consideration and report. At its meeting on July 12, 1899, the following action was taken:

The Board having fully and carefully considered the subject, desires to state that in taking its action of April 25, 1899, recommending the adoption of the Howell disappearing gun carriage as an additional type carriage, it was not the intention of the Board to supplant the present service carriage. It was and is the opinion of the Board that the Howell carriage possesses certain mechanical and economical advantages, and may be used in such numbers and at such places as may be determined by the best interests of the Government. The Board therefore adheres to its original recommendation that the Howell disappearing gun carriage be adopted as an additional type service carriage for use in our coast defenses. Before approving this recommendation the Secretary of War desired further and more complete firing tests.

Before making further tests the Board, at the request of the licensee, made an allotment of $5,605.10 to cover the cost of certain changes in the traversing and retraction mechanism and in the mounting. These changes were completed, and on June 25, 1901, the carriage was subjected to a further firing test before the artillery committee of the Board. The report of the committee, which was approved by the Board, states that "the traversing and retraction mechanism are crude and unsatisfactory and much inferior to those found in the present service carriages, but it is also the opinion of the committee that neither of these features is an essential part of the Howell disappearing system."

Ten-inch pneumatic carriage.-This carriage was constructed under a special act of Congress, approved August 1, 1894, appropriating $50,000 for the purpose. Since its completion, in December, 1898, various accidents to the mechanism have delayed the official tests. On August 2, 1901, the official test of the carriage took place in the presence of the artillery committee of the Board. The report of the committee shows that the carriage failed to fulfil the acceptance requirements. This report, having been approved and adopted as the report of the Board, was forwarded to the Secretary of War, together with the following communication received from the president of the Pneumatic Gun Carriage and Power Company:

OFFICE OF THE PNEUMATIC GUN CARRIAGE AND POWER COMPANY, 38 CORCORAN BUILDING, Washington, D. C., August 9, 1901.

Maj. Gen. NELSON A. MILES, U. S. A.,

President Board of Ordnance and Fortification, War Department. DEAR SIR: Referring to our contract with the Chief of Ordnance, U. S. A., dated November 5, 1894, to furnish a 10-inch modified disappearing carriage, and referring to the official tests of said carriage held at Sandy Hook on the 2d instant, on which tests the carriage failed to come up to some of the contract requirements, I have to state that our engineer, Mr. W. N. Howell, the engineer who has had charge of the carriage for some time past, informs us that by slightly changing the design of the recoil cylinder and properly packing the piston, at an expense of about $1,000, and with a few minor alterations to the traversing and elevating gear, the carriage can be put in a condition to successfully pass firing and other tests required by the contract. In view of the fact, however, that, owing to the delays and misfortunes we have encountered in building the carriage, the completion and test of the same have been delayed for more than five years beyond the contract time of completion, and that power-disappearing carriages have become obsolete owing to the development in the meantime of the counterpoise type, and the further fact that more recently the Board has recommended the abandonment of the whole disappearing system, we are convinced that the expenditure of additional funds and the consuinption of further time to perfect the carriage would serve no useful purpose to the Government or to us. We therefore propose the following settlement of the matter, viz: The Government to take the carriage as it now stands and retain the amount of the final payment and reservation$12.802-and release our company from all obligations on account of our contract. This settlement would stand us a very considerable financial loss, but we

will be glad to finally close the matter and bring to a termination the many expenses and vexations incident to the work.

Congress, by its action in similar cases to ours. where purely experimental work is involved, has shown that it is its policy to deal liberally with inventors where the work represents a development for the sole benefit of the Government. In the case of the Emery carriage, where no results have been accomplished and the contract time has long since expired, Congress not only has refrained from enforcing penalties, but has appropriated additional funds to carry on the work. It was never the intention of Congress to inflict penalties on inventors for a failure to realize their expectations in their inventions. There is nothing in the law providing for this carriage to justify the interpretation that Congress meant to punish inventors for a failure to attain results in experimental work, especially where the Government has derived the benefit of our experiments and the inventor has sustained losses.

Since we made this contract our entire pneumatic system has been installed upon the monitor Terror in the Navy, and has proven to be a great success, and been so reported to the Nav y Department. Owing, however, to the development of the electric and counterpoise systems for maneuvering ordnance, we have not been able to extend the use of the pneumatic system in either the Army or the Navy, and this company is now winding up its affairs, and the contract for this carriage constitutes the only remaining business to be settled up; hence we will be glad to have the matter adjusted in accordance with the proposition contained in this letter, and we respectfully request the Board to forward this letter to the Secretary with its recommendation that the proposition be accepted.

The Board will recall the many embarrassments we have had in our efforts to faithfully carry out this contract. The designer of the carriage, H. A. Spiller, owing to a disagreement with our subcontractors, the I. P. Morris Company, about the time of the completion of the carriage, deserted the work, and left us to our own resources for completing and testing the carriage. We then called in Mr. W. N. Howell, and while the carriage was undergoing its preliminary tests, on December 7, 1898, owing to the carelessness of a workman, the gun was started into loading position without sufficient air in the cylinder and fell some 8 or 9 feet, completely wrecking the carriage. Notwithstanding this great calamity, we rebuilt the carriage at great expense, but in the meantime Mr. Howell could no longer give us his services, and we employed Mr. Edwin S. Moore, an engineer familiar with this work, to look after the tests of the carriage, making the third engineer employed on the work. The long delays resulting from these embarrassments exposed the carriage to the weather for long periods and necessitated fre quent and expensive adjustments of the parts. Our subcontractors have had on duty at Sandy Hook a machinist and a force of men almost constantly for the last four years. In view of the losses we have sustained and the hardships we have encountered, we hope the Board will agree with us that our proposition is a fair one for the final adjustment of this contract. We take this occasion to thank the members of the Board for their spirit of accommodation and their many courtesies extended to this company during the progress of this work.

Very respectfully,

C. E. CREECY,

President of the Pneumatic Gun Carriage and Power Company.

Emery 12-inch elevating carriage.-Although the construction of this carriage was authorized by a special act of Congress appropriating $130,000 for the purpose in February, 1893, the work is still in progress. Additional appropriations of $10,000 June 6, 1896, and $10,000 by the act approved May 25, 1900, have since been added to the original amount, making a total of $180,000 already provided by Congress for the completion of the carriage, the necessary loading apparatus, and ammunition for test. The following extract from a report from Mr. Emery, dated September 30, 1901, shows the present condition of the work:

The work has been considerably delayed by strikes during the past summer, especially in the shop at Hamilton, where the larger portion of the work is collected. Since my report of September 28, 1900, there have been finished 2,220 pieces of the work of this carriage with an aggregate weight of 18,320 pounds.

This completes most of the work of the carriage proper except the springs, which are not yet made. Much time has been spent in designing a good loading apparatus. Two systems were designed, neither of which was satisfactory to me, and I condemned them. I have nearly completed a third design for this loading

apparatus, which is very satisfactory, and some of the material for this has been ordered, and the rest will be as soon as the plans and specifications therefor can be completed. This loading apparatus has consumed much more time in the design than had been expected, and has necessarily made considerable delay, not only of the construction of the loading apparatus, but it has delayed the other parts of the work by requiring so much of my time for its repeated designing.

SHIELDS FOR COAST-DEFENSE GUNS.

On November 1, 1900, the question of providing shields for rapid-fire and other coast-defense guns was referred to the Board from the Secretary of War by indorsement on a letter of the Chief of Ordnance. At its meeting, November 10, 1900, the Board, after carefully considering the question presented by the Secretary, expressed the opinion that shields should be provided for all such guns.

The approval of the Secretary having been suspended until the matter could have his further attention, the question was again referred to the Board by the Secretary in an indorsement dated May 1, 1901, on the following letter from the Chief of Ordnance:

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ORDNANCE,

UNITED STATES ARMY,
Washington, May 1, 1901.

To the Honorable the SECRETARY OF WAR. SIR: Pursuant to your verbal instructions, I have the honor to inclose herewith copy of letter of October 31, 1900, with copy of memorandum inclosure of same, relative to shields for rapid-fire and other seacoast guns, which was referred to the Board of Ordnance and Fortification for consideration. The action by that Board was taken November 10, 1900; its opinion being, relative to rapid-fire guns, "that shields should be provided for all these guns.'

In addition there is inclosed a memorandum discussion of the subject of shields and mathematical calculations of the force exerted by shield upon its supports when struck by projectile.

The question of shields for both rapid-fire guns and seacoast guns of larger caliber should be decided at this time on account of the impossibility of any further progress in seacoast armament until this question be determined."

Respectfully,

A. R. BUFFINGTON, Brigadier-General, Chief of Ordnance.

The following extract from the proceedings of the Board, at its meeting June 5, 1901, shows the action taken:

The Board resumed consideration of the subject of the use of shields for coastdefense guns, action on which had been postponed to await report from the artillery committee of the Board on the question of the size, form, and thickness of the shields to be used.

The Board recommends that shields for 6-pounder rapid-fire guns should be 14 inches and 2 inches thick, respectively. They should be of the simplest form practicable, affording the necessary protection to the operating mechanism, and should be adapted to the character of the protection afforded by the emplacement.

For the larger rapid-fire guns the shields should be of uniform thickness, not to exceed 4 inches. They should be of modern armor and have in all cases the best resisting qualities compatible with the form, size, and thickness used. The form of shield in each case should be as simple as possible, keeping in view the protection to be afforded and the difficulties attending manufacture, and should be so balanced on the mount that their removal will not interfere with the operation of the gun.

The shields for 3-, 10-, and 12-inch guns mounted on barbette nondisappearing carriages should be simple plates, face-hardened, of uniform thickness, not to exceed 4 inches, the plates to be slightly inclined to the rear and secured to the brackets already on the carriages: they should be of the simplest form that can bẹ adapted to the carriages in use, affording the necessary protection to the exposed operating mechanism.

The recommendations of the Board were approved by the Secretary of War.

In order to determine the amount of protection afforded, the best method of securing the shield to the mount, and the disturbing effect of the impact of the projectile on the maneuvering of the gun and mount, the Board at the same meeting made an allotment sufficient to cover the cost of construction and mounting of two dummy 6-inch guns with carriages and shields complete, one gun and carriage to be of cast iron and equipped with a shield manufactured for use with one of the type experimental 6-inch guns, the shield attached in the usual manner; the other to be of cast steel and equipped with a similar shield differently attached; both shields being of the best quality hard-faced armor 3 inches thick.

When these dummy mounts and guns are completed, with the shields attached as in service, the two equipments will be subjected to fire from service guns of different calibers using service charges and armor-piercing projectiles. These trials will take place as soon as practicable, and it is believed that they will prove of great value to the service.

RAPID-FIRE GUNS AND MOUNTS.

Bethlehem 5-inch rapid-fire gun on combination carriage.-On May 4, 1900, the Board made an allotment of $14,000 for the construction of a 5-inch gun and carriage proposed by the Bethlehem Steel Company. The carriage is of a special type intended to combine the characteristic features of both the disappearing and pedestal mounts. It is understood and is stipulated in the contract that before payment is made for the material it must pass such firing tests as may be prescribed by this Board. The contract was dated July 2, 1900, and gun and carriage were to be delivered ready for test not later than July 2, 1901. The manufacturers report that they have met unexpected difficulties in their effort to use a special high quality steel in the construction of the gun, and the equipment is not yet ready for delivery. Bethlehem 6-inch rapid-fire gun and mount.-On January 3, 1901, the Board made an allotment of $17,900 for the construction of a type 6-inch rapid-fire gun with pedestal mount proposed by the Bethlehem Steel Company.

This gun is to give a muzzle velocity of at least 3,000 f. s. with a projectile weighing 100 pounds and without excessive pressures, the rate of fire to be at least eight rounds a minute. The ammunition for the proof-firing test will be furnished by the company without expense to the Government, and the equipment is not to be paid for unless it fulfils the specified requirements.

Vickers-Maxim 6-inch rapid-fire gun and mount.-On the recommendation of the Chief of Ordnance, the Board on January 26, 1900, made an allotment of $18,500 for the purchase and delivery of a type 6-inch rapid-fire gun with pedestal mount, the equipment to be of the very latest and most improved pattern manufactured by the English firm of Vickers Sons & Maxim. On October 4, 1900, the Board made an additional allotment of $2,000 for procuring from the company smokeless powder charges for use during the tests of the gun. The material is now at the proving ground at Sandy Hook awaiting test.

FIELD GUNS AND CARRIAGES.

Competitive test of field guns.-As stated in the last report, the Board at its meeting October 5, 1900, prepared and adopted a program covering a comprehensive series of competitive tests of field guns and carriages in order to obtain for our service the most improved and

WAR 1901-VOL 1, PT I-22

efficient rapid-fire equipment of this kind possible. The Secretary of War having approved the recommendations of the Board, the following circular letter was sent to the various firms manufacturing ordnance material in this country and abroad:

WAR DEPARTMENT,

BOARD OF ORDNANCE AND FORTIFICATION, Washington, D. C., November 15, 1900. With a view to determining the best type of field gun and carriage for use in the United States service, the Board of Ordnance and Fortification has prepared the following program of tests to which it is proposed to subject the various field guns and carriages presented.

Manufacturers submitting field guns and carriages for competitive test under the conditions herein proposed will be given one hundred and twenty days from November 20, 1900, in which to do so, the complete equipment to be delivered at the proving ground at Sandy Hook, N. J., ready for test by March 19, 1901.

Manufacturers desiring to enter this competition will inform this office as soon as practicable, and will furnish, for the information of the Board, a general description of their equipment at least thirty days before the date fixed for the test. In the opinion of the Board, it is desirable that the guns and carriages submitted for test should use fixed ammunition and be provided with cylinders and trail spades to reduce the recoil of firing to a minimum. The limber chests should be on springs and should provide for carrying the ammunition packed horizontally. This letter was followed by a complete program of tests.

In reply to this communication the following manufacturers expressed an intention to enter one or more equipments for competitive test under the program adopted: Bethlehem Steel Company; American Ordnance Company; Driggs-Seabury Gun and Ammunition Company; S. N. McClean; Vickers Sons & Maxim, Limited, of England; Rhenische Metallwaaren ünd Maschinenfabrik, of Germany; CockerillNordenfelt Company, of Belgium.

It being found impracticable to begin the tests on the date first set, the time was extended to October 10, 1901, by which time it is expected that all material entered will have reached the proving ground.

TEST OF MORTAR BATTERIES.

On the recommendation of Lieut. Col. J. P. Story, inspector of artillery, Department of the East, the Board, at its meeting March 8, 1901, made, with the approval of the Secretary of War, an allotment of $20,000 for the purpose of making a thorough service firing test of the mortar batteries, which at present form an important part of our coast armament. The harbor of Portland, Me., was selected as the one most suitable for the test, the mortar batteries there being so located as to permit of practice firing at both land and water targets under conditions closely approximating those of actual service.

The artillery committee prepared the following general program to govern the local board of artillery officers in installing the necessary equipment, providing the ammunition and other material needed in conducting the firing:

1. Have a local board of three artillery officers to determine the equipment required and conduct all the firing.

2. Test the coordination of the position finders with each other and with the mortar battery at Fort Preble by directing the position finders upon fixed and moving objects.

3. Test and determine the probable error of the position finders employed.

4. Establish two secondary horizontal base lines in connection with the two vertical position finders-one at Fort Williams and one to be installed on Cushings Island. In addition there should be properly oriented azimuth instruments on Peaks Island and Jewells Island for observing the fall of the shots.

5. Arrangements should be made, if practicable, for obtaining, during the firing test, the direction and strength of the wind in the morning at Mount Washington. This is desirable, because at the height of Mount Washington and above the wind