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A GROUP OF NAVY PROJECTILES.

The projectiles in use by our navy may be classed as solid shot, shell and shrapnel. Although some excellent solid shot is still manufactured, such as the Johnson fluid compressed shot, solid shot have given place to shell as the standard projectiles of the navy.

instant of striking; the latter is set to explode the shell a certain length of time after the shell has left the muzzle of the gun.

Shrapnel is the modern form of the old case shot, which consisted of a large number of balls put up in a case or

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GROUP OF COMMON SHELL AT THE WASHINGTON NAVY YARD.

Shell is formed with an interior cavity of considerable dimensions, in which is placed a charge of powder or high explosive. It is provided with a fuse for the ignition of the charge, which is of the percussion or timefuse type. The former acts at the

envelope, which merely served to hold them together until they left the muzzle of the gun. In the case of shrapnel the envelope is made sufficiently strong to bear the shock of discharge, and a time-fuse is provided.

The best armor-piercing projectiles

are

now made of chrome steel, the small admixture of chromium serving to impart to the steel a remarkable amount of toughness. The projectiles are cast, forged, and carefully annealed and tempered, the hardening being confined to the point or nose. The latter is ogival in form, the point being struck with a radius which is two or three times the diameter of the shell. The point has to be sharply pointed to insure its penetration of the hard face of the armor, but if it is made too fine, it will lack the necessary resisting power and will be fractured before it can get through. The best proportion of radius is found to lie between two and three times the diameter.

There are two kinds of armor-piercing projectiles. The first is made solid, or practically so, a small core being formed to give the best results in the forging process; the other type is known as semi-armor-piercing. It is formed hollow, with a core of moderate dimensions, large enough to hold an explosive charge that will insure the bursting of the thick walls of the projectile. It is made of chrome steel, and requires in its manufacture to be treated with great care to secure the combined hardness and toughness to enable it to pierce solid armor without fracturing and carry its explosive charge intact into the interior of the ship. When such shell is filled with common powder the heat engendered by passing through the armor is depended on to explode the shell just within the ship; no fuse is used.

The object at which projectile makers are aiming just now is to make a shell which can carry a charge through the best armor and burst on the inner side of the armor. It is already possible to put solid shot through plate that is as much as one and one-half the diameter of the shot in thickness, and the success of the projectile makers is such as to make it likely that before long a bursting shell can be made to perform the same feat.

It will be evident that penetration of the armor belt by a shell will be vastly more destructive to the ship than penetration by solid shot. The damage wrought by the latter will be confined to its direct path, where the zone of destruction of a shell will be almost as extensive, if it is of the larger calibres, as the whole area of the deck on which it strikes. The effects. moreover, will be greatly augmented if a high-explosive, bursting charge be

substituted for common powder, although the sensitiveness of such charges renders it very difficult to carry them through armor plate and burst them on the inside. Excellent results, however, have been achieved in this direction against armor of moderate thickness.

The group of shells shown in our engraving includes one of each of the sizes used on our warships, from the 4-inch 33-pound shell up to the 13inch 1,100-pound shell of our largest guns. They are all of the class known as "common shell," and are used against fortifications and earthworks and against the unarmored or lightly armored portions of warships. They are usually formed of cast-iron, though sometimes of cast-steel, and the interior cavity is large, enabling a big bursting charge to be carried. Unlike the forged chrome steel shell, they are unfit for armor-piercing, not having the necessary strength to carry them through the plates.

The particulars of these shells are given in the following table:

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It will be noticed that the point of the shell is cut off. It is here that the percussion fuse is inserted. The fuse consists of a hollow threaded brass case, which is screwed into a hole bored through into the interior of the shell. Inside the case is a cylindrical lead plunger, in the center of which is a fulminate and a priming charge. When the gun is fired, the plunger moves to the rear of the fuse, and at the moment when the shell strikes an obstruction it flies forward, the fulminate striking a small anvil on the fuse cap. This ignites the primer, the flame of which enters the shell and explodes it.

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OUR NAVY GUNS IN THE CIVIL WAR AND TO-DAY.

Naval ordnance has made greater strides in the forty years that have intervened since the Civil War than in several centuries preceding. As proof of this it is enough to look at the striking comparison shown in the accompanying cut. The smaller illus tration represents a Parrott 100 pounder of 1862, superimposed upon a modern 100-pounder, or to be correct, a 6-inch 50-calibre rapid-fire rifle of the year 1900; the lower diagram represents a 15-inch smooth-bore of the Civil War, superimposed upon a 12inch breech-loading 45-calibre rifle of to-day. The comparison might be carried out to greater length throughout all the various calibres that constitute the batteries of naval ships; but we have chosen to compare the main battery of the monitor with the main battery of the modern battleship, and what might be called the secondary battery of the frigates of 1862 with the standard secondary battery gun of the battleship of to-day.

The heaviest piece carried in the Civil War was the 15-inch smoothbore. This gun weighed 42,000 pounds; its length over all

was

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15 feet 1 inch; its maximum diameter at the breech was 4 feet, and with an ordinary charge of 35 pounds of black cannon powder, it fired a spherical shell weighing 350 pounds. cording to the ordnance regulations, under extraordinary conditions, these guns might be fired 20 rounds "at ironclads at close quarters," using 100 pounds of hexagonal or cubical powder and a solid shot weighing 450 pounds. Under these conditions the most respectable muzzle velocity of 1,600 footseconds was obtained, with a Corresponding muzzle energy of 7,997 foottons. It would be interesting to know what the powder pressure was under these conditions, for the velocity and energy are something truly remarkable for a cast-iron gun. It is little wonder that only 20 rounds were allowed under the severe stresses imposed by these ballistics.

Now, compare these results with the most powerful gun in our navy to-day, namely, the 12-inch 45-calibre rifle, which weighs 53.4 tons, has a total length of 45 feet, and with a charge of 360 pounds of smokeless powder fires an 850-pound shell with a muzzle velocity of 2,800-foot seconds and a muzzle energy of 46,246 foot-tons. The true basis of comparison of the

The Parrott 100-pounder rifle and the 15-inch smooth bore (period of Civil War), compared with the 50-calibre 6-inch and the 45-calibre 12-inch rifles of 1902.

OUR NAVAL

GUNS IN

Civil War guns are shown in black.

THE

CIVIL WAR AND TO-DAY.

relative efficiency of the two guns is the amount of energy developed per ton of the weight of the gun, and on this basis we find that the old 15-inch smooth-bore gun when fired with 100 pounds of powder developed 427 foottons of energy per ton of gun, as against 872 foot-tons of energy developed by the modern 12-inch rifle.

If we take account of the durability of a gun the advantage will be stronger on the side of the modern piece, for whereas the 15-inch smooth-bore was limited to twenty rounds under the given conditions, the modern 12-inch rifles, judging from the small amount of erosion developed with nitro-cellulose powders, should have a useful life of at least half a thousand rounds. Moreover, it must be remembered that the modern elongated shell will hold its velocity much longer than the old spherical shell of the smooth-bore, and, consequently, the respective muzzle velocities and energies are no criterion of the respective efficiencies of the guns.

THE PAY OF NAVAL

An Admiral receives $13,500 whether on sea duty or on shore duty. The first nine Rear-Admirals receive $7,500 while on sea duty, and $6,375 on shore duty. The second nine receives $5,500 on sea duty and $4,675 on shore duty. A Brigadier-General Commandant of Marine Corps, receives $5,500. The Chiefs of the various Naval Bureaus receive $5,500. Captains of the Navy receive $3,500 while on sea duty and $2,975 while on shore duty. The Judge Advocate General and Colonels, Marine Corps, line and staff, receive $3,500. Commanders of the Navy receive $3,000 while on sea duty, and $2,550 while on shore duty. Lieut.Colonels, Marine Corps, line and staff, receive $3,000. Lieut.-Commanders of the Navy while on sea duty receive $2,500, and while on shore duty $2,125. Majors of the Marine Corps, line and staff, receive $2,500. Lieutenants of the Navy receive $1,800 while on sea duty and $1,530 while on shore duty. Captains of the Marine Corps, if they are of the line, receive $1,800, and if they are of the staff, $2,000. Lieutenants of the junior grade receive $1,500 while on sea duty and $1.275 while on shore duty. First Lieutenant and leader of the band of the Marine Corps receive $1,500. Ensigns of the Navy receive $1,400 on sea duty and $1,190 on shore duty. Second Lieu

The gun of 1862 that answers to the modern secondary battery, 6-inch rifle, is the Parrott muzzle-loading rifle, a cast-iron gun which was strengthened at the breech over the powder chamber by shrinking thereon an iron hoop. The bore of the gun was 6.4 inches. It weighed 4.35 tons, was 12 feet 4 inches in length and with a charge of ten pounds of powder it fired a 100pound shell with an initial velocity of 1,080 foot-seconds and a muzzle energy of 810 foot-tons. Compare this with the modern 6-inch rifle, which weighs 8.5 tons, is 25 feet in length, and with a charge of 40 pounds of smokeless powder fires a 100-pound shell with an initial velocity of 2,900 feet per second and an initial energy of 5,838 foot

tons.

Compared on the basis of energy per ton of gun, we find that the 100-pounder Parrott muzzle loader developed 186 foot-tons of energy per ton of gun, whereas the modern 6-inch breechloading rifle develops 7841⁄2 foot-tons of energy per ton of gun.

AND MARINE CORPS.

tenants of the Marine Corps, Chief Boatswains, Chief Gunners, Chief Carpenters and Chief Sailmakers receive $1,400. Midshipmen in other than practice ships receives $950. At the Naval Academy and elsewhere $500. Chaplains receive $2,500 on sea duty, $2,000 on shore, and $1,900 on leave or waiting orders. Professors of Mathematics and Civil Engineers receive $2,400 and $1,500 when on leave of absence or waiting orders. Naval Constructors receive $3,200, and while on leave of absence or waiting orders, $2,200. Assistant Naval Constructors receive $2,000, and $1,500 while on leave or waiting orders. The warrant officers, boatswains, gunners, carpenters, sailmakers, pharmacists and warrant machinists receive $1,200 while on sea duty and $900 while on shore, $700 on leave of absence or waiting orders. Mates who were in service August 1, 1904, receive $1,200 for sea duty, $900 for shore duty, $700 on leave. Those appointed since receive $900, $700 and $500 respectively. The monthly pay of petty officers and enlisted men is: Chief petty officers, $50 to $70; petty officers, first-class, $36 to $65; petty officers, second-class, $35 to $40; thirdclass petty officers, $30; first-class seamen, $21 to $35; second-class seamen, $15 to $30; third-class seamen, $9 to $22.

CHAPTER IV.

THE ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES.

Twice in the history of the world we have had an example of large bodies of men who were not producers who disturbed economic conditions by living at the public expense. We refer to the enormous monasteries in the middle ages and to the standing armies in Europe to-day. It seems to be essential to the maintenance of the integrity of a number of the countries of Europe to keep a large standing army-an army which takes some of the best years of the life of its citizens, as service is obligatory to all. These armies are supported at enormous expense by systems of taxation which affect the poorest as well as the richest.

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The question of the standing ar mies of Europe is a problem which is rapidly increasing in seriousness, and there does not appear as yet to be any solution of the difficulty.

For our protection we have to rely upon :

1. The Regular Army, which represents and is under the pay of the federal government, and which is officered: 1. By graduates of the United States Military Academy, who at present are largely in the minority. 2. By the promotion of meritorious enlisted men of the Army. 3. By the appointment of civilians, six of whom are annually selected from the best cadetschools of the country. The last class is at present most largely represented.

The officers receive commissions at the hands of the President.

2. The organized militia or National Guard, which is composed exclusively of State troops, and, except when called into the service of the United States, is under the command of the Governors of the respective States. The officers of higher grade are appointed by the Governors, but the other officers, from Colonel down, are generally selected by ballot by the troops themselves. The National Guard is intended primarily for home defense.

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3. The Volunteers, which form a branch of the service only to be found in time of war. They are such offer their services upon the call of the President, and are officered either by West Point graduates, by officers of the National Guard, or civilian appointees.

Under the conditions existing in the late war with Spain, members of the National Guard were not called upon to serve in their capacity as State troops, but were invited to enlist in the volunteer service.

The term of enlistment in the regular service is for a period of three years, which term is fixed and not terminable by the ending of the war. In the volunteer service the period of enlistment is two years, but this term may be shortened by the ending of hostilities.

A certain proportion of the officers of the regular army are graduates of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York.

By Acts of Congress approved June 6, 1900, June 28, 1902, and March 3, 1903, the Corps of Cadets as now constituted consists of one from each Congressional district, one from each Territory, one from the District of Columbia, one from Porto Rico, two from each State at large, and forty from the United States at large, all to be appointed by the President and, with the exception of the forty appointed from the United States at large, to be actual residents of the Congressional or Territorial districts, or of the District of Columbia, or of the States, respectively, from which they are appointed. Under these Acts, and under the apportionment of Members of Congress according to the 12th Census, the maximum number of cadets is 522.

The total number of graduates from 1802 to 1903, inclusive, is 4,214; 124 members graduated June 15, 1904.

Foreign governments can have cadets educated at the academy by authorization of Congress.

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