 65. 74 50.00 20.65 20.00 81.67 |