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but all the gunpowder used by the militia is brought from England (3873).

Military College. The Military College is working very well, and Colonel Hewitt, the Commandant, speaks in the highest terms of the cadets, both as to physique and morale. The first four years' course was com- pleted this spring, and four cadets were selected for the Imperial Service. The arrangement is approved of and appreciated in Canada, and the four commissions were eagerly accepted. The College has been attacked on the ground of expense, and that it is a mistake to supply officers before providing soldiers. The answer is that the cadets, like the cadets at West Point, besides getting a military education, get a good general edu- cation which fits them for other pursuits (3895- 3902).

Command. There is a double command in Canada. The Dominion forces are commanded by a General nominated by the Horse Guards, and the Imperial troops by another General. It would no doubt be essential in time of war that the whole military force should be under one command, but there would be an objection in time of peace to the two offices being joined. There are questions in which, as au Imperial officer, the General might be taking one course, and as the servant of the Dominion be obliged to take a dif- ferent course (3907-3916).

13th October, 1880.

GEORGE RENDEL, Esq., Partner in the firm of Sir W. Armstrong and Co. (2917).

guns

A great change is taking place in ordnance, and of vastly greater power than the service guns of equal weight are now available. The change, which is com- plicated, and is mainly due to improved knowledge of the combustion of powder (3918, 3919), has been gradual. There is every reason to anticipate further improvement, though there is not such a prospect of rapid development as to justify postponement in manufacture (3971, 3972). The principle is to restrain and regulate the maximum pressure by increasing the space which the charge occupies-i.e., by diminishing the density of the charge (3980). The first condition is a greater capacity of bore, which usually takes the form of an enlarged powder chamber. involves increased length, which necessarily leads to the adoption of breech-loading in ships aud casemates. The question of breech-loading versus muzzle-loading is quite distinct from the development of artillery. Neither mode of loading has anything to do with the power, accuracy, and endurance of the gun (3918-3922, 3930).

This

Guns for a casemated fort of restricted dimen- sions must almost necessarily be breech-loaders, but for open barbette batteries muzzle-loading guns would be more suitable, and there are methods of working them by which the men would be entirely protected. Muzzle- loading is preferable, unless there is a distinct necessity for breech-loading, because breech-loading involves mechanism, more skill both in manufacture and work- ing, more expense, and more risk of accident (3931). In the case of small guns, breech-loaders, though a little more complex, do not involve any serious risk, but, as regards the large guns required for coast defence, the breech-loading apparatus is a very formidable addition of complication (3934).

In small guns there is some saving of time by loading at the breech, but in large guns time is lost. There is little difference of cost between breech and muzzle loaders, but guns of the new type are somewhat more costly than the service guns (3982-3990).

Breech-loading guns, if exposed in open situations for long periods together, might get out of order, and it would be necessary to have skilled mechanics within reach. The breech-loading mechanism ought to be kept very carefully (3935, 3936). Trained artillerymen might be able to keep the apparatus in order, but might not be able to ascertain or remedy a defect without the assistance of a mechanic. If, for instance, some change took place in the gas-check, a skilled mechanic would be required even to measure it. The delicacy of the

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workmanship is such that it involves questions of the thousandth part of an inch. An ordinary artilleryman could not be trusted to make such measurements, which are necessary, in order to know what is wrong (3973, 3974). It would be an advantage, and might be pos- sible, to use uniform ammunition with muzzle-loading and breech-loading guns, limiting the difference to the gas-check, which is a separable piece (3932, 3933). The difference of cost is inappreciable (3990).

The

Guns of the new type are, in round numbers, twice as powerful as the service guns (3929). The new 11-ton gun realizes a muzzle velocity of 2,000 feet as against 1,400 feet with the service 12-ton gun. weights of the shot are respectively 180 lbs. and 250 lbs., and the weights of the service charges 90 lbs. and 50 lbs. (3942-3950). A 25-ton gun now being made for one of the Australian Colonies has almost exactly double the power of the service 25-ton gun. The energy per inch of circumference is 188 foot tons in one case, and 355 foot tons in the other (3955– 3960). Some of the new 8-inch guns have been mounted, and arrangements are complete for mounting many more. The recoil is quite under control (3951– 3954).

Foreign manufacturers are making guns of the new type (3923-3925). Guns of greater power than the service guns were made in England for foreign Powers five years ago (3961-3964). The guns built some years ago at Elswick for the Italian Government em- body the improvements to a certain extent, and the guns now in process of manufacture embody them to the fullest extent (3924). The 100-ton guns are now mounted in the "Duilio." No guns in existence can compare with them in power. They have realized 40,000 foot tons of energy (3965-3962, 3970).

The Colonies, when ordering guns, ought to have them of the new type instead of adopting the service patterns (3927, 3929, 3937, 3969). A full and early supply could be obtained from the trade. Elswick could turn out 100 tons of guns of all sizes per

week. The delivery would commence within two months, but the maximum rate would not be reached under five or six months (3938-3940).

13th October, 1880. Rear-Admiral F. A. HERBERT, R.N., Naval Director of Ordnance.

The increased power of guns of the new type is obtained by increasing the length and enlarging the chamber. These changes enable a larger quantity of powder to be consumed before the shot leaves the gun, and a slower powder to be used, developing a higher velocity, and consequently a greater penetrating power (3999-4001). The increased power is acquired inde- pendently of breech-loading, but in the case of a muzzle-loader, the chamber being larger than the bore, is so difficult to sponge out that accidents may arise, unless hydraulic power is used and the sponge specially fitted so that when pressed home a jet of water washes out the chamber (4003, 4004, 4009). For this reason, as well as on account of the difficulty of loading long guns at the muzzle, breech-loading has become a neces- sity on board ship (3993, 4007, 4008, 4087-4095). It is possible to have a gun with an enlarged chamber without resorting to breech-loading, but if the full value of chambering is to be got, the gun must be long, and it is difficult to load a long gun from the muzzle on board ship (3994, 3995). A gun for naval purposes must be capable of penetrating the heaviest armour, and be loaded at the breech (3998).

The

dimensions for the chambers have been proper ascertained by experiment. There is a limit to their length. With long charges ignited at the end, power is lost, and dangerous wave pressures are produced (4005, 4006). Italy is the only foreign Power that has not adopted breech-loading, and she is adopting it now (4002, 4010). All guns made by Krupp are breech- loaders (4012).

To pierce armoured ships guns of 43 tons will be required. French ships are being built to carry 21 and 22 inches of composite armour, which it will

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