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pUPP AND DE BANGE : 
 
 E. ^ONTHAYE, 
 
 Captain ni the Belgian Genbrai. Staff. 
 
 TRANSLATED WITH AN APPENDIX, 
 BY 
 
 p. E. MICHAELIS, Ph. D., 
 
 Captain of Ordnance, U. S. Army, 
 
 Member American Societt of Civil Engineers, 
 
 Societ£ Royals des Sciences (Li£ge), &c. 
 
 New York : 
 THOMAS PBOSSER & SON, 
 15 Gold Street, 
 
 1888. 
 
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1888, by 
 
 Thomas Prossek & Son, 
 In tlie Office of the Librarian of Congress, at "Washington. 
 
 All KigbtB Reserved. 
 
 Press of Albert Metz <& Co.,m John St., N. T. 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 KRUPP AND DE BANGE. 
 
 Faob. 
 
 American Introduction — Preface to First Edition — Preface to Second 
 
 Edition — Works Consulted — Introduction I 
 
 PART FIRST. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 Gun Metal. 
 
 1 — Its Properties 3 
 
 2 — Cast and Wrought Iron — Ordinary and Uchatius Bronze — Steel 5 
 
 3_ Varieties of Steel— Fremy's Gun Metal 6 
 
 4^Puddled Steel 8 
 
 5 — Bessemer Steel 
 
 6— Open-Hearth Steel 11 
 
 7— Crucible Steel 15 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Gun CONSTRTJCTION. 
 
 1— The Krupp Field-Gun (Plate I) 23 
 
 2— The Krupp Gun of Large Calibre (Plate II) 30 
 
 3— The KefEye-De Range Pield-Gun (Plate III) 33 
 
 4— The RefEye-De Bange Gun of Large Calibre (Plate IV) ' 39 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 Ballistic Pekfoemancb. 
 
 Page. 
 
 1 — Mountain Guns 48 
 
 2— Field Guns 49 
 
 3 — Siege Guns and Guns of Position 53 
 
 4 — Sea-coast and Naval Guns 59 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 The Kkupp System in European States. 
 
 1— England C4 
 
 2 — Germany. . . 65 
 
 3 — France 63 
 
 4 — Austria — Hungary 67 
 
 5 — Russia 68 
 
 6— Italy 69 
 
 7— Spain 69 
 
 8— The Lesser Powers 70 
 
 FART SECOND. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 The Weakness of the Objections Raised by the Adherents 
 
 OF the French Gun against the Krupp. 
 
 1 — Hoops and Jacket 74 
 
 2 — Breech Mechanism and Gas-Checking 77 
 
 3 — Rifling of Uniform and Increasing Twist 89 
 
 4 — Practice of the Guns 91 
 
 5 — The Ammunition Supply of Krupp and De Bange Field Pieces. ... 93 
 
 6— The Rapidity of Fire of the Two Systems 98 
 
 7 — The Elevating Screw of the Two Systems 94 
 
 8— Fuzes 95 
 
 9 — Collar and Breast Harness 95 
 
 lO^Mountaiu Batteries 96 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 The French and German Systems of Gun Maniwacture, 
 
 AND Their Results. 
 
 Page. 
 1 — Gun Metal Supplied by Private Industry, the French System, and 
 
 the Krupp Monopoly, the German System 97 
 
 2 — French and German Gun Steel , 102 
 
 3 — The Accidents to Krupp Guns 105 
 
 4 — The Accidents to French Guns 107 
 
 5 — The Development of the Krupp Gun Ill 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 The Belgrade Competition. 
 
 1 — Carriage Tests 119 
 
 2 — Accuracy and Effect of Firing 120 
 
 3— Rapid Firing 134 
 
 4 — Analysis of the Results 125 
 
 5 — The True Inwardness of the Belgrade Competition 129 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 Last Words — Conclusions 133 
 
 PART THIRD. 
 
 A VISIT TO THE KRUPP WORKS. 
 
 1— Essen 144 
 
 2 — Turgan's Pamphlet 145 
 
 8 — First Impressions 146 
 
 4— The Entrance 146 
 
 5 — The Office and Krupp's Cottage 147 
 
 6— The Gun Shops , 149 
 
 7— The Four 130-ton Guns 15D 
 
 8 — The Carriage Assembling Shop 151 
 
 9— The Bessemer Plant 152 
 
Page. 
 
 10— The Open-Hearth Plant. . . . , 153 
 
 11— Krupp Gun Metal— The Puddled Steel Plant 154 
 
 12 — Crucible Manufacture 157 
 
 13— The Crucible Steel Plant— Casting 158 
 
 14— The 50-ton Hammer 161 
 
 15— The Model Collection 163 
 
 16 — Krupp's Proving Grounds 163 
 
 18 — An Epitome of the Krupp Plant — Krupp 164 
 
 AFPETSTDIX. 
 
 EEGARDING KEUPP AND DE BANGB. 
 
 A Red-Covered Pamphlet 171 
 
 A Yellow-Covered Pamphlet 189 
 
 The Patriotism Involved in the Gun Question 194 
 
 The De Bange Artillery in Bervia 205 
 
 Krupp's Letter to "Engineering" 208 
 
 The Failure of the 14-inch De Bange Gun 210 
 
 Accidents to French Steel Guns 213 
 
 Accidents to English Steel Guns 217 
 
 Multipliers for Converting French into British Measures 218 
 
INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 Cast-Steel Works of Fried. Krupp FrontUpieee 
 
 The Krupp Fermature for Field-Guns Plate I, opposite page 23 
 
 " " " •' HeavyGuns " II, 
 
 The French Fermature for Field-Guns " III, " 
 
 " " " " Guns of Large Calibre, " IV, " 
 
 40-Centimetre Erupp Target " V, " 
 
 Portrait of Alfred Krupp " 
 
 The Krupp Cottage 
 
 30 
 33 
 39 
 o3 
 144 
 148 
 
American Introduction. 
 
 Belgium, owing to its peculiar political position as a 
 neutral power, appears to have always a corps of officers 
 who devote themselves to the exhaustive study of the 
 various phases of their profession. Their investigations 
 have ever received high consideration from us ; in proof 
 the names need only be cited of Bormann, Nicaise, Le 
 Boulenge and others. 
 
 This fact alone, would secure for Captain Monthaye's 
 work, interested American readers. Furthermore, at 
 the present time when Armament is a question of para- 
 mount importance, everything that contributes to our 
 knowledge of the subject must be opportune. 
 
 The text seeks to compare the two great European 
 ordnance systems, the Krupp and the De Bange, systems 
 that differ intrinsically in material, construction and 
 breech-closure. The work gives valuable ballistic in- 
 formation and is of especial practical interest to us, as 
 our new experimental high-power guns are of modified 
 De Bange model. 
 
 Whatever individual opinions may be held, all must 
 agree in praise and admiration of the wonderful man, 
 Alfred Krupp. the father of modern steel-founding. 
 
 The appearance of the two-ton crucible steel cast 
 ingot at the London Exhibition of 1851 was a revelation 
 
— IL — 
 
 to the metallurgical world. Krupp's continued success 
 in increasing the size of his homogeneons crucible cast 
 blocks, culminating just previous to his death, in the 
 70-ton ingots used for the tubes of the 120 -ton Italian 
 guns, undoubtedly stimulated inventive genius in this 
 direction, and his work and its results contributed their 
 share to the development of the Bessemer and Open- 
 hearth processes. 
 
 ISTo apology is required for presenting to an Ameri- 
 can public anything that concerns, directly or indirectly, 
 a man to whom the whole world owes a debt of grati- 
 tude. 
 Kennebec Arsenal, July 1888. 
 
 O. E. MiCHAELIS. 
 
Preface to the First Edition. 
 
 Two systems of Grun construction virtually absorb 
 the attention of steel makers and Ordnance officers ; 
 one, that of Krupp, has been known and practically 
 tested for a number of years ; the other, that of 
 De Bange, adopted in France, is of comparatively 
 recent origin. 
 
 If we may believe partisans of the De Bange gun, 
 it has completely surpassed its German rival. Although 
 this opinion, held mainly by interested persons, has not 
 obtained general credence, it has a sufficiently strong 
 foothold to render it an act of patriotism for a Belgian 
 officer, on the eve of the day on which Belgium is to 
 receive her new Krupp guns, to re-establish the truth 
 and to restore to the Essen Constructor of Ordnance 
 that pre-eminence which is his just due. 
 
 In treating of the attributes of the two systems, we 
 base our statements entirely on facts and authoritative 
 writings. 
 
 If, in the course of our studies, we have arrived at 
 the conviction that the De Bange system is inferior to 
 the Krupp, we have yet placed our readers in a position 
 to appreciate the arguments on both sides and to decide 
 for themselves as to the justice of our views ; in this 
 respect we believe our work is conscientious. 
 
-IV — 
 
 We have endeavored throughout to treat our op- 
 ponents with courtesy and to abstain from personalities, 
 useless as arguments. In accordance with this purpose, 
 in the examination of the numerous works which have 
 lately attempted to lower the reputation of Krupp in 
 order to raise that of Colonel De Bange, we have inex- 
 orably (!ast aside those which are partisan pamphlets, 
 rather than scientific arguments. 
 
 Let us speak one word of explanation in regard to 
 the description of the Krupp establishment, published 
 just after a visit to the Works at Essen, and reproduced 
 at the end of this boek. 
 
 Written on the spur of the moment, and bearing the 
 same relation to a complete paper that an instantaneous 
 photograph does to an engraving, it has exposed us to 
 the reproach of " Krupp-worship " from those whom 
 we, in our turn, might, did we feel so disposed, dub 
 irritable " Krupp-haters." 
 
 There are, undoubtedly, people who esteem the De 
 Bange gun a perfect construction. This is a privilege 
 of which we could not deprive them, even had we the 
 desire to do so ; but we claim an analogous right, that 
 of holding our own opinions of the Krupp gun. 
 
 In our description, we made no attempt to conceal 
 that the finished methods, the wonderfully trained and 
 expert mechanics, the venormous capacity of the Krupp 
 Works astounded us, and that we firmly believed that 
 this Age of Scientific Progress is deservedly proud of 
 the gfeat Engineer* who is the head of the plant, and 
 of the able assistants who aid him in his Titan task. 
 *See Note on Page 160. 
 
-v.- 
 
 Thougli the charge of "youthful enthusiasm " may 
 be brought against us, our readers must remember that 
 style is but the clothing of the thought, changing with 
 the fashion of the hour. We regret our faults of style; 
 but we can state positively the essential point after all, 
 that we have written only of facts, as they are, and of 
 things seen hy us. However desirous we might have 
 been of avoiding everything that m'ight tend to induce 
 heated discussion, we could not do otherwise, even 
 though it prove distasteful to those who believe that 
 "words should conceal thoughts." 
 
 E. MONTHATE. 
 
 Brussels, January 15, 1887. 
 
Preface to the Second Edition. 
 
 The principles which, have served as guides in the 
 getting up of this work, principles which were an- 
 nounced in the preface to the first edition, have been 
 recognized as sound in most of the many notices of the 
 book. Some, however, have found fault, either with 
 the method of treatment or with the arguments ad- 
 vanced. To these criticisms a reply has been made in a 
 recently issued pamphlet, entitled " En cause de Krupp 
 et De Bange." by Pertinax.* 
 
 The charge has been made that the texts and opin • 
 ions of the distinguished metallurgists quoted in favor 
 of crucible steel have been emasculated and perverted. 
 This is not the case ; we have condensed Fremy's views, 
 carefully preserving the essence of his ideas ; we have 
 quoted Percy and Gruner as we understood them, and 
 finally, in a sentence quoted from Valerius an " only" 
 escaped our notice, with scarcely perceptible resulting 
 change of sense. 
 
 A new edition of the book being required, the op- 
 portunity has been given us of correcting these so-called 
 shortcomings, and we have gratefully availed ourselves 
 of this opportunity to afford satisfaction to our oppo- 
 nents. We quote Fremy tierhatim ; we have left out the 
 citations from Percy and Gruner, whose investigations, 
 
 *NoTE —A translation of the pamphlet will be found in the Appendix. 
 
— VII.- 
 
 by the way, were made while the open-hearth process 
 was still in its infancy, and we have done justice to 
 Yalerius. 
 
 Lieutenant Colonel De la Rocque was quoted as 
 against open-hearth steel, and not as in favor of crucible, 
 hence no apology is due him. 
 
 Although we are firmly convinced that the superior- 
 ity of crucible over open-hearth steel is conclusively 
 proved by the very methods of production, a point 
 which is briefly discussed by Pertinax, we have never- 
 theless deemed it best to adhere faithfully to our an- 
 nounced plan, to base our work upon the testimony of 
 eminent and practical experts. 
 
 Having this in view, we have added some further 
 authoritative statements, all enunciated within the past 
 ten years, in confirmation of the views already put 
 forth. 
 
 We find further support for our proposition in the 
 bursting of the De Bange 34 centimetre gun, the one 
 which was exhibited at Antwerp in 1885, and which was, 
 so to speak, the occasion for the discussion into which 
 we were subsequently drawn. This casualty occurred 
 August 4th, 1887, at Calais, after very few rounds.* 
 
 Colonel De Bange ascribes the failure to a " weak 
 spot ' ' in the metal which he had observed during the 
 finishing. We have no commentary to make, and we 
 have not even changed our text in speaking of this gun, 
 as it was, so that it might readily be seen upon what 
 our opinions were founded. 
 
 *NoTB.— An account of this accident, from the Army and Navy Journal, 
 is given in the Appendix. 
 
— VIIL — 
 
 It only remains to express the hope that this edition 
 of " Krupp and De Bangs " may be received with the 
 same good will that was accorded to the first, and that 
 it may help in carrying out our proposed task, to enable 
 our readers to form a correct judgement of the respective 
 merits of the two systems of Ordnance construction at 
 present before them in competition. 
 
 Brussels, February 15th, 1888. 
 
 E. M. 
 
— IX.— 
 
 List of Works Consulted. 
 
 CoTirs d'artillerie et de cMmie appliquee, 
 
 Artillery and Engineer School of Application, 
 
 Brussels. 
 Le mfital k cannon, Fremy. 
 
 Traite tlifeoriqiie et pratique de la fabrication du far 
 et de 1' acier, Valerius. 
 
 Traite de metallurgie, Oruner. 
 
 La metallurgie a 1' Exposition de 1878, Lan. 
 
 La metallurgie du fer a 1' Exposition universelle de 
 1878, P. Duteil. 
 
 L' acier fondu homogene. Firth. 
 
 Krupp' s Rundkeil — Verschluss f uer Feld- 1 
 
 «^^«^^^' \ Essen. 
 
 Krupp' s Rundkeil — Yerschluss fuer sen- 
 were Geschuetze, , 
 
 Aide-memoire d'artillerie. 
 
 Cours special a I'usage des sous-officiers d'artillerie. 
 
 ScMess — Yersuche der Gusstahlf abrik Fried. Krupp 
 auf ihrem ScMessplatz bei Meppen. 
 
 fitude historique de la resistance des canons rayes, 
 Lieut. Col. De la Rocque. 
 
 The United States Gun Foundry Report. 
 
 Canons frangais et allemands, Captain Mariotti. 
 
 L'artillerie Krupp etl'artillerie De Bange, 
 Lieut. Col. Hennebert. 
 
 Revue d'artillerie. 
 
 Revue maritime et coloniale. 
 
 Rivista di artiglieria e genio. 
 
 French and German Artillery Manuals. 
 
 Newspapers and Miscellany (7%e Times, The Engin- 
 eer, La France militaire, Deutsche Heeres-Zeitung, &c.) 
 
KEUPP AND DE BAME. 
 
 "The quality of the metal, the details 
 of manufacture, the disciplined exactness 
 of treatment, the practice and the trans- 
 mitted methods of the workshop, all these 
 play a most important part in determining 
 the strength of guns." 
 
 Historical Study of the Strength of Rifled 
 
 Cannon, by Lieut. -Col. db i,a Rocque. 
 
 Baudoin & Co., Paris, 1885. 
 
 Although. Ballistics is an exact science, built upon 
 fixed foundations, the practical application of its prin- 
 ciples varies unceasingly. As we understand it, freed 
 from the fettering traditions of the ancient art of gun- 
 nery, it is, under the influence of new researches and 
 experiments, a continually expanding science, and only 
 a foolhardy man would assert that the logical conclusions 
 of to-day will possess equal force to-morrow. It follows 
 that any State, anxious to preserve its military standing 
 in comparison with its neighbors, is, by this continued 
 development, compelled to renew its armament, possibly 
 oftener than desirable, by adopting later and better 
 material. This requirement is of paramount importance 
 to the smaller States, who cannot hope to maintain their 
 independence, or to defend their honor, unless their 
 arms and equipments are not inferior to those of their 
 possible adversaries. 
 
Among the many considerations that bear upon the 
 adoption of a system of heavy armament, two questions 
 first of all present themselves to the intelligent ordnance 
 expert : 
 
 First. "What is the best metal for guns ? 
 
 Second. What system of construction will yield the 
 best result ? 
 
 The discussion of these two questions constitutes 
 Part First of this book. Part Second is devoted to a 
 critical examination of the Krupp and De Bange sys- 
 tems, and to the investigation of the technical methods 
 pursued in France and at Essen. Part Third includes a 
 description of the Krupp Works, a natural conclusion 
 to this monograph. 
 
PART FIRST. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 Qun-Metal. 
 
 I. — Its Properties. 
 
 All gun-metal, according to the books, must possess 
 strength, and elasticity, must be able to resist erosion, to 
 withstand heat, and to permit but little set under shock 
 beyond the elastic limit. It is needless to attempt rigor- 
 ous proof of the necessity of these conditions. It is 
 sufficient to indicate that the expansive force of fired 
 powder, the enormous pressures developed within the 
 bore, and the consequent tendency to enlargement, the 
 resulting gutterings if the material be not adequately 
 hard, and finally the balloting of projectiles not mechan- 
 ically fitted, all combine to demand that the structural 
 material should possess the qualities mentioned. 
 
 Some authorities are of opinion that the cost of the 
 gun metal should also be considered. This certainly has 
 played a prominent part in official estimates, and is, of 
 course, a matter of vital importance to the tax-payers. 
 Economy should characterize the military, as well as 
 
— 4 — 
 
 every other Government service ; but with gun-metal, 
 more than anything else, endurance is a function of 
 quality, and hence it follows that a true economy re- 
 quires the construction of guns of even expensive metal, 
 provided, longevity is. assured. This question of cost 
 is, at best, but secondary, considering the great in- 
 terests involved. 
 
 Both theory and practice have shown that the molec- 
 ular tensions in a gun, under the confined action of fired 
 powder, decrease rapidly from interior to exterior, so 
 that the outside laminae are but little strained. But the 
 pressure, as a force, must be in equilibrium with the 
 tension of the circular fibres as resistance ; it follows, 
 then, that the interior fibres are enormously strained. 
 
 Now, if the first of these is stretched beyond a known 
 limit, its power of resistance is impaired, rupture may 
 ensue and extend outward, progressively, from fibre to 
 fibre. As the transmission of rupture is gradual, it is 
 useless to add metal on the outside ; even were we to make 
 the walls infinitely thick, the evil would not be cured. 
 There is only one way of overcoming it : the exterior 
 fibres must be made to do their share of the work ; the 
 law governing the transmission of strain must be modi- 
 fied by the radial compression of the fibres. This is 
 what is intended to be accomplished by hooping, a gen- 
 erally recognized principle. We may add, then, to the 
 conditions already enumerated, gun-metal must be capa- 
 ble of enduring initial tension. 
 
 There are metallurgists and ordnance officers who 
 invest gun-metal with other more abstruse and specific 
 attributes, but the limits assigned to this work forbid 
 their consideration here, and allow the discussion of 
 only those which are generally demanded. 
 
 With this reservation we will examine the various 
 gun metals used, with a view of determining the one that 
 possesses, in the highest degree, the qualities indicated. 
 
— 5 — 
 
 TI. — Cast and WROtroHT lEoisr, Okdhstary and 
 UcHATius Bronze, Steel. 
 
 Cast-iron is neither very strong nor elastic undei 
 strains of extension, but, on account of its hardness, 
 powder gases and heat afEect it but slightly, and it shows 
 appreciable contraction under hooping. It has, though, 
 one very grave fault : it bursts, often without the slight- 
 est notice, as soon as the elastic limit is passed. Wrought 
 iron is strong, more elastic than cast-iron under exten- 
 sion and less under compression, but hooping does not 
 produce initial tension. Although it stands fairly well 
 the action of powder gases and high temperature, stUl it 
 is a comparatively soft metal and lacks homogeneity. 
 
 Bronze possesses a remarkable property, it does not 
 burst even when its elastic limit is far exceeded ; in this 
 respect it is just the metal for guns, but, unfortunately, 
 in every other way, it is entirely unfit. It is soft, yields 
 most readily to the erosive action of gases at high tem- 
 pei'atures, and cannot be advantageously hooped. As an 
 alloy it is rarely homogeneous, mainly due to the fact 
 that the copper and tin have not been sufficiently refined, 
 and therefore are not combined under the most favorable 
 conditions. 
 
 Bronze, swaged as practiced by Uchatius, gains greatly 
 in power of resistance and elasticity, and is stUl used for 
 certain types of guns. 
 
 Steel, the last in our list, makes the strongest, the 
 most elastic, the toughest gun metal. It is readily sub- 
 jected to initial tension, resists erosion and stands heat ; 
 it is the typical gun-metal, and has been accepted as 
 such in all services, not even excepting England and 
 Trance. These nations fought long against its use, 
 but, after costly experience, were compelled to acknowl- 
 edge its incomparable qualities. Although cast-iron and 
 bronze are still used for guns, temporary make-shifts, 
 
— 6 — 
 
 becauGe steel is higli-priced, it is obvious that, as appro- 
 priations increase, steel replaces every other metal. Such 
 astonishing progress has been made lately in the produc- 
 tion and treatment of steel, that no prophet is required, 
 to predict that in the near future cast-iron, -v^^hose sole 
 merit is cheapness and easy manipulation, will be an. 
 unknown metal in gun construction. 
 
 III. — Varieties of Steel, Feemy's GtUN-Metal. 
 
 There are many ways of making steel, and as its prop- 
 erties vary according to the method of production, it 
 becomes a matter of importance to choose the right one 
 for gun steel. 
 
 Bessemer, Open-hearth and Crucible steel are used 
 for cannon, though Bessemer, for this especial purpose, 
 appears to be going out of use. 
 
 Open-hearth steel is coming into general favor, espec- 
 ially in France, and Crucible stfeel is used in England, 
 and very largely in Germany. 
 
 Puddled or semi-steel is used only for hoops, and is 
 mentioned here, because it plays an important part in 
 the production of high quality steel, insuring homo- 
 geneity in proportion to the rigor of the refining process 
 through which it has passed. 
 
 We propose to examine with care the special charac- 
 teristics of these steels, and, in the course of the exam- 
 ination, we shall have frequent occasion to quote the 
 opinions of distinguished authorities, like Fremy, 
 Valerius and others, who have made a study of the 
 subject, and whose conclusions possess great weight. 
 
 To these opinions we propose to add the testimony 
 of practical steel makers, whose exhaustive experience 
 makes their utterances authoritative. 
 
 First, let us quote Fremy, whose works on steel pro- 
 duction and its attendant phenomena are too well known 
 to need our praise. 
 
— 7 — 
 
 After the Franco-German war, at a time when his 
 native land was making every possible effort to improve 
 its military organization and weapons, this distinguished 
 chemist, determined to add his mite to the good work, 
 submitted to the War Department certain theoretical 
 results regarding steel production, and recommended 
 that the method proposed be subjected to practical tests, 
 being certain that it would yield an excellent gun-metal. 
 This recommendation was approved, and Fremy set to 
 work. 
 
 He undertook an extended series of experiments in 
 making steel, having the valuable assistance of one of 
 the brightest Ordnance officers in France, Captain 
 LahitoUe. 
 
 His report, published under the title, "Gun-Metal," 
 (Paris, 1874), is still the most complete work on the sub- 
 ject, and this report we propose to analyze and discuss. 
 
 The author says in his preface, "practical experience 
 has proved the correctness of my conclusions." 
 
 We have to do then, not with merely a theoretical 
 treatise but with a manual, written for Ordnance officers 
 and gun makers. 
 
 " All steel experts," writes Fremy, " are well aware 
 how difficult it is to assure a constant product ; the 
 characteristics of the metal change markedly with slight 
 variations in the processes of manufacture, and hence 
 the output must be classified for use, a delicate and 
 difficult task." 
 
 After dwelling somewhat upon the well understood 
 uncertainties that hamper the manufacture, Fremy 
 gives the method by which he reached the best, the 
 most constant results. It is, in brief " to combine by 
 simple melting, iron and steel." 
 
 "I had in view," he continues, "making gun-metal 
 like an ordinary alloy in which the components, pure of 
 course, are chemically united by fusion." 
 
Our learned professor adds ; "I have found that an 
 excellent gun -metal is obtained by alloying three parts 
 of iron with one part, good measure, of high steel ;' ' the 
 Tery method followed by Krupp in making his Crucible 
 steel, though the exact proportions are not known. 
 
 Having determined upon the alloy, where shall we 
 get the components ? As regards iron, the product of 
 the Catalan forge is undoubtedly the purest, but the cost 
 is great, the output limited ; but Griiner, in his treatise 
 on Metallurgy, tells us that ' ' by puddling, we can now 
 get as good a product as that from the Catalan furnace, 
 at considerably less cost." 
 
 As an iron of that exceptional quality was out of the 
 question, Fremy fell back on the less pure coTnmercial 
 irons, gained as indicated by Gruner, and recommends 
 as one component of the gun-metal alloy, the puddled 
 iron made from good charcoal pig. 
 
 IV. Puddled oe Semi-Steel. 
 
 The other component is steel. Fremy considers its con- 
 trolling characteristic, purity, and as the importance of 
 this quality as regards iron has already been shown, no 
 one will gainsay him, it is a matter of course. The whole 
 question hinges on our ability to get pure steel. Steel 
 can be made by decarburizing pig, or by recarburizing 
 wrought iron. 
 
 This latter, a cementation process, yields cement or 
 Mister steel, the choicest brand, provided the very best 
 pig has been used in puddling, and the utmost skilled 
 attention given to the details of the process. 
 
 Blister steel is not made in great quantity, and it costs 
 too much for general consumption. The next best 
 method of making pure steel is by puddling, but stop- 
 ping short at the proper carbon point. 
 
 ^'■Puddled steel,^^ says Fremy, "though made di- 
 
— 9 — 
 
 rectly from the X-)ig, has and always will have its indus- 
 trial uses, and if made with all possible care of first-class 
 pig, is of excellent quality and very often superior to 
 that made by other processes. ' ' In the manufacture of 
 this steel, as in any other, the selection of the pig is of 
 paramount importance. On this point Fremy speaks 
 very decidedly ; " Most important of all, use suitable 
 pig metal ; reject all having an excess of sulphur and 
 phosphorus, give preference to that containing man- 
 ganese, for this metal besides helping to eliminate im- 
 purities by slagging, increases the strength of the steel." 
 
 For puddling, Krupp uses pig, exceedingly rich in 
 manganese, smelted at the Siegen mines. 
 
 " The actual work of the puddler," in the words of 
 Fremy, " has a marked effect upon the quality of the 
 resulting steel." 
 
 Krupp has a school for j)uddlers, which accounts for 
 the high esteem in which his workmen are held, even 
 in England, the motherland of the process. 
 
 First-class puddlers, working good manganiferous 
 pig, will produce superior steel. " Puddled steel," con- 
 cludes Fremy, ' ' worked with the greatest possible 
 pains, and ' assurance made doubly sure ' by rigorous 
 chemical analysis, is a suitable component of the ferrous 
 gun-metal alloy, it will certainly add strength to resist 
 the great pressures of fired powder. I have no hesi- 
 tation in asserting that good puddled steel can replace 
 in certain proportions cement steel in a gun-metal mix- 
 ture." 
 
 The views of this learned writer have been confirmed 
 
 in practice ; at Essen, and at other plants where superior 
 
 crucible steel is made, puddled steel forms a good part 
 
 of the charge. 
 
 V. — Bessemek Steel. 
 
 As a gun-metal, Bessemer steel, as at present made, 
 need not be seriously considered. In this process, the 
 
— 10 — 
 
 pig, first decarburized by an air blast, is then, by the 
 addition of manganiferous iron to the charge, converted 
 into steel, high or low, as may be desired. This method 
 has in late years been greatly modified and improved ; 
 many plants charge the converters directly from blast 
 furnaces with Whitwell stoves, the pig metal being 
 thus at once converted into steel. 
 
 " Can this metal be used in gun construction ?" asks 
 Fremy, and with him we will look into the matter. 
 
 "This question is of great moment to Ordnance 
 ofiicers, for Bessemer steel can be made quickly and 
 cheaply, important considerations now-a-days ; indeed 
 it would cost no more for gun-metal mixtures than 
 wroiight iron. But the structural applications of Bes- 
 semer steel have a limit, and I confess I dare not recom- 
 mend its use for gun-metal. 
 
 I have experimented a good deal with the converter, 
 I have watched its working for months, I know how a 
 low and strong metal can be obtained ; still I must say 
 that this process, so simple and direct, yielding almost 
 at once, large ingots of cast-steel, does not yet guarantee 
 that constancy of product, so absolutely essential in gun- 
 metal." 
 
 Many things combine to make Bessemer steel irregu- 
 lar, and the converter does not permit the same exam- 
 ination of the ingredients as does the crucible, an in- 
 estimable advantage. The pig alone can be analyzed, 
 and we all understand how little weight frequently at- 
 taches to the results. 
 
 As regards getting rid of impurities in the iron, it 
 must be borne in mind that the charge is treated less 
 than half an hour, that it consists of tons of metal, and 
 that consequently the time must be too brief to insure the 
 complete elimination of every thing injurious to strength. 
 
 "These detrimental circumstances," adds Fremy, 
 "are of slight consequence in commercial steel, but 
 
— 11 — 
 
 "must ie duly estimated in considering its use for gun- 
 "metal. 
 
 Bessemer steel develops under certain contingencies, 
 a defect very serious when we consider it as a material 
 for construction ; it is frequently subject to a molecular 
 change which makes it as fragile as badly annealed 
 glass. I have seen Bessemer plates, of apparently good 
 quality, crack aU over as soon as used, and bars, which 
 broke short off in falling a few feet. 
 
 Such a metal, if applied to gun construction, might 
 stand all the inspection tests, but, owing to subsequent 
 molecular change, might produce disastrous casualties." 
 
 We thus see how Fremy disposes of Bessemer steel 
 as a gun-metal, but we must in fairness add that this 
 opinion is accompanied by a proviso, a prudent precau- 
 tion against what the future may have in store for us. 
 " By continued careful study of the Bessemer process, 
 I have no doubt but that the serious defects described 
 "Will be overcome." 
 
 As we write, can the Bessemer steel makers in truth 
 declare that they have cured the faults found by Fremy 
 ten years ago ? 
 
 We think not, and, at any rate, we know that but 
 little has been used for guns. (1) 
 
 VI. — Open-heakth Steel. 
 
 In late years the Martin- Siemens furnace has be- 
 come the rival of the Bessemer converter, and like it, 
 affords opportunity for economically obtaining cast- 
 steel in large masses. 
 
 It is a gas furnace, in which a very high temperature 
 burns the carbon and impurities from the pig, yielding 
 
 (1) Note. — A 6 in. solid unhammered steel gun has just been successfully 
 cast of Bessemer metal by the Pittsburg Casting Company, and will be 
 tested as soon as finished. (O. E. M). 
 
— 12 — 
 
 a homogeneous batli which is brought to the proper car- 
 bon point by the addition of spiegeleisen, f erro-manga- 
 nese, or scrap metal. 
 
 "The Martin-Siemens process," says Fremy further, 
 " is as economical as the Bessemer without its present, 
 drawbacks. The great trouble with the converter is^ 
 that it works so very rapidly that it cannot produce a. 
 refined and homogeneous metal ; the open-hearth bath, 
 on the other hand, up to a given point, has all the 
 merits of the crucible and the puddling furnace. * * * 
 The construction of the furnace admits of watching- 
 the progress of the action, and the successive stages ar& 
 known by the immediate test of specimens drawn at ap- 
 propriate times. The leisurely open-hearth procedure^ 
 necessarily gives a degree of purity and homogeneity,, 
 almost unattainable in the converter." 
 
 Although Fremy is convinced that the Martin- Sie- 
 mens furnace can, under fit supervision, produce an. 
 excellent steel, suitable for guns, it is, however, only 
 upon the condition that a neutral atmosphere, a melting, 
 not a refining, atmosphere is attainable. He thus, 
 expresses himself in this regard : 
 
 " But, as yet, I entertain doubts as to its advantages 
 for this purpose. So far, in my tests, the fusion of the 
 metal bath has required an excess of pig-iron, subse- 
 quently decarbonized in the oxydizing atmosphere. 
 
 Further, the quality of the metal is uncertain, ifc 
 varies with the more or less complete decarburization of. 
 the metal added to produce the bath. Considering this, 
 the Martin-Siemens furnace is not merely a huge melt- 
 ing pot, it is a refining apparatus, akin to the puddling 
 furnace and Bessemer converter, and in consequence, not 
 free from their irregularity. 
 
 While awaiting the improvement of the open-hearth- 
 process, it is safer to commence malting gun-metal in- 
 
— 18 — 
 
 crucibles ; in this way, I made the alloys used in my 
 principal experiments. ' ' 
 
 The author advocates the crucible process only as a 
 temporary measure, in anticipation of the improvement 
 of the regenerative furnace, but has the Martin- Siemens 
 process fulfilled this hope ? 
 
 We dare not answer in the affirmative, for it is an in- 
 disputable fact that at the close of the melt, ferro-man- 
 ganese and ferro-silicon aUoys must be added to the 
 bath, a fact which proves that the furnace is still, as it 
 was in Fremy' s time, a refining apparatus, and that the 
 -essential condition, fixed by the French author, for its 
 employ in gun-metal production, has not been realized. 
 
 Fremy' s epitomized conclusions are very much to the 
 point : 
 
 "1. The metal best adapted for gun construction is 
 a special production ranging between wrought iron and 
 high steel. 
 
 2. This metal may be obtained by the incomplete car- 
 burization of wrought iron, but the best way of producing 
 it is to combine by fusion, one part of high steel with 
 three parts of the iron. 
 
 This synthetic process, which recalls the ordinary 
 method of making alloys, insures entire regularity ; by 
 varying the proportions, every degree of hardness re- 
 quired in ordnance constructions is attainable. 
 
 B. In its fabrication, the choice of proper brands of 
 iron and steel, is a matter of paramount importance. The 
 best brands of iron are the products of Catalan forges, or 
 of charcoal refining furnaces using cold blast charcoal 
 
 pig- 
 
 4. Coke brands should not be used in the produc- 
 tion of gun-metal, unless it be impossible to procure 
 good charcoal iron — in such case they should come from 
 
— 14 — 
 
 first-class manganiferous pig, refined with all the care 
 recommended. 
 
 5. The steel used for the gun- metal alloy should be, 
 like the iron, as pure as possible, cement steel is best, 
 then puddled, Bessemer and open-hearth. 
 
 6. The combination of the iron and steel should take 
 place in a regenerative furnace ; but to start this new in- 
 dustry, I advise that the ingots be made of crucible cast 
 metal. 
 
 7. The quality of the gun-metal is solely dependent 
 upon the purity of its two constituents, iron and steel ; 
 both these, before use, should be subjected to the most 
 rigorous chemical analysis." 
 
 In his eighth and final conclusion, Fr6my favors 
 the manufacture of gun-metal by private industry. 
 
 For want of space, we cannot cite it here ; we quote 
 only what the author says of Krupp, whom he holds up 
 as a model to French manufacturers : 
 
 "Krupp guns are much talked about ; let us not for- 
 get that this constructor has succeeded in making for 
 years, ordnance of world-wide reputation, because he 
 follows a recognized scientific method. In his Works 
 nothing is left to chance ; chemists are always busy ana- 
 lyzing ingredients and resulting products ; the scientific, 
 the mechanical, and the military interests all work 
 harmoniously together . 
 
 Ordnance officers are attached to the establishment 
 and keenly follow every detail ; large sums are appro- 
 priated for tests of varying mixtures, possibly suitable 
 for gun-metal, and an accurate record of each is kept, 
 showing its chemical composition and its physical qual- 
 ities." 
 
-15 — 
 VII. — Ceitcible Steel. 
 
 On Fremy's authority, it is proved that both, theor- 
 etically and practically Crucible steel is best for gun-met- 
 al. 
 
 Professor B. Valerius, in his ' ' Theoretical and Prac- 
 tical Treatise on the Manufacture of Iron and Steel ' ' 
 (Ghent and Leipzig, 1875), writes thus on crucible re- 
 melting : 
 
 "1. Reraelting permits the testing, the choosing, the 
 proportioning of the components. 
 
 2. Even should particles of slag or other impurities 
 remain mixed with the steel, the slow fusion and the 
 rest at a high temperature, will eliminate them. 
 
 3. This high temperature, added to the almost absol- 
 ute purity of the liquid mass, divides up and dissemin- 
 ates the carbon uniformly, thus doing away with slight 
 differences of hardness. 
 
 4. ISTo injurious chemical change can take place. 
 
 5. The charge of each crucible being small (25 kilo- 
 grams), proper supervision is possible, and unifomi 
 manipulation assured. 
 
 6. The maganese oxide added to the charge exerts a 
 favorable catalytic influence. 
 
 On the other hand, crucible remelting is costly and 
 difficult ; the products of different crucibles vary, it re- 
 quires a long apprenticeship to become expert ; at Ser- 
 aing there is not an employee capable of doing the work ; 
 and further, it has some of the inconveniences of the 
 Bessemer process. Hence there is an increasing ten- 
 dency to discard it." 
 
 This last paragraph shows the reason why the produc- 
 tion of Crucible steel is undertaken by but a very lim- 
 ited number of makers. 
 
— 16 — 
 
 The work is surrounded by so many difficulties, it 
 must be carried on with such continued care and skill, 
 that it is easy to understand failures and opposition. 
 
 In another part of his book, Valerius speaks still 
 more decidedly: ' 'As puddling eliminates portions of the 
 sulphur and phosphorus contained in the pig, and as in 
 the Martin -Siemens process a large amount of puddled 
 iron is used, it follows that the same ores, used in the 
 open-hearth furnace, must yield better steel than in the 
 Bessemer converter, but neither the one nor the other as 
 yet holds out more' than the hope of soTne day equalling, 
 as regards quality of product, fusion in crucibles.'''' 
 Could anything be clearer or more decisive ? 
 
 "At Krupp's Works," continues our learned pro- 
 fessor, " there should be obtained," the author does not 
 use the indicative, as he writes only of what he has 
 heard and read, "by the remelting in hermetically 
 sealed crucibles, a cast- steel free from blow holes ; it is 
 easy to see that this danger is less to be feared in cruci- 
 ble steel than in Bessemer, for the latter is permeated by 
 the blast." And we add, " than in open-hearth, which' 
 is also produced by a conversion process. ' ' 
 
 Lan, Master ofMining Engineering, and Professor of 
 Metallurgy at the School of Mines in Paris, follows 
 Fremy and Valerius, and in his report, " Metallurgy at 
 the Exposition of 1878," (Paris, 1879), thus expresses 
 himself : 
 
 "The many attempts made since the introduction of 
 the Bessemer and Open-hearth processes to utilize their 
 products for tool steel have not as a rule led to satisfac- 
 tory results. In Sweden and Austro-Hungary alone, 
 partial success has rewarded these attempts, due un- 
 doubtedly to the excellent qualities of the components 
 used in these countries. 
 
 Everywhere else, with varied proportions of compon- 
 ents, only common tool steel has been produced, not for 
 
— 17 — 
 
 a moment comparable with the beautiful bars of cruci- 
 ble steel exhibited by Sheffield and one or two French 
 makers ; pure carbon steels, running in carbon from 60 
 to 75, even to 150, but rarely more, perfectly classed, 
 according to carbon point, into five or six, sometimes 
 seven or nine, tempers, and labelled for the special use 
 to which each temper should be applied. Tension tests 
 are no longer used, now-a-days, to classify steel ; it has 
 long been known in well managed steel Works, that the 
 results of tension tests are not satisfactory indices of the 
 quality of tool cast-steel. We can cite more than one 
 pulling test of Open-hearth or Bessemer mixtures, mix- 
 tures with carbon point from 90 to 100 or ] 20, with no 
 more silicon than many crucible steels, but always with 
 more maganese, mixtures, resulting from the fusion of 
 puddled steel or of Bessemer, made of very pure, but 
 coke and hot blast pig, mixtures, which under pulling 
 tests gave exactly the same resistance and elongation 
 as certain crucible steels, and yet what a difference 
 there was between the tools made from them ! The cru- 
 cible steel tool, in the form of gravers, scissors, etc., 
 keeps sound, while that made of hearth mixture dulls 
 under blows, soon becomes notched, or breaks." 
 
 This statement is important from several points of 
 view. First, it is clear that what is applicable to cruci- 
 ble tool steel is quite as applicable to gun steel, of the 
 same make but much softer. Second, it shows that 
 steel may possess qualities, determinable neither by ten- 
 sion tests nor by chemical analyses. The learned pro- 
 fessor errs, however, in putting puddled steel as a raw 
 product on the same footing with Bessemer, for it un- 
 questionably offers greater guarantees of purity than 
 the latter. An attentive study of Professor Lan's state- 
 ments must lead to the conclusion that the crucible pro- 
 cess alone assures, under similar conditions of chemical 
 
— 18 — 
 
 purity, tlie possession of exceptional qualities by the 
 product. 
 
 "We can add to tlie testimony of these learned theo- 
 retical experts, the practical experience of numerous 
 steel makers. We cite first Firth, the well-known Shef- 
 field maker, who in a pamphlet, ''Homogeneous Cast- 
 Steel," published in 1872, wrote as follows : 
 
 ' ' Cheap steels have found ready markets, and their 
 general application for trade purposes, due mainly to 
 their low price, marks an era in metallurgical progress, 
 but we must not ask of them that which from their very 
 nature they cannot grant. It is almost needless to say 
 that they cannot compete with crucible steel for cannon 
 and like exacting purposes. They are cheap, certainly 
 an advantage, a very important one in many applica- 
 tions, but, so far as regards guns, a quality that may 
 produce disastrous results. 
 
 " The best gun-metal is crucible steel, made of fine 
 brands of iron. Composed of choice components, pro- 
 duced on account of its cost by selected workmen, it 
 has the still further advantage over lower grades, of ac- 
 quiring, under manipulation, new properties which con- 
 stitute it the true steel for guns. It alone yields per- 
 fectly sound and homogeneous blocks. 
 
 Its cost is relatively high, easily explained, for no 
 expense is spared to make it answer the purpose to which 
 it is to be applied. The English Grovernment wants no 
 other grade, and the Firth Works furnish no other to 
 gun makers and ship builders." 
 
 It must be admitted that since this was written, the 
 Firth Works have been compelled to undertake the 
 manufacture of Open-hearth steel, because from the very 
 moment that the authorities declared themselves satis- 
 fied with hearth-made steel, Crucible steel, on account 
 of its high cost, could no longer compete. 
 
 We have already given the reasons for believing that 
 
— 19 — 
 
 the authorities do wrong in relying, in the inspection of 
 their gun steel, upon ordinary physical tests, and we 
 think that Firth' s real views as regards Crucible steel are 
 to-day the same as in 1872. 
 
 This sudden change of opinion on the part of the 
 English Ordnance authorities is comparatively of recent 
 date. In 1881 on the occasion of the visit of the ' ' Iron 
 and Steel Institute" to the Woolwich Gun Works, Colonel 
 Maitland, at that time Director, thus expressed himself : 
 
 " The steel used for guns is procured by contract. 
 The principal portion is supplied by Messrs. Firth of 
 the Norfolk Works, Sheffield, but some tubes for the 
 smaller natures of ordnance have been obtained from 
 Messrs. Vickers, and Messrs. Cammell, also of Sheffield, ' 
 and from Sir J. Whitworth & Co., of Manchester. The 
 material supplied by Messrs. Firth is entirely composed 
 of crucible steel. It is of high excellence ; the rejec- 
 tions are but few ; and, up to the present time, our ex- 
 perience leads us to consider it as undoubtedly the most 
 trustworthy steel in the market, particularly when large 
 ingots are required. 
 
 The steel supplied by Messrs. Vickers comes out par- 
 ticularly well under our tests, but we have not yet had 
 sufficient experience of it to enable us to speak very 
 positively of its uniformity. It is produced by the 
 Siemens-Martin process. 
 
 The fluid compressed steel which forms the Whit- 
 worth speciality is of high excellence, and as a rule the 
 castings are very sound. The qualities of the material 
 as shown by our tests are, however, scarcely so suitable 
 to the peculiar necessities of gun manufacture as could 
 be wished. No doubt its percentage of elongation would 
 be improved if it were more worked and drawn out." (1) 
 
 (1) Note. — Colonel Maitland ; On the Metallurgy and Manufacture of 
 Modern British Ordnance. Journal of the Iron and Steel Institute for 
 1881, No. II. 
 
— 20 — 
 
 This paper of Colonel Maitland's, Mr. Greiner, then 
 Superintendent at the Cockerill Works, now General 
 Manager of our leading metallurgical plant, communi- 
 cated at a meeting held at Liege, Dec. 4th, 18S1, and it 
 is published in the "Revue universelle des mines, <fec.," 
 of 1881, (Vol. X) under title of " The Gun Question be- 
 fore the Iron and Steel Institute." 
 
 We would be justified in assuming that the open- 
 hearth steel of Vickers and of Whitworth had under- 
 gone radical improvement, as they have succeeded, after 
 but few years, is completely supplanting crucible steel 
 in gun manufacture, but we would be mistaken. 
 
 Paul Duteil, a French Civil Engineer, in a pamphlet, 
 " The Metallurgy of Iron at the Universal Exposition of 
 1878," is of opinion that the Bessemer and open- 
 hearth processes never yield homogeneous and uniform- 
 ly dense steels. 
 
 " To obtain this," he adds, "steel must be cast in 
 crucibles out of contact with air, so that the whole 
 mass may be equally saturated." 
 
 Pourcel, one of the most distinguished of French 
 steel experts, who, while in charge of the Terre-JSToire 
 Works, did so much for the open-hearth product, hap- 
 pily characterizes in a paper read before the Iron and 
 Steel Institute in 1882, the esteem in which crucible 
 steel is held by steel makers. 
 
 ' ' Crucible steel, which still remains the ideal type of 
 steel, contains less than 0.3 per cent (of silicon). (1) 
 
 We cannot close this chapter in better fashion than 
 by quoting the most important portion of a paper on 
 crucible steel manufacture, read in 1884, before the Ches- 
 ter Meeting of the Iron and Steel Institute, by Mr. 
 Henry Seebohm, a well known maker. 
 
 "The principal reason why Bessemer and Siemens 
 
 (1) Note. — A. Pourcel. Notes ou the Manufacture of Solid Steel Cast- 
 ings. Journal of the Iron and Steel Institute, 1883, No. II. 
 
— 21 — 
 
 steel have failed so completely, to supersede crucible 
 cast-steel for purposes where the better qualities are re- 
 quired, is that they cannot be made sound without the 
 addition of silicon or manganese. In melting common 
 steel (containing, for example, from 0.15 to 0.05 per 
 cent, of phosphorus), the steel must be poured into the 
 mould as soon after it has become perfectly fluid as pos- 
 sible, and as hot as the tensile strength of the pot wiU 
 allow. 
 
 In making the higher qualities of crucible cast-steel 
 (where the percentage of phosphorus ranges from 0.01 to 
 0.001) a similar mode of treatment would produce very 
 strange results, the molten steel would boil over in the 
 mould, the fracture of the ingot when cold would show 
 a series of bubbles like a sponge, and its specific gravity 
 would scarcely exceed that of wood. Some of these 
 bubbles or honeycombs would weld up when the ingot 
 came to be forged, but by far the greater number would 
 be coated with an oxide which would make a weld im- 
 possible, and the bar, if it was not burnt up in the fire, 
 would be so full of the imperfections technically called 
 " seams" or "roaks," as to be perfectly useless. 
 
 To obviate this disastrous result, it is necessary to 
 boil the steel for nearly half an hour after it has become 
 fluid, and then to allow it to cool down to a certain 
 temperature before it is poured into the mould . This 
 process is called, in the language of the votaries of the 
 rule of thumb, "killing" the steel, and it is an axiom 
 among them that the higher the quality of the steel, the 
 more "killing" it takes. 
 
 It is in this part of the process of crucible cast-steel 
 melting that its special virtue consists, and the cost and 
 quality of the cast-steel produced depend in a large de- 
 gree upon the skill brought to bear upon it. There is 
 an old proverb in Shefiield, usually expressed in the 
 terse vernacular of the country, but which maybe re- 
 
— 22 — 
 
 fined into the expression that, if you put his Satanic Ma- 
 jesty into the crucible, his Satanic Majesty will come out 
 of the crucible. The converse of this is by no means the 
 case. Though you may convert iron into steel in the 
 crucible, you cannot convert bad steel into good steel in 
 the crucible ; but though you may put the most angelic- 
 ally pure steel into the pot, you may by bad management, 
 by jiot ' ' killing ' ' it properly, pervert it into Satanically- 
 bad ingots. 
 
 Now, this "killing" of the steel is precisely what 
 cannot be done in the Bessemer or Siemens processes 
 without the addition of such a large amount of mangan- 
 ese or silicon that the steel becomes brittle when hard- 
 ened." <i' 
 
 The opinions of the eminent metallurgists and ex- 
 perts just cited prove, without fear of contradiction, that 
 crucible fusion furnishes the most reliable first-quality 
 steel, and hence, crucible steel should be insisted upon 
 in gun construction. 
 
 (1) Note. — Henry Seehbohm : On the Manufacture of Crucible Cast 
 Steel. Journal of the Iron and Steel Institute for 1884, No. II. 
 
2 
 
 CT> 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 Gun Construction. 
 
 Having settled upon a suitable metal, our next task 
 is the selection of the strongest and best working system 
 of construction. 
 
 At present, Ordnance officers are mainly occupied 
 with but two types, the Krupp and the De Bange. 
 
 Krupp has designed many guns, and the limits of 
 this little work would be far exceeded were we to at- 
 tempt an exhaustive, detailed examination of each 
 model. We must content ourselves with the general 
 characteristics of construction, shape, fermature and 
 gas-check. France adopted Colonel De Bange' s system 
 as early as 1878 for field-guns, and is now applying it 
 to siege, sea-coast and naval armament. The gas-check 
 is its novel and distinctive feature, the breech mechanism 
 being a modified Reffye fermature, and the gun itself a 
 close copy of its immediate predecessor, the Lahitolle. 
 The question being thus narrowed down, let us proceed 
 at once to examine briefly these two systems as applied 
 to field ard heavy guns. 
 
 1. — The Keupp Field-Gtjn. 
 Plate I. 
 
 A. — The Mantle. 
 
 Krupp guns are made entirely of crucible steel, an 
 almost positive assurance, we speak advisedly, of great 
 strength and long life. As regards construction and 
 contour, they are built upon the model adopted in 1873 ; 
 
— 24 — 
 
 the tube, without reinforce, is encircled by a single 
 band or jacket, {Mantel, in Grerman) shrunk on and 
 carrying trunnions and fermature. The object of this, 
 as of all hooping, is to substitute for the thick walls of 
 obsolete models, thinner metal, susceptible of compres- 
 sion by the jacket, thus increasing its strength, and 
 thereby obtaining greater resistance with less weight. 
 
 In other words, exterior and interior are both made to 
 bear their share of the burden. As the mantle carries 
 the closure, the tube is relieved from direct longitudinal 
 strain, a safeguard against unbreeching. 
 
 B. — The, Fermature. 
 1. The Breech-Slot. 
 
 The slot is a cylindro-prismatic frustum, the front 
 wall perpendicular to the axis of the bore, the rear, 
 slightly inclined from left to right. The upper, as weU 
 as the lower wall, carries a feather, the front edge serv- 
 ing as a channel, the rear, parallel to the rear face of the 
 wedge, as a guide for its motion in and out of the slot. 
 
 A shallow half-thread, to receive the locking-screw, 
 is tapped in the left side of the upper wall. The seat 
 of the gas-check ring connects the slot and chamber 
 surfaces. 
 
 2. The Breech Mechanism. (Figs. 1 and 2, 3 and 4.) 
 
 The Wedge A. 
 
 The wedge or breech-block fits the slot ; the front 
 face is countersunk for the gas-plate seat, and further to 
 the right, parallel to the axis, the loading chamber T is 
 cut. The right face is rounded ; the left holds the lock- 
 ing-screw seat. Upon the upper face is a groove Z in 
 which the vent-screw plays, just of sufiicient length to 
 bring the loading chamber, at the command load, in 
 
— 25 — 
 
 exact prolongation of the bore. A hole R is drilled in 
 the wedge at an angle of 41° in a vertical plane through 
 the axis, and connterbored at the top and bottom ; the 
 middle portion and the lower counterbore are bushed 
 with a copper vent-plug ; the upper counterbore serves 
 as a recess for a gas-check, a copper cup of triangular 
 cross-section, which by pressing against the foot of 
 the vent-screw, prevents the fouling of the wedge and 
 slot. 
 
 The Beeech Cap B and its Sceew C. 
 
 The breech cap guards the wedge and slot against 
 dirt and dust, and in opening the breech, serves as a 
 point of application for the locking-screw. It is fast- 
 ened to the left face of the wedge by three screws C and 
 carries the journal for the crank handle of the locking- 
 screw. It is strengthened at this point by a circular 
 flange, to which a stop is attached, limitiag the play of 
 the handle in opening the breech. 
 
 The Locking-Soeew D. 
 
 The locking-screw is right-hand, and has a coarse 
 pitch. It is supported by its shank in the wedge, and 
 by a collar-bearing in the cap. 
 
 "When the breech is closed, the screw part projects 
 above the wedge and engages in the half thread, tapped 
 in the slot. 
 
 To permit opening and closing the breech by a half 
 turn of the crank, the thread, with the exception of 
 the outside turn, is interrupted for a full semicircle. 
 
 The locking-screw answers two purposes, it imparts a 
 transverse movement to the wedge, and forms a lock to 
 keep the latter from sliding along the inclined wall of 
 the slot, when the piece is fired. 
 
— 26 — 
 The Ceakk E with its Key F and Pin G. 
 
 The crank works the breech mechanism, it consists 
 of a collar and two cylindrical arms, the one marked by 
 a circular groove must be, when the gun is locked, on 
 the right of the cannoneer who serves the closure. 
 
 On the collar, as on the cap, is a stop, the two meet 
 when the breech is closed. The collar is fixed to the 
 screw shaft by a key F and a pin O. 
 
 The Catch ^ and the Binding Spring K. 
 
 The catch is a flat plate with an upward curved han- 
 dle, roughened on the lower side to facilitate gripping. 
 The catch can turn on the screw / which fastens it to the 
 cap, but friction-tight on account of the pressure of the 
 binding spring K, also attached to the cap'by the screw 
 L. The catch and spring prevent the accidental open- 
 ing of the breech on the march, for when locked, the 
 catch engages with the crank stop, and thus prevents its 
 turning. In opening the breech, the catch must first be 
 disengaged. 
 
 The Diet-Fen dee iVAND its G-ttidb-studs 0. 
 
 In opening the breech, the rear face of the wedge re- 
 mains in contact with the wall of the slot, and hence 
 play is allowed between the front face and the gas-check, 
 which would permit, while loading, the entrance of dirt. 
 
 To meet this difiiculty, a thin sheet brass cylinder is 
 lightly inserted in the loading chamber. It has two 
 studs which pass through the wedge, and enter guiding 
 channels cut in the feathers of the breech-slot, thereby 
 keeping the fender in contact with the gas-check when 
 the wedge is out. 
 
 This apparent telescoping occurs both in opening and 
 closing the breech. 
 
— 27 — 
 
 The Gas-Plate P. 
 
 The gas-plate is let into the front face of the wedge, 
 and is held by a stud which prevents its turning. It is 
 bushed with copper at the vent entrance, and has a shal- 
 low recess cut in its front surface for receiving the pow- 
 der residuum. 
 
 The Gtas-Check Q. 
 
 The gas-check ring, whose curved surface is a spher- 
 ical zone, is firmly seated at the end of the gun chamber, 
 and presses tightly against the gas-plate when the 
 wedge is locked. Upon its plane face are cut shallow 
 grooves to hold dirt and to restrain a possible escape of 
 gas. ^ 
 
 The Vent-Sceew W. 
 
 This is screwed into the breech of the gtin, and serves 
 a double purpose, it closes the upper part of the vent, 
 and controls, as already explained, the outward move- 
 ment of the wedge. It has a hollow head, which serves 
 as a hood to protect the cannoneers against powder 
 grains and primer fragments. The middle part of the 
 body is threaded and screwed into the breech, the lower 
 part projects into the guide channel of the wedge, and 
 acts as a stop. 
 
 The Housing S. 
 
 The housing 8 of brass is shaped to the opening of 
 the breech-slot. It is designed to receive a leather hood 
 which keeps the breech- slot free from mud and dust. 
 
 O.— Manual of the Breech. 
 1. To Open. 
 The cannoneer first relieves the catch H, then seizes 
 

 (Q 
 
 Tl 
 
 (Q 
 CD 
 
(D 
 D) 
 CD 
 CL 
 
 (0 
 
— so- 
 il. — The Kktjpp Gun of large Calibee. 
 Plate 11. • 
 
 The task we undertook had chiefly to do with field 
 artillery, but as we are anxious to show the unity of the 
 Krupp system, we will briefly describe the method of 
 breech closure adopted for heavy guns. We shall fol- 
 low exactly the same lines when we come to the 
 De Bange system. 
 
 A. — The Fermature. 
 1. The Breech-Slot. (Fig. 2.) 
 
 The slot is a cylindro-prismatic frustum ; in plan, a 
 trapezoid, the front side perpendicular to the axis of the 
 bore, the rear, somewhat oblique. 
 
 Circular grooves are cut in the rear wall. 
 
 2. The Breech Mechanism. (Figs. 1, 2 and 3.) 
 
 The breech-block or wedge H is cylindro-prismatic, 
 and fits the slot, so that when pressed home it completely 
 closes the bottom of the bore. The upper and lower 
 faces have rectangular guiding grooves, cut parallel to 
 the axis of the rear cylindrical surface, so that in pull- 
 ing or pushing the wedge, its rear face is always in 
 contact with the slot, while its front moves parallel to 
 itself. 
 
 The wedge carries a number of seats for various ele- 
 ments of the mechanism. 
 
 The locking device consists of a screw C and its nut 
 B. 
 
 The neck of the screw passes snugly through the 
 breech-cap, to which it is held by a collar and shoulder, 
 and its foot is let into the wedge. As the thread is be- 
 tween these two fixed bearings, there can be no transla- 
 
o 
 
 
 
 en as 
 
 »-« 
 
 B 
 
 s_ 
 H 
 
 J 
 
 I 
 
 © 
 
 ?3 
 
 
 © 
 
 A^VL'Sn 303 
 
 "?oo Ajiais 
 
 be 
 
— 31 — 
 
 tion. The nut is wholly within the wedge, it is free to 
 move slightly to and fro ; a plug x driven into the nut 
 next to the cap limits its rotation to one-third of a turn. 
 The nut B has further several outside circular threads, 
 the first of which is whole, the others interrupted. 
 
 To lock the breech, these threads must engage in the 
 slot grooves ; to open it, the interrupted portion must 
 face the grooves, thus permitting the withdrawal of the 
 wedge. 
 
 The wedge is moved by the traversing screw 2), turn- 
 ing in the journal bearings G and H ; and is engaged in 
 the half nut B, fastened to the gun by the screw F. 
 
 The screws G and D are turned by the crank wrench 
 R. 
 
 The gas-check is a steel ring K, lipped into the 
 chamber, and seated against the gas-plate J. A chain, 
 fastened to an eye-bolt in the breech and to a hook on 
 the cap, limits the outward motion of the wedge. In 
 loading, after the wedge is out, a charging funnel TFis 
 inserted in the bore ; it is held in place by the handle Z 
 resting on the brackets P, which also serve as shot-carrier 
 supports. 
 
 B. — Manual of the Breech. 
 1. To Open. 
 
 Slip the crank wrench R over the square head of the 
 locking-screw, and turn to the left as far as you can. 
 The nut B takes up the backlash, and then turns with 
 the screw until the plug x strikes the to pof the breech, 
 cap, this brings the interrupted portion of the nut oppo- 
 site the slot grooves ; and shows the word "Open," cut 
 on its face. Its rotation being forcibly stopped, the nut 
 must move inwards until its whole thread M bears 
 against the breech. 
 
 This holds the nut tight, and as the locking-screw 
 
— 33 — 
 
 keeps turning, the wedge itself moves forward until 
 checked by the nut. 
 
 JS'ow slip the wrench on the traversing screw D, 
 turn it to the left, and the wedge comes out. 
 
 Insert the charging funnel TFand load as usual. 
 
 The traversing screw is not a necessity, and were it 
 omitted the fermatures of heavy and light guns would 
 be almost identical, but the moving by hand of heavy 
 breech-blocks would be too irksome, hence its adoption. 
 
 2. To Lock. 
 
 Withdraw the charging funnel ; turn the traversing 
 screw to the right ; the wedge enters until the shoulder 
 of the screw strikes its bearing G. Now turn the lock- 
 ing-screw O to the right, the nut B strikes the cap, and 
 taking up the backlash, rotates with the screw until the 
 plug X strikes the bottom of the cap, when the word 
 "Locked ' ' appears cut in its face ; at the same time the 
 flat portions of the circular threads engage the corre- 
 sponding faces of the slot grooves, and firmly secure the 
 wedge to its seat. 
 
 C. — The Krupp Obturating Primer. 
 (Fig.- 4, Plate II.) 
 
 Ignition takes place at the centre of the bottom of 
 the cartridge through the wedge, the vent being bored 
 in prolongation of the axis of the bore. 
 
 The vent-bushing is steel ; its mouth is tapped to re- 
 ceive the Krupp obturating primer, which insures 
 prompt ignition, and is a certain vent gas-check. 
 
 Its parts are : 
 
 a) A brass screw plug, inclosing the details of the 
 primer, keeping them in place, and protecting them 
 from moisture and other injury. 
 
B 
 
 
 
 « CO 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 a 
 
 P4 
 
 I 
 
 C3 
 
 4> 
 
 ^ 
 
 ® 
 
 ft I 
 - l 
 
 Ph 
 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 
 -s 
 
 Ph 
 
 i 
 
 P3 
 
— 33 — 
 
 b) A brass friction wire, ringed at one end for the 
 lanyard hook, and serrated at the other, with a tapering 
 stop just above. 
 
 c) The fulminate, pressed into a paper tube as in 
 the ordinary friction primer, and surrounding the wire 
 between the stop and the teeth. 
 
 d) The capsule or filling, is the same as is used in 
 fuze plugs. 
 
 The primer is screwed tightly into the counterbored 
 vent, and is used just like the common friction primer. 
 Under the pull of the lanyard the tapering stop enters a 
 corresponding countersink in the plug, and prevents the 
 escape of gas. The screw plug itself, well greased, fits 
 tight in its counterbore. 
 
 D. — Special Directions in regard to the Service of the 
 
 Breech. 
 
 The same directions apply to the service of heavy 
 guns that have already been given for field artillery. 
 
 In comparing the mechanism of heavy and light 
 guns, it cannot be denied that one principle dominates 
 all, and that the Krupp system is virtually the same 
 for every calibre. 
 
 III. — The Reppye-Db Bajstge Field-Gtun. 
 (Plate III.) 
 
 A. — The Fermature. 
 1. Tho Breech-Screw Seat. 
 
 The breech-screw seat is in the breech hoop, and in 
 prolongation of the bore ; it has an interrupted thread, 
 one-sixth being alternately planed off, corresponding 
 of course, to similar divisions on the breech-screw. It 
 has inserted in its face the latch-hook, an inclined rest 
 for the upper, a catch for the lower, nose of the latch. 
 
— 34 — 
 2. The Breech Mechanism. 
 
 The Breech- Screw. A. (Fig.1.) 
 
 The screw has an interrupted thread ; the gae check- 
 ing device is attached to it. Its parts, beginning at the 
 rear, are : 
 
 1. The fixed handle a ; 
 
 2. The lever handle b with its pin d ; 
 
 3. The lugs c ; 
 
 4. The boss e ; 
 
 5. The inclined guide / for the heel of the latch ; 
 
 6. The chased and planed sections of the body ; 
 
 7. The recess for the heel of the latch (see Fig. 5.) 
 
 8. The plastic gas-check D. 
 
 The Carrier-Ring B. (Fig. 2). 
 
 The breech-screw is supported, when disengaged, by 
 a hinged ring bracket, whose main parts are : 
 
 1. The hinge a with the hinge-pin b ; 
 
 2. The swelling c ; 
 
 3. The rest d for the cam of the lever handle ; 
 
 4. The safety notch e ; 
 
 5. The key with its beak / ; 
 
 6. The guides g ; 
 
 7. The latch c and its details. 
 
 The Latch C. (Figs. 4 and 5.) 
 
 The latch is composed of : 
 
 1. The latch-bolt and its pin d ; 
 
— 35 — 
 
 2. The upper nose a ; 
 
 3. The lower nose h ; 
 
 4. The heel c ; 
 
 5. The latch-spring e. 
 
 The Gas-Check Z). (Fig. 3.) 
 
 The plastic gas-check D consists of ; 
 
 1. The movable spindle a with mushroom head b and 
 shoulder c ; 
 
 2. The plastic packing d ; 
 
 3. The vent/; 
 
 4. The bushing g ; 
 
 The packing d, made of asbestos and tallow, is sewed 
 in cotton, and is supported in place by two convex tin 
 guards. Three split brass rings close the open angles of 
 the gas-check, and prevent the intrusion of the tin in 
 firing, and consequent difficulty in working the ap- 
 paratus. 
 
 B. Manual of the Breech. 
 1. To Open. 
 
 The cannoneer lifts the lever as high as he can to re- 
 lease it from the safety-notch, then turns it towards him- 
 self, to the left, until the lug of the breech-screw strikes 
 the swell of the carrier-ring, at which time the threaded 
 sections of the screw are opposite the planed sections of 
 the seat, and the breech plug may be pulled out. 
 
 The turning has done more ; the heel of the latch has 
 travelled up the inclined cross-guide f, and compelled 
 the latch-bolt to turn on its pin, the upper nose is lifted, 
 and the lower entered in its catch. (See Fig. 4.) 
 
— 36 — 
 
 Thus the carrier-ring is freed from the screw, and 
 secured to the face of the breech. The cannoneer now 
 presses the lever down, the cam strikes its rest on the 
 carrier-ring and forces the breech-screw back, loosening 
 the gas-check from its bearing, an operation requiring 
 some force. The plug can then be freely drawn back on 
 its guides, untU it strikes the beak of the key. During 
 this backward motion, the beel of the latch slides along 
 the planed section of the breech-screw until it strikes 
 its recess, into which under the action of the latch- 
 spring, it falls, unlatching the lower nose, and thus de- 
 taches the carrier-ring from the breech, and fastens it to 
 the breech-screw. The plug with the ring can then be 
 swung on the hinge, entirely exposing the seat. 
 
 2. To Lock. 
 
 The cannoneer gently swings the breech-screw 
 against the piece forcing the upper nose of the latch to 
 ascend its inclined rest ; this compels the latch-bolt to 
 turn, releases the heel, and allows the breech-plug to be 
 pushed in. During this movement, the heel is forced 
 up the inclined face of its recess, the bolt turns anew on 
 its pin, and in pushing the breech-screw home, the lower 
 nose enters its catch, and again the carrier-ring, free of 
 the plug, is fastened to the breech. 
 
 The cannoneer now turns the screw to the right, the 
 heel descends the inclined cross-guide, the bolt obeys 
 the action of the spring, and the lower nose is unlatched; 
 the ring is fastened to the plug, and held to the breech 
 by the lugs and boss. If the breech is well locked, the 
 handle falls of its own weight. 
 
 O. — Directions in case of trouble. 
 With the hreecTi. 1. Should No. 2 find it hard to 
 
— 37 — 
 
 open the breecli by hand, No. 1 taps the lever pin with 
 the trail handspike, handed to him at once by No. 3. 
 
 The b'reech being open, No. 2 scrapes with a knife 
 and washes with a sponge the gas-check head, makes 
 certain that it turns freely, and tries to lock. 
 
 Should there be further difficulty, he reports to the 
 ■Chief of piece. 
 
 2. Should the latch-spring break while the breech 
 is unlocked. No. 3 draws back the plug, and lifts the 
 heel of the latch by pressing upon the upper nose with 
 the fore-finger of the right hand. 
 
 He gets rid of the fragments of spring, and replaces 
 it. 
 
 The breech can be worked without a spring, by un- 
 latching by hand. 
 
 3. Should a primer split and stick, No. 2 clears the 
 vent with a gunner' s gimlet. 
 
 4. In case of any other accident to the closure or gas- 
 check. No. 2 at once reports to the Chief of piece, who 
 either proceeds as indicated in Part II, or asks the Chief 
 of section for further instructions. 
 
 We have thus explained the course to be pursued in 
 case of certain accidents that may happen during fir- 
 ing, but there are other drawbacks possible which must 
 be met, and their recurrence prevented. 
 
 Battery repairs should be made with the utmost care, 
 and always under the supervision of an officer. 
 
 With the gas-check. — To insure the perfect working 
 of the gas-check, the spindle must drop easily into its 
 place as far as the fillet and turn freely. Every time a 
 new gas-check is used, this must be ascertained. 
 Should there be difficulty in inserting, it may be due to 
 rough edges on the spindle seat, or to its having been 
 closed by the upsetting of the vent plug ; in one case, 
 
— 38 — 
 
 use a file, in the other, replace the plug, or ream it out. 
 When a new gas-check is inserted, to prevent the 
 destruction of the rear tin guard on the iirst round, 
 the head must be tapped with the rammer to settle it in 
 place. 
 
 It may happen that during the firing the cloth cover 
 is torn, and the packing exposed. This is of very little 
 moment, and no attention need be paid to it. 
 
 Should the front guard begin to fuse, which indicates, 
 imperfect gas checking, it is very probably caused by 
 by the spindle's fitting too tightly ; the remedy has 
 already been pointed out. 
 
 The brass rings may open, and thus impede the 
 movement of the breech-screw ; this difiiculty is over- 
 come by simply closing them again. 
 
 "When the breech is open, should the head of the 
 spindle receive a blow, the packing, especially if heated 
 and softened by firing, may be crushed and distended •, 
 this distortion may also occur, if it be very soft, on 
 roughly opening the breech. Usually this may be 
 remedied by kneading the pad into a cylindrical shape, 
 so as to be able to close the breech. The packing may 
 be cooled and hardened by plunging it in water, or wet- 
 ting it with a sponge, and it may be moulded in its seat 
 by tamping with a ramrod. 
 
 WitJi the &reecA-5crew.^Slight abrasions, interfering 
 with the free movement of the plug may be filed down j 
 roughnesses on the screw should be gTound off by work- 
 ing it in its seat with very fine emery flour and oil. 
 
 Willi the gas-check spindle. — The spindle shank may 
 be upset ; if it do not exceed two or three millimetres 
 and remain stationary, it may be neglected, otherwise 
 substitute a new spindle. 
 
 With the vent. — Should enlargement cause missfires 
 
— 39 — 
 
 replace the spindles in guns of eighty and ninety milli- 
 metres calibre, and renew the bushing in those of ninety- 
 five millimetres. 
 
 Note. — The spindle or pacTcing should always he 
 renewed under the supervision of an Officer. 
 
 IV. The Reppte-De Bange Gtun of large Calibee. 
 
 (Plate lY.) 
 
 We cannot do better, in explaining Colonel De 
 Bange's system for heavy guns, than to describe the 
 main features of the thirty-four centimetre gun exhi- 
 bited last year at Antwerp. 
 
 A — The Double-taper Hooping. (Fig. 3.) 
 
 The thirty -four centimetre gun is bailt up of a ham- 
 mered steel tube and seventy-four steel hoops. 
 
 The first row of hoops extends over the whole 
 length of the piece ; the second, from the breech to the 
 middle of the chase ; the third, from the rear face to in 
 front of the trunnions, the fourth is made up of the 
 three breech coils and the trunnion ring. 
 
 The double-taper adopted for the gun is designed to 
 make all the hoops share in bearing longitudinal 
 strains. Usually the hoops resist, so to speak, only tan- 
 gential strains, as the tube and rings are bound together 
 by shrinkage-friction alone. 
 
 But, owing to the difficulties of construction, the 
 shrinkage strains may vary at points, or even entirely 
 disappear, and even were they at all points as great as 
 desired, yet the resulting cohesion is not sufficient to 
 prevent unbreeching. 
 
 It must be understood that this is the theory of the 
 inventor, we shall discuss it later. 
 According to Colonel De Bange, the double-taper over- 
 
— 40 — 
 
 comes this defect, and profitably supersedes complicated 
 methods of banding followed by others. It consists 
 simply in making the outside of the tube and rings, a 
 series of truncated cones alternately with their smaller 
 or larger bases in contact, so that by superposition the 
 whole is firmly anchored together. The taper is so slight 
 that the hoops, when heated, can be slipped on the tube 
 and over each other, and yet sufficient to insure upon 
 cooling a powerful bond. The hoops are coiled of steel 
 bars, rolled and welded. Captain A. Mariotti in his 
 phamplet, " French and German Gruns," in speaking of 
 this method, says : 
 
 ' ' Even should a flaw exist and remain undetected 
 before rolling, hardly conceivable, it could not extend 
 beyond its own coil, and would not aflEect the other 
 strands that makeup the hoop." 
 
 According to this author, Colonel De Bange believes 
 that, thanks to his system, guns can be made lighter and 
 stronger than by other methods. 
 
 We shall examine the system critically in the next 
 chapter. 
 
 B.— Breech Mechanism and Oas-GhecTc. 
 (Figs. 1 and 2). 
 
 The breech-screw is interrupted, supported by a carrier- 
 ring, and while very much larger than in the field-guns, 
 is practically similar m construction. There is a gas 
 checking device made up as follows : 
 
 The breech-screw A is drilled and partially tapped 
 for the vent-piece B, the collar P, of which rests upon a 
 counterbore, cut into the bottom of the screw as a seat 
 for the plug C. 
 
 This plug is held to the collar P, and to the face of 
 the counterbore, by the hooks S passing through the 
 notches R and fastened in the slots T. Between the 
 
— 41 — 
 
 tenon of the p^ug G and the counterbore, a space is left 
 in which plays the hollow stem of the free gas-check 
 head E. The double packing D is held between the 
 plug and the head. A washer F is pinned to the vent- 
 piece B, and firmly unites it, the breech-screw A and 
 the plug G. The gas-check head and the packing can 
 turn on the vent bashing stem ; they have also some play 
 lengthwise on the plug tenon, which permits a backward 
 movement, under the pressure of the gas on firing the 
 gun. The hollow stem L separates the packings, com- 
 posed of the same elements as already described, asbestos 
 and tallow covered with cotton cloth and protected by 
 tin guards ; as before, the connecting angles are shielded 
 by split brass rings. 
 
 The stem has holes M drilled in it, which are filled 
 with the composition, so as to keep the two packing 
 rings duly balanced. 
 
 In firing, the outer packing presses against the 
 chamber, the inner against the vent piece, thus eflfectu- 
 ally cutting off all escape of gas, so the inventor claims, 
 as the pressure of the rings per unit of section exceeds 
 the gas pressure, their surface being less than that of 
 the gas-check head. 
 
 G. — The Be Bange Obturating Primer. 
 (Fig. 4.) 
 
 The De Bange primer consists of : 
 
 1. The case, a; 
 
 2. The free spindle, b, set in the case ; 
 
 3. The wire, c, passing through the spindle 6 / 
 
 4. The spindle stem, 4 / 
 
 5. The plastic packing, e, surrounding the stem d ; 
 
— 42 — 
 
 6. The head, f, in wMch. tlie stem d can move, but 
 backward only ; 
 
 The head / is chased with a couple of coarse inter- 
 rupted threads, allowing it to work in the vent, just as 
 the breech-screw does in its seat. Upon the head is 
 screwed a hollow wrench with a large opening, opposite 
 which is the ring K, fastened to the friction wire. Upon 
 firing, the free spindle & compresses the packing, thus 
 shutting off the escape of gas by the vent ; the wire e 
 closes its own passage, thanks to a conical stop which it 
 carries. 
 
 The wire is puUed by means of a bell-crank rq, (Fig. 
 2) one of whose arms carries a hook for the ring of the 
 wire, the other is attached at the proper time, to the lan- 
 yard. 
 
 V. — Comparison of the two Systems. 
 
 The De Bange field-gun is as a rule made of Open- 
 hearth steel, 
 
 French ordnance officers care very little by what pro- 
 cess the steel delivered at the Arsenals is produced ; their 
 idea is that all steel is suitable for gun-metal, provided 
 it fulfills the required specifications. 
 
 StiU, it cannot be questioned that most, if not all 
 the steel furnished is made by the Martin-Siemens pro- 
 cess. 
 
 We have already given the reasons for preferring 
 Crucible steel, and need not iterate them. 
 
 In carefully comparing the two breech mechanisms, 
 just briefly described, though it might strike one that 
 the French f ermature is a more logical development, as 
 it works in the direction of tJie axis, yet actually it is 
 much more complicated than .the German. 
 
 The Krupp closure is virtually a block, working per- 
 pendicularly to the axis, and cannot therefore be blown 
 
— 43 — 
 
 out, in case of imperfect locking. The wedge bears, not 
 against the body of the gun, as was the case in older 
 models, but against a mantle shrunk on the gun, thus 
 permitting the tube to offer its maximum resistance. 
 The number of parts forming the breech mechanism may- 
 be summed up in the wedge and its locking screw. The 
 system is extremely simple, its operation rapid and 
 easy, and for these very reasons, no fears are aroused as 
 to its strength or working under fire. 
 
 On the other hand, the French fermature depends 
 upon screw threads, which receive the full force of the 
 discharge. 
 
 These engage in female threads cut in the tube, and 
 extended experience has proved that these latter soon 
 give evidence- of stripping and cutting. 
 
 It has occurred frequently in the bursting of guns 
 that the surface of rupture passed through one or other 
 of these threads, although neither fermature nor gas- 
 check was injured, showing conclusively, to use the 
 graphic words of Lieut. Colonel De la Rocque of the 
 French Marine Artillery, that these threads are actual 
 halt to attract rupture. 
 
 The work of this officer of rank, " Historical Study 
 of the Strength of Rifled Guns," gives in regard to this 
 matter some rather interesting facts. 
 
 He states that an Ordnance Board convened at the 
 Ruelle Gun Foundry to investigate the unbreeching of a 
 34 centimetre gun, made of Open-hearth steel supplied 
 by the Saint-Chamond Works, a casualty that occurred 
 January 22, 1880, at the third round with a charge of 
 112 kilogrammes, reported that the surface of rupture 
 passed through the first thread of the three sections. 
 
 Another 34 centimetre gun, also of Saint-Chamond 
 steel, was spiked with a charge of 126 kilogramnK^s on 
 account of the stripping of the threads. 
 
— 44 — 
 
 "The screw," says our author, "had cut, so to 
 speak, into the metal of its seat." 
 
 Other guns made of Creusot steel with the same fer- 
 mature, stood the test better. "But, adds Colonel De 
 la Rocque, "the female threads of all these guns were 
 injured more or less during the firing ; the screw' s cut- 
 ting into the comparatively soft metal of the piece 
 caused harrassing delays and difiiculties." The Board 
 appointed to report upon these accidents and mishaps 
 used the following language : " The cause of the acci- 
 dent lies in the bad quality of the steel, which, as shown 
 by results from test bars, was especially poor near the 
 rupture line and in the interior of the tube, while at the 
 ends and on the surface, where alone it could he ex- 
 amined and, tested before the failure, it was of good 
 quality." Indeed, we emphasize that specimens cut 
 here and there from a hammered block and physically 
 tested, do not oflEer a sufficient guarantee as to the good 
 quality of the metal, when homogeneity is not a direct 
 result of the process of manufacture. 
 
 An absolute homogeneity is attained, not from the 
 Martin- Siemens furnace, but from the crucible alone. 
 The Board, in view of the fact that a local defect in the 
 mcinity of the thread nearest the bottom of the bore 
 can bring about such accidents when the breech-screw is 
 seated in the tube itself, submitted a plan for seating it 
 in a base ring, as had already been done in other 
 calibres. It further proposed an increasing pitch, quick 
 enough " to make the furthest threads bear first," or 
 in other words, to ease up on the nearest, and thus hus- 
 band their strength. 
 
 These conclusions evidently imply tha.t the closure, 
 with screw-plug seated in the body of the gun, is not 
 satisfactory ; the changes recommended by the Ruelle 
 Board, which have been adopted, mitigate but do not 
 cure the inherent defects of the system, the liability of 
 
— 45 — 
 
 the threads to injury, and the possibility of unbreech- 
 ing by the wrenching of the tube under the eif ort of the 
 gas to escape by the threads. Of course, these possibil- 
 ities are enhanced if the metal is not homogeneous. 
 
 Mr. A. Grenier, at present Manager of ihe Cockerill 
 Steel Works, in a paper on the French and German 
 Breech Systems read some years ago before the Society 
 of Engineers of Liege, wrote as follows : "France and, 
 following its example, Sweden have adopted closure by 
 means of a steel screw. The threads are interrupted, 
 so that a fraction of a turn locks the breech. This ap- 
 pears simple, but experience has shown that it is not ef- 
 fective. 
 
 It is almost impossible to obtain perfect contact be- 
 tween the screw and nut ; notwithstanding prolonged 
 emery grinding, 'the threads will vary, and the shock 
 will effect some more than others. 
 
 Most breech-screws soon show injuries to the threads 
 nearest the charge, which render them unserviceable." 
 
 These remarks have value and interest now, they ac- 
 cord perfectly with our views. 
 
 As regards the service of the piece, it is plain that 
 the wedge is superior to the screw ; to instance, the 
 French gun can not be aimed until the breech is closed, 
 the German, as soon as the charge is inserted. 
 
 In working the fermature in high angle firing, the 
 screw tends to slip out, a rather uncomfortable attribute. 
 
 "We come now to the methods of gas checking. We 
 think it a difficult task to find a simpler, a surer, a 
 lighter gas-check than the Broadwell ring. That the 
 De Bange gas- check perhaps works well in the begin- 
 ning, we will freely acknowledge, but the asbestos pack- 
 ing will not long keep its moulding quality, so remark- 
 able at first, and, once unserviceable, it is harder to 
 replace than the Broadwell ring, it takes a long time, 
 and being rather a nice operation, the presence of an 
 
-46 — 
 
 officer is necessary. No especial precautions are re- 
 quired for the insertion of a Broadwell ring ; it is a very 
 simple thing to do. The French regulations governing 
 the service of the De Bange field-guns, show better than 
 we can, the incessant care required in the working of 
 the plastic gas-check. 
 
 The extracts we have already given, will excuse our 
 making further quotation. 
 
 This device, under intelligent supervision, will work 
 well on the practice ground, but on the field of battle, 
 amid a thousand distractions, under the impulsive 
 action of excited men, it wiU soon become unserviceable. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 Ballistic Performance. 
 
 The ballistic examination of the two systems, in other 
 words, the comparison of the respective energies, initial 
 velocities, ranges, and accuracy, will determine which of 
 the two, Krupp or De Bange, has gotten most out of 
 metal and powder. We shall confine ourselves to the 
 consideration of these four factors, though there are also 
 to be thought of, selection of powder, construction of 
 projectiles, and many others. 
 
 It is impossible to place in juxtaposition every detail 
 of the two systems; here too, we must be content with a 
 comparison of characteristics. 
 
 Moreover, this comparison, as our readers will observe, 
 can not be exhaustive, as the calibres are not exactly 
 correspondent but, even with all these restrictions, it 
 will deal with sufficient data to make it conclusive. 
 
 In making a comparison of this nature we must con- 
 fine ourselves to existing models, to results upon which 
 range tables are based, to targets as given in actual prac- 
 tice. So far as regards proposed models, there is often 
 so wide a difference between the promises of the projec- 
 tors and actual performance, that they can not be con 
 sidered as governing elements in an investigation of this 
 nature. Deviation from this rule, under exceptional 
 circumstances, is brought especially to the reader's at- 
 tention. One further remark. The De Bange guns 
 made at the Gail \Yorks, are of standard model, hence 
 we have taken our data from the French range tables. 
 
— 48 — 
 
 as alone reliable ; those given by the Works being 
 founded upon no trustworthy tests. The Krupp data are 
 founded for the most part upon tables, drawn up from 
 the results of trials made at Meppen in the presence of 
 officers of all nationalities. 
 
 Let us now proceed to consider the main subdivisions 
 that make up artillery armament. 
 
 I. — MoTJNTAiN Guns. 
 
 The De Bange mountain gun, calibre 8 centimetres, 
 has an initial velocity of 957 metres, and, with 24° eleva- 
 tion, the maximum permitted by the carriage, a range 
 of 3752 metres. Colonel De Bange, it is true, claims for 
 this piece a range of 5,000 metres, but this cannot be at- 
 tained even if the trail be sunk into the ground until the 
 elevations reaches 45 degrees. 
 
 Krupp fabricates several models of mountain guns, 
 varying with the topography of the countries for which 
 they are designed. 
 
 His 7.5 centimetre gun approximates most closely to 
 the 8 centimetre French, we will compare these two. 
 
 The charge is the same for both guns, 0.4 kilogram. 
 The French projectile is the same as used for field-guns, 
 its weight, 5.6 kilogram, is considerably greater than 
 that of the special Grerman projectUe, 4.3 kilogram. 
 Hence the initial velocity of the Krupp gun is much 
 greater, 294 metres. 
 
 The excessive weight of the French projectile reduces 
 the number carried by each pack animal, a very import- 
 ant consideration, and, as a result of the low initial vel- 
 ocity, the shock of the recoil is harder on the carriage, 
 which is therefore more strongly constructed than the 
 German, and is, of course, much heavier. 
 
 It is well known that the useful effect of a gun, so 
 far as regards actual performance, is measured by the 
 
— 49 — 
 
 ratio of total energy to the total weight of gun and car- 
 riage. 
 
 The De Bange ratio is 68.5 kilogram-metres, the Krupp, 
 74. 
 
 We can then assert, with justice, that Krupp has 
 gotten more out of his metal and powder than De Bange 
 has. 
 
 As regards accuracy, the French mountain gun at 
 3100 metres has a longitudinal deviation of 14 metres, a 
 horizontal deviation of 7 metres ; at the same range, 
 the figures for the German gun are 19.8 and 2.3 metres 
 respectively. 
 
 II. Field-Gfns. 
 
 The French 8.9 and 9.5 centimetre guns were adopted 
 subsequent to the present 7.8 and 8.8 centimetre guns 
 of the Prussian artillery, which were introduced in 1873. 
 This evidently accounts for the attempt made by the 
 French ordnance oflicers to render their guns more 
 efficient. 
 
 Have they succeeded ? That is the question. 
 
 We must state, right here, that during the past few 
 years Krupp has fabricated four new models of 7.5, 8.4, 
 8.7 and 9.6 centimetres respectively, and that at present 
 still further improved guns are undergoing trial at Mep- 
 pen. 
 
 At first sight, it is rather astonishing that Krupp 
 should have provided so many calibres, but, supplying 
 as he does, numerous governments, whose circumstances 
 of terrain, a most important factor in the equipment of 
 Field artillery, difller, he was compelled to design suita- 
 ble models. Indeed, this continued embodiment of bal- 
 listic conditions, these trials carried on on so gieat a 
 scale, give indubitable proof of the exhaustive grasp and 
 technical skill of the steel-maker of Essen. 
 
— 50 — 
 
 The weight of the 8 centimetre De Bange gun and 
 carriage is nearly the same as that of the 8.8 centimetre 
 Krupp, model of 1873 ; the muzzle energies are about 
 equal ; it follows then that these French guns can at 
 most be placed on a level with the older German guns. 
 
 But Krupp has recently produced models of far 
 greater power, which must of course be superior to the 
 present Be Bange guns. 
 
 With such extensive material at command, we have 
 selected as units of comparison, guns of about the same 
 calibre and weight, and have collected the principal data 
 in accompanying table. A careful examination will lead 
 to a fair judgement regarding the respective values of 
 the two systems. 
 
-51— 
 
 
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— 52 — 
 
 The superiority of- one gun over another lies, we 
 repeat it here, not so much in the initial velocity as in 
 the muzzle energy. 
 
 With a light projectile it is an easy matter to obtain 
 high velocity, but in the s.ime calibre, the relatively 
 heavy projectile with medium velocity conserves its 
 energy at long range much better than the light projec- 
 tile with the higher velocity. Hence, in most cases the 
 former is more advantageous. Krupp has chosen 
 wisely in adopting the heavier projectile. 
 
 Two points must be borne in mind : 
 
 1. The same gun with the same charge develops sen- 
 sibly the same muzzle energy, whether the projectile be 
 heavy or light. 
 
 2. The useful effect of a projectile is measured by 
 the terminal energy. 
 
 From this, it is readily seen that the useful effect of 
 the Krupp guns is greater than that of the De Bange. 
 This superiority is more clearly evident if we call to 
 mind that the 8.8, 8.4, and 8.7 centimetre Krupp guns 
 are provided with two carriage seats, the subtraction of 
 whose weightj 35 kilograms, would show a marked in- 
 crease in the ratio of effect. 
 
 Notwithstanding their greater weight, more rounds 
 are carried with the Krupp guns, another circumstance 
 in their favor. 
 
 As regards accuracy, another factor of comparison, 
 the following table of probable deviations of similar 
 pieces at a range of 2,000 metres shows that in this re- 
 spect also, the Krupp excel the De Bange guns. 
 
53 
 
 PROBABLE DEVIATIONS AT A RANGE 2,000 METRES. 
 
 French 
 Guns. 
 
 Longitu- 
 dinal. 
 
 Vertical. 
 
 Horizontal. 
 
 Krupp 
 
 Gfns. 
 
 Longitu- 
 dinal. 
 
 Vertical 
 
 Horizontal. 
 
 Cent. 
 
 
 Metres . 
 
 Metres. 
 
 Cent. 
 
 
 Metres. 
 
 Metres. 
 
 8 
 
 " 
 
 0.7 
 
 0.7 
 
 8.4 
 
 << 
 
 0.55 
 
 0.54 
 
 9 
 
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 0.7 
 
 8.7 
 
 tt 
 
 0.6 
 
 0.6 
 
 9.5 ■ 
 
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 0.9 
 
 1.1 
 
 9.6 
 
 " 
 
 0.6 
 
 0.45 , 
 
 III. Siege Guns and Guns of Position. 
 
 There are t^vo classes : 
 
 A. Long guns ; 
 
 B. Short guns. 
 
 A. In the first class are the De Bange 12 and 15.5 
 cent. ; the 22 cent, is still under trial. 
 
 The French 12 cent, gun is similar in most particu- 
 lars, especially in weight, to the Krupp 10.5 cent, and 
 the light 12 cent; gun, tested at Meppen in 1880, whose 
 "power however has since been greatly increased by mod- 
 ifications of charge and powder. 
 
 The 15.5 cent. De Bange gun is somewhat lighter 
 than the 15 cent. Krupp. But this advantage, possessed 
 by all the French pieces, is but apparent, lox if we take 
 into consideration the total weight of gun and carriage, 
 we find that the French is heavier than the German. 
 
 The 15.5 cent, gun furnishes a striking example, for 
 while it weighs 470 kilograms less than its German rival, 
 its carriage weighs almost double, so that the total 
 weight of gun and carriage in one case is 5,800 kilo- 
 grams, in the other, 4,760. 
 
 Of course we must not lose sight of the fact, that 
 
— 54 — 
 
 while lightness is a precious quality, indispensable in. 
 field artillery, it is not wise to go to extremes, for the 
 lighter the gun, the greater the effect of recoil upon the 
 carriage. A light gun requires a proportionally much 
 heavier carriage, and virtually nothing is gained. 
 
 The minimum weight of a gun may be determined, 
 as a rule, by assigning such weight to the carriage as 
 may be necessary for its acknowledged work, to the 
 gun, such weight as may be admissible, keeping in 
 mind the total and the requirements of mobility. 
 Hence, in equipping a siege park, preference will be 
 given to comparatively heavy pieces. These remarks 
 are almost axiomatic, and it seems puerile to iterate 
 them here, yet, notwithstanding their apparent sim- 
 plicity, there is considerable variance of opinion in their 
 application. For example, Germany has decided in 
 favor of the heavy gun and light carriage, France, just 
 the opposite, and yet both countries possess an equal 
 number of distinguished Ordnance officers ! The initial 
 velocities of corresponding guns of the two systems vary 
 within rather narrow limits, easily explained, as the 
 weights of charge and projectile are about the same. 
 At first sight then it would appear that the lighter De- 
 Bange gun is more effective, but when we compare as 
 ratios of effect, the total energies divided by the total 
 weights of gun and carriage, we find that the Krupp 
 guns exceed the De Bange by from 16 to 30 per centum. 
 
 The following table proves this : 
 
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■56- 
 
 As regards accuracy, the French 12 cent, gun at 
 7,400 metres has a rectangle of probable deviation 18 
 metres long, 4.7 wide ; the Krupp light 12 cent, gun, 
 the result of actual trial, a rectangle 17 by 2.9. 
 
 At 9,600 metres the De Bange 15.5 cent, gun has a 
 rectangle 45 to 26, and the Krupp 15 cent, a rectangle 
 21.2 by 8.2. 
 
 B. —As regards short guns, the De Bange construc- 
 tion is represented by the short 15.5 cent, gun, the 22 
 cent, and the 27 cent, mortar of the same calibres as 
 the standard French models, although varying in ballistic 
 data. 
 
 It is claimed that the De Bange guns are superior to 
 the service. 
 
 We honestly wish that the French designer may meet 
 with success in his constructions, but thus far, we must 
 state, the improvements are still but glowing promises. 
 The Works engaged upon De Bange guns have not as 
 yet turned out a single piece that, under trial, has come 
 up to the announced results, and not a gun of these 
 types has been delivered to any Power. For comparison 
 then, we must as stated, coniine ourselves to sermce De 
 Bange guns, until the claims of the makers are con- 
 firmed by authentic journals of firing. The data cited 
 apply to the standard French models, as given in the 
 regulation tables. 
 
 The following table compares these guns with the 
 corresponding Krupp. It will be observed that the 
 pieces bear different names in the two systems, but 
 ^'- short gun,^'' "howitzer," " mortar, " concerning which 
 there is no general agreement, may here be deemed syn- 
 onymous, in so far as the names are applied to guns of 
 about equal weight, length and energy. We see that 
 the French short 15.5 cent, gun about corresponds to 
 the Krupp 15 cent, howitzer, the French 22 cent, mortar 
 comes between the Krupp 21 cent, mortar and howitzer, 
 and the French 27 cent, mortar is very nearly the same 
 as the Krupp 26 cent, howitzer. 
 
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■ 58- 
 
 It is clear that the Krupp pieces are more effective 
 than the French. 
 
 It may not be entirely devoid of interest to compare 
 a Krupp gun with a new De Bange, on the supposition 
 that the latter exists otherwise than on paper, that it 
 has been actually constructed and possesses the ballistic 
 qualities assigned to it in the self -laudatory prospectus. 
 "We will take for this purpose the De Bange 27 cent, 
 mortar and the Krupp 26 cent, howitzer. The follow- 
 ing table exhibits their main particulars : 
 
 
 27 Centimetre 
 
 26 Centimetre 
 
 
 De Bange 
 
 Krupp 
 
 
 Mortar. 
 
 Howitzer. 
 
 Weight of gun .... Kilograms. 
 
 5,700 (1) 
 
 5,800 
 
 Weight of shell . . " 
 
 180 
 
 174 
 
 Weight of charge . . " 
 
 16 
 
 14.5 
 
 Initial velocity . . . Metres. 
 
 300 
 
 300 
 
 Weight of gun and carriage. Kilograms. 
 
 11,500 
 
 11,000 
 
 Energy per kilogram of gun 
 
 and carriage . . Kllog. -metres: 
 
 72 
 
 78 
 
 Maximum Kange . . Metres. 
 
 8,000 
 
 7,500 
 
 (') These particulars are given by the Call Works of which Colonel 
 De Bange is the General Manager. 
 
 It is very evident that pains were taken in designing 
 the mortar, a later creation, to follow closely the Krupp 
 howitzer. 
 
 N'otwithstanding this, the French piece, which Jias 
 neither teen constructed nor, necessarily, tried, is not 
 quite as effective as its German prototype. 
 
 The makers claim for it a range of 8000 metres, while 
 
tlie howitzer has but 7500. Now, as the density of sec- 
 tion (weight per square centimetre) of the De Bange 27 
 cent, projectile is somewhat less than that of the 26 cent. 
 Krupp, it follows, both having the same initial velocity, 
 that the range of the former cannot be greater than that 
 of the latter. The range given, 8000 metres, is as sup- 
 posititious as the gun itself. 
 
 Even should the 27 cent. De Bange mortar become a 
 reality, it will at best only equal the Krupp 26 cent, 
 howitzer, constructed and tested long before. 
 
 The short French pieces are designed to function 
 both as howitzers and mortars ; they are mounted on 
 slide carriages, whose working is not altogether what it 
 ought to be. Krupp, recognizing that if too many 
 duties be imposed upon a gun it may fail to perform any 
 one of them satisfactorily, makes therefore two distinct 
 ■classes, howitzers and mortars. 
 
 The Krupp 15 and 21 cent, howitzers are mounted on 
 siege carriages, the larger ones on casemate carriages 
 Tvith hydraulic buffers. The mortars are mounted on 
 specially constructed recoil-less carriages. All these 
 carriages have been tried and the results published in 
 the well known Krupp Reports of the practice at Mep- 
 pen. 
 
 Many of the various guns have been furnished to 
 foreign governments, an undeniable proof of apprecia- 
 tion. 
 
 To complete the comparison of these short guns, one 
 last factor is missing, accuracy, but we had no data at 
 command. Still we need not fear to assume from the 
 results at Meppen and on other proving grounds, that 
 the short guns are as effective for their kind as the other 
 Krupp designs. 
 
 IV. — Sea-ooast and Naa'-al Grisrs. 
 
 We have now reached the last division of our com- 
 parison, and are somewhat embarrassed, as one of the 
 
— 60 — 
 
 competitors appears to be altogether wanting. Indeed 
 the only heavy De Bange guns concerning which there 
 exist absolute data are the French service cast-iron rifles, 
 steel lined and banded, of 19 and 24 cent, calibre. 
 
 The 24 cent, gun weighs 16,200 kilograms, and with 
 28 kilograms of powder gives to its 120 kilogram projec- 
 tile an initial velocity of 470 metres. Certainly there is 
 little use in comparing such a weapon with modem high- 
 power Krupp guns. Besides the cast-iron piece, the 
 official list also names among service models a 24 cent, 
 steel De Bange gun, which weighing about 14,000 kilo- 
 grams, is to fire a 153 kilogram projectile with a 38 kilo- 
 grain charge. 
 
 Unfortunately, we are ignorant of the velocity im- 
 parted, and hence cannot judge the gun's merits. 
 
 The prospectus of the Cail Works indeed, describes 
 two types of steel 24 cent. De Bange guns, to wit : 
 
 1. One weighing 14,000 kilograms, firing a 155 kilo- 
 gram shell with a charge of 50 kilograms, and giving an 
 estimated initial velocity of 550 metres : 
 
 2. Another longer, of 17,000 kilograms weight, a 155 
 kilogram projectile, 60 kilogram charge, and 620 metres 
 velocity. 
 
 Are these guns constructed, or merely planned ? 
 We cannot answer. 
 
 We must further add the 34 cent, gun exhibited at 
 Antwerp, weighing 37,500 kilograms, and firing, still 
 according to the statements of its designer, a 400 kilo- 
 gram projectile with a 180 kilogram charge and 600 
 meters initial velocity.^i^ 
 
 Up to the present time, not one of these guns, we can 
 so assert without fear of contradiction, has fired a single 
 shot under the specified conditions. Were it otherwise, 
 we may rest assured the details of the tests would have 
 
 (1) For particulars concerning the trial of this gun see appendix. 
 
— 61 — 
 
 been gladly publislied by those interested. We do not 
 cite tlie newspaper reports of the trial at Calais of the 
 34 cent, gun, before forming an opinion, we prefer await- 
 ing the detailed report of the "Revne d' artillerie," a 
 technical journal of recognized worth and impartiality. 
 Further, we may be sure that not one of these models 
 has been adopted by a foreign power, for were it so, the 
 conditions to be fulfilled for service would of necessity 
 be fixed and known. 
 
 We must also point out that in studying Krupp high- 
 power ordnance, the present German naval guns must 
 not be taken as a proper criterion, for that would be • 
 following in the wake of those military writers who 
 compare the Krupp and De Bange field pieces, by tak- 
 ing as a standard the Prussian guns of 1873, entirely 
 ignoring the fact that since that time they have been 
 made much more efficient. 
 
 The German naval armament dates back to the first 
 epoch of steel guns ; it has been remodelled, so far as 
 practicable, to meet the demands of the present. We 
 deem that this capability of being, so to speak, rejuv- 
 enated without great expense, is an additional striking 
 advantage possessed by the Krupp system. Still no 
 competent judge would dream of demanding extraord- 
 inary ballistic qualities from such converted material. 
 
 A rumor has spread that the German navy distrusts 
 the new Krupp cannon. I^umerous trials conducted at 
 the Meppen proving ground, amongst them those with 
 four 40 cent. 120 ton guns, 35 calibres long, made for 
 Italy, have demonstrated the perfect and, so to speak, 
 unique attributes of the Krupp construction, even of the 
 largest calibres. Most of the powers have given up the 
 fabrication of heavy ordnance, and place their orders at 
 Essen, and the leading purchaser is Germany ! 
 
 Although we cannot, as already explained, compare 
 Krupp and De Bange guns of large calibre, yet the data 
 
•62- 
 
 .given by Lieutenant Colonel De la Rocgue will enable 
 lis to understand the efforts made in France to compete 
 with. Krupp. 
 
 The following compilation is instrnctive : 
 
 
 Guns o£ the 
 
 
 
 TfRTTPP RTTNS.—MnmST. IRSO. 
 
 
 French 
 Marine Artillery, 
 
 
 
 
 30 Calibres long. 
 
 35 Calibres long. 
 
 Calibre 
 
 Cent. 
 
 27 
 
 34 
 
 42 
 
 24 
 
 26 
 
 28 
 
 80.5 
 
 35.5 
 
 40 
 
 24 
 
 26 
 
 28 30.5 
 
 35.5 
 
 40 
 
 Weight of sheU 
 
 . Kilo. 
 
 216 
 
 420 
 
 780 
 
 215 
 
 275 
 
 345 
 
 455 
 
 725 
 
 1060 
 
 215 
 
 375 
 
 345 
 
 455 
 
 726 
 
 1050 
 
 Initial velocity. 
 
 lletres. 
 
 B40 
 
 510 
 
 580 
 
 605 
 
 505 
 
 505 
 
 505 
 
 505 
 
 605 
 
 630 
 
 530 
 
 530 
 
 530 
 
 530 
 
 680 
 
 We may fairly ask, has the French Marine Artillery yet 
 xeached the goal towards which it is striving ? According 
 to De la Rocque himself, mishaps occurred during the 
 proof of the first steel 27 and 34 cent, guns, and but 
 lately the first two 4^ cent, guns broke in the chase during 
 proof at La Ruelle. Contrast this exhibition of incapacity 
 with the fact that the Essen Works, for at least five years 
 ^ast, have furnished as regular stocTc all the calibres 
 mentioned above. 
 
 This argument ad homincTn admits of no reply, and 
 requires no commentary. We need not dwell upon the 
 wonderful accuracy of the Krupp high-power ordnance, 
 it is too well known. We do not, however, go so far as 
 does the circular of the Call Works, with regard to the 
 24 cent. De Bange, and claim that the Krupp gun 
 will hit, at every round, a vessel of war, 1,200 metres 
 distant ! ! ! 
 
 Eespect for our technical readers, and faith in the 
 good sense of those not up in ballistics, forbid our in- 
 dulging in such a jest. We are content, in answer to 
 this claim, to present on plate V, the target of nine 
 
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 vj 
 
 -^ 
 
 
 2 
 
 to 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 « 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ua 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
— 63 — 
 
 rounds, fired at Meppen, March 18, 1886, from the 40 
 cent, guu^ at 2,500 metres range. The shell weighed 
 920 kilograms, the charge 330, giving a mean velocity 
 125 metres from the muzzle, measured by the Le Bou- 
 lenge Chronograph, of 553 metres. 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 The Erupp System in European States. 
 
 We believe that it may prove of interest to pass 
 rapidly in review the armament of the principal European 
 States. 
 
 I. — England. 
 
 England vras the last country to adopt breech-loading. 
 She obstinately adhered in this, as in other branches of 
 military art, to obsolete ideas, and still apparently suffers 
 from the consequences of this policy, as shown by Mr. 
 Anderson's remarks at a recent meeting of the United 
 Service Institution, where he uttered these emphatic 
 words : 
 
 " At the present moment, unfortunately, our Ord- 
 nance Department is not in a condition to issue designs 
 upon which manufacturers would be inclined to stake 
 their money and their reputation." 
 
 England has finally abandoned, in theory at least, her 
 system of gun construction, based on steel tubes banded 
 with wrought iron coils, and has adopted guns made en- 
 tirely of steel. Woolwich and Elswick have been, or 
 are being, converted into heavy steel gun factories ; the 
 material is to be supplied by home industry, and in part 
 at least, is Crucible steel. We must assert, and all who 
 have attentively followed the subject will agree with 
 us, that everything is as yet tentative and tran- 
 sitory, and that thus far the results have not been 
 crowned with success. The guns, composites of 
 French and German designs, have been severely 
 criticised by competent judges, and, according to Lieu- 
 tenant-Col. De la Eocque, Colonel Maitland, the Direc- 
 
— 65 — 
 
 tor at Woolwich, has not met these strictures by the 
 only argument to which there is no reply, " a journal 
 of the proof test of one of these new high -power guns." 
 These animadversions are easily understood, for a sys- 
 tem of construction that is not founded on exhaustive 
 tests, beginning with the lowest calibres and rising step 
 by step, is not worthy serious discussion. Then, too, 
 any modifications, extensive or insignificant, made in 
 designs borrowed from one place or another, may entail 
 serious consequences. England has adopted the inter- 
 rupted screw or French fermature combined, until 
 lately, with the Noble gas-check, a steel cup applied to 
 the face of the breech-screw. Now, however, she has 
 decided in favor of the DeBange gas-check. 
 
 While engaged in negotiations with Colonel DeBange, 
 the English authorities also approached Krupp with a 
 view of purchasing a few of his latest designs, but, ac- 
 cording to newspaper reports, the measure fell through, 
 as the Essen constructor declined to furnish models, 
 unless as part of a considerable order. 
 
 II. — Germany. 
 
 Germany is thoroughly committed to steel guns. 
 There are on hand, as can be readily imagined, in the 
 forts and arsenals, a very large number of ordinary 
 bronze cannon, which it is proposed to convert into 
 Uchatius or swaged bronze guns, for siege or flank de- 
 fence purposes. All the steel guns for both army and 
 navy are supplied by Krupp. 
 
 The Krupp cylindro-prismatic wedge fermature has 
 alone been used since 1872, for new model guns ; the 
 interrupted screw has rarely been applied, and then 
 only to special pieces, some very small mortars, for 
 instance. 
 
 The BroadweU ring, modified, or as originally de- 
 
— 66 — 
 
 signed, is the only gas checking device used with Ger- 
 man ordnance. 
 
 The DeBange field-gun was thoroughly tried in 
 Grermany, but the fermature, its only characteristic 
 feature, not only offered no advantage over the wedge, 
 but was actually found inferior under conditions of 
 service. 
 
 There are still stored in the arsenal, guns of obsolete 
 model, with Wahrendorff or Kreiner closures, the fore- 
 runners of the Krupp system. 
 
 III. — France. 
 
 France has generally adopted the De Bange system 
 for all calibres. Steel, which has finally been accepted 
 as the only metal to be used, can be made by any of the 
 various established methods, and is supplied in ingots or 
 tubes, by home industry, to the national gun factories. 
 The guns accordingly vary so far as metal is concerned, 
 a drawback in our eyes, for the most rigorous inspection 
 before acceptance does not always suffice to determine 
 its character. We think that purchasing all the finished 
 guns, of one system, from one experienced maker, offers 
 the best guarantee. 
 
 The ballistic capability of a system is closely connected 
 with the quality of the gun metal used, hence, where 
 only a single output is used, it is much easier to deter- 
 mine its law of resistance^ its total capacity for work, 
 and thus readily to solve the problem of charge and 
 projectile. 
 
 Even admitting that in France one kind of steel is 
 delivered, as is the case. Open-hearth steel, the ques- 
 tion may still be asked, has this metal up to the present 
 time given proof of sufficient resisting power % The in- 
 stances we have already cited, and others to be presented 
 hereafter, quoted from Colonel De la Rocque, whose 
 
— 67 — 
 
 work in this respect may be accepted as trustworthy, 
 show that Open-hearth steel does not always, especi- 
 ally at its introduction, fulfill the high hopes enter- 
 tained. 
 
 We must admit that its advocates had the right to 
 plead in extenuation the novelty of the process, the un- 
 f orseen difficulties that always accompany innovations, 
 and the inevitable mishaps that attend new methods. 
 But how is it now, has this steel fulfilled its promises ? 
 We say it has not^ it still continues to give unmistak- 
 able signs of fickle molecular condition. 
 
 The recent casualties to De Bange field-guns, as well 
 as to those of large calibre (see Appendix) are eloquent 
 confirmations of our opinion. 
 
 I Y. — AirSTEIA-HUNGAKY. 
 
 Austria- Hungary has a system of construction peculiar 
 to herself ; the use of swaged bronze,* whose inventor, 
 General Uchatius, has now been dead some years. This 
 distinguished officer swaged the bronze tubes cold, thus 
 condensing the metal of the bore by pressures exceeding 
 those of the fired powder. He accomplished this by 
 drifting with increasing mandrels. 
 
 Uchatius thus greatly enhanced the physical quali- 
 ties of the alloy, and finding that its resistance had been 
 very greatly increased, he named it steel-bronze. Guns 
 of small and medium calibre are made of this metal, and 
 it answers well, provided TiigTi power and longevity are 
 not demanded. 
 
 Several other States have followed Austria's example 
 in using this metal. 
 
 The fermature is either the flat wedge or the Krupp 
 cylindro-prismatic with Broadwell gas-check. Some 
 
 * Known in the United States as steel-bronze, and patented May IStli, 
 1869, by Mr. S. B. Dean, of Boston. (O. E. M.) 
 
— 68 — 
 
 cast-iron guns, of obsolete model, still have the Wah- 
 rendorff breech mechanism. 
 
 Although Austria has her gun factories, yet all large 
 calibre sea-coast and naval guns are ordered from Krupp, 
 and even field-guns, which are to be fired with heavy 
 charges, are purchased at Essen. 
 
 V. — Russia. 
 
 Before 1877, Eussia procured her steel guns from 
 Krupp, since that time she manufactures at Obouchoflf, 
 cannon strictly after the Essen methods. These Works 
 also make, a new idea in ordnance, pieces with removable 
 bore lining. 
 
 This bushing is a compressed steel tube, inserted 
 cold under hydraulic pressure. The idea is that when 
 injured it may be removed easily and replaced by a 
 sound one. 
 
 This departure from time-honored procedure has nat- 
 urally led to another novelty, a jointed gun, very desir- 
 able for mountain and siege service. 
 
 The piece is made up of two parts, chase and breech, 
 assembed by means of a screw-collar. It did so well in 
 the war of 1877-78 that the Ordnance Board deemed 
 itself Justified in adopting it as one of the standard 
 siege guns. 
 
 Russia also makes bronze guns, on Colonel Lawroff s 
 plan, hydraulic compression of the molten metal, but 
 the manufacture is confined to siege and small calibre 
 fortress guns. It is claimed that Lawrofi's investiga- 
 tions led to Uchatius's fabrication of steel-bronze. 
 
 All guns, except those of obsolete model, have the 
 Krupp cylindro-prismatic fermature with Broadwell 
 ring. Lately some Baranowsky mountain guns have 
 been tried with the French breech, but the results have 
 not yet been published. 
 
■69- 
 
 VI. — Italy. 
 
 Italy has two field-guns, one 7 cent, bronze, the 
 other 9 cent, steel, made by Krupp. In both, the 
 breech mechanism is the Krupp wedge with Broad well 
 .steel gas-check. 
 
 Lately the Italian field artillery' has been largely 
 increased, and the required pieces were made at home of 
 steel-bronze, but closely following in model the Krupp 9 
 cent. gun. The 450 steel guns of this calibre purchased 
 by Italy have been apportioned among the fortress 
 parks. As part of the siege and fortification artillery 
 are included a number of 12 cent, guns supplied by 
 Krupp, and cast-iron guns, banded with steel, with 
 French fermature and De Bange gas-check made in the 
 Italian arsenals. 
 
 For coast defence, Italy has already purchased 40 
 ■cent, guns from Krupp. Navy guns she gets from Arm- 
 strong, first of wrought iron, but now of steel, as for 
 instance, the 4B cent. The first 43 cent, guns hooped 
 with steel, were tried in 1884 ; they fired a 908 kilogram 
 projectile with Fossano powder, and German prismatic, 
 "both from Duneberg and Cologne. The velocities were 
 577 and 590 metres with charges of 365 and 
 375 kilograms of the latter powder. The lining 
 tube is made up in length of two cylindrical parts, a 
 method of construction that manifested serious draw- 
 backs even during the proof before acceptance. 
 
 To sum up, as is seen, Italy is not wedded to any 
 one system or maker ; she buys of Krupp, of Arm- 
 strong, and steel hoops even of the Creusot and the 
 Bochum Works, 
 
 VII.— Spain. 
 
 Spain uses steel, steel-bronze and cast-iron guns. A 
 large proportion of the steel guns were made by Krupp. 
 
— 70 — 
 
 Guns of other make Tiave a f ermature varying little from 
 the French. 
 
 Not long ago, Colonel Gonzales Hontoria had con- 
 structed at the work-shops of the " Compagnie des For- 
 ges et Chantiers" at Havre, a 16cent. steel gun, 35 cali- 
 bres long, v^eight 6, 200 kilograms, and jacketed after the 
 Krupp system. The proof rounds have shown good 
 results. The metal of this piece, as of all guns made in 
 France, is open-hearth steel, and the fermature, the- 
 interrupted screw. 
 
 The DeBange ^^ ^gas-check is now undergoing trial in. 
 Spain. 
 
 VIII. — The Lesser Powers. 
 
 The field artillery material of Sweden, guns, carri- 
 ages, limbers, and caissons, is all supplied by Krupp. 
 
 Norway is now experimenting with a new iield arma- 
 ment. 
 
 The siege and sea-coast guns of the two kingdoms are 
 mainly of cast-iron ; the breechloaders have the screw 
 closure with steel gas-check cup. Sweden has, however, 
 in her siege-trains, quite a number of Krupp guns, and_ 
 the sea-coast and naval ordnance of Norway also in. 
 eludes some 26 and 30 cent. Essen guns. 
 
 All Denmark's field artillery is furnished by Krupp. 
 For coast defence she has 35.5 cent. Krupp guns 30 
 calibres long, and her ships of war carry quite a number 
 of Essen guns, ranging in calibre from 12 to 35.5 centi- 
 metres. 
 
 Holland has procured all her steel guns, for army^ 
 navy, and colonial use, from Krupp. At the Hague 
 Cannon Foundry, experiments are now being made with, 
 compressed bronze for low power guns. 
 
 (1) And more recently the Freyre. (O. E. M.) 
 
— 71 — 
 
 The artillery of Portugal, Switzerland and G-reece is 
 supplied in the main from the Essen "Works. 
 
 All the Balkan powers are su]3i)lie<i with Krupp 
 guns. 
 
 Quite recently Servia applied to the Gail Works at 
 Paris, of which Colonel DeBange is Greneral Manager, 
 regarding the supply of 45 DeBange field batteries. As 
 an offset, Krupp has just delivered a new and complete 
 field material to Bulgaria and Turkey. 
 
 Roumania has already been, for some time, provided 
 with Essen field-guns and carriages. 
 
 Belgium has purchased her field artillery from Krupp. 
 The arsenals turn out bronze and cast-iron siege guns of 
 low power. Her high-power coast and inland defence 
 ordnance is supplied from Essen. 
 
 Were we to condense into a few words what we have 
 just written, we should assert that most of the Powers, 
 except France, of course, have for years given contract 
 after contract to Krupp. Such trust, not elsewhere re- 
 posed, speaks louder than words for the reputation of 
 the Krupp gun, a reputation based on the excellence of 
 its metal and the superiority of its construction. 
 
 No other establishment is better equipped than Essen 
 for keeping abreast with the progress of the times, and 
 the ever- increasing demands of ballistic science. 
 
PART SECOND. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 The weakness of the objections raised by the adherents of the 
 French gun against the Empp. 
 
 We have presented tlie reasons that induced ns to 
 prefer the Kriipp to all other systems, especially the 
 De Bange. 
 
 They were cogent, and led easily to one inevitable 
 conclusion. 
 
 Lately, however, numerous murmurs have been heard 
 to the effect that the Essen output had deteriorated, and 
 that the Krupp gun when viewed in contrast with the 
 brilliant success of the De Bange, was only fit for the 
 scrap pile. We cannot cite all the extravagant assertions 
 advanced amid so many clashing interests. We must 
 content ourselves, afcer having met the argaments com- 
 mon to all those who differ from us, with refuting the 
 conclusions of those whose opinion is of weight in this 
 controversy. We find even this difficult, for their opin- 
 ions are generally fortified by words, rather than by 
 facts and figures, the only admissible evidence. Still 
 we must undertake the task, for every assertion, no 
 matter how unsupported, masquerades in the garb of 
 truth, and, ^therefore, requires exposure. 
 
 Among the writers who have taken part, directly or 
 indirectly, in the debate on the side of the French sys- 
 tem of construction, one, thanks to the wide spread dis- 
 tribution of his work among Belgian artillery officers and 
 manufacturers, has obtained considerable notoriety. We 
 
— 73 — 
 
 shall follow Ms train of reasoning, as tlie proofs cited 
 here and there, are the same as advanced by the other 
 authors on the same side. 
 
 Another work, whose main features we propose to 
 analyze, is Lieut. Col. De la Rocque' s book, already 
 quoted. In conclusion we shall have something to say 
 regarding two recently published Parisian pamphlets, 
 one " Canons francais et canon allemands,^'' by Cap- 
 tain Mariotti, a well known military writer, the other, 
 '■'■ n artillerie Krupp Vartillerie DeBange,^^ emana- 
 ting from the pen of Lieutenant Colonel Hennebert. 
 
 Although some of the pamphlets issued by interested 
 manufacturers, as announcements to influence orders, 
 contain inaccurate statements, intentional errors ; on the 
 other hand, Col. De la Rocque' s work is characterized 
 by a high scientiiic standard and by noteworthy origi- 
 nality. 
 
 Captain Mariotti supports Col. De Range's system 
 with rather too much patriotic zeal, still, a praise- 
 worthy spirit, but the courteous treatment he vouch- 
 safes his opponents makes his pamphlet very interest- 
 ing reading. 
 
 We wish we could speak well of Col. Hennebert' s 
 screed, but we cannot ; every page is permeated by par- 
 tiality and prejudice, greatly to be deprecated in so im- 
 portant a cause. 
 
 As already emphatically stated in the preface, we en- 
 tertain no desire to be disputatious ; free from prejudice, 
 untrammeled by national influences, entrenched in our 
 position as neutrals we simply endeavor without ulter- 
 ior motive to aid those who seek the truth. 
 
 In an important expert examination such as this, all 
 Jingoism and material interests should be laid aside and 
 superiority recognized whenever found, precisely as if 
 the question at issue were entirely one of abstract science. 
 
— 74 — 
 
 From this point of view we must condemn those zealots 
 who in their endeavor to establish the transcendent 
 merits of the De Bange gun, not only lavish all praise 
 upon it, but go so far as to deny the generally recog- 
 nized good qualities of the Krupp. This explains 
 their leaving out of account, a prudent omission, on 
 comparing the efficiency of the two guns, the carriage 
 coefficient, for its consideration would compel them to 
 yield the vantage to Krupp. 
 
 Before we proceed to test the value of these preju- 
 diced criticisms, we must point out that some of our op- 
 ponents in making their comparison, use as one term, 
 the Krupp material supplied to the Prussian Artillery 
 in 1873 which was made for lead-coated projectiles. 
 
 Now the fact cannot be ignored that Krupp has con- 
 structed and supplied to many Powers since 1871 a new 
 field piece with copper bearing projectiles, especially as 
 at the competitive trial at Belgrade one of these pieces 
 was pitted against the De Bange. 
 
 Still personalities, in so serious a matter, are of little 
 interest, and we shall at once proceed to meet the argu- 
 ments advanced by our adversaries, and permit the 
 reader to determine where, with the attack or the de- 
 fence, the truth lies. 
 
 I. — Hoops and Jacket. 
 
 Colonel De Bange' s adherents claim that hoops in- 
 crease the resisting power of the tube only tangentially, 
 and add no longitudinal strength. 
 
 In thig we agree with him, but differ when they 
 assert that with guns of small calibre suitable hammer- 
 ing will endow the metal with exceptional qualities for 
 resisting longitudinal strains, while with guns of large 
 calibre, the inferior metal will require special provisions 
 to enable it to withstand such strains. 
 
— 15 — 
 
 This tlieory is erroneous, for if this difference of con- 
 struction be essential, the reason must lie in the fact 
 that it is disadvantageous in heavy guns, bearing in 
 mind the duty of the metal in bearing transverse strains, 
 to make the walls thick enough to resist all the 
 longitudinal strain. The jacket, and the double taper 
 hoops used with heavy guns, are not designed to rein- 
 force possibly inferior metal, the same for both light 
 and heavy pieces, notwithstanding the specious pretext 
 of imperfect hammering, but solely to favor the work of 
 the metal of the tube in resisting radial strains, wholly 
 in avoiding a thickness of wall more injurious than use- 
 ful. 
 
 In addition to this, there are other reasons connected 
 vfith the details of construction, but which, we repeat, 
 have no bearing upon the character of the huge ingots 
 out of which great guns are fashioned. 
 
 According to some statements, it might be inferred 
 that De Bange' s double tajper hooping first solved the 
 problem of longitudinal resistance, a problem with 
 which cylindrical banding could not cope, and that the 
 French constructor had thus discovered a practical 
 means of using heavy pressures in large guns with re- 
 sulting high velocities. Unfortunately, this method of 
 hooping was not the first solution of the problem, and 
 worse, it does not meet the desired purpose. 
 
 In practice, the taper, limited in one direction by the 
 width of the hoop, in the other by the pressure which 
 the exterior is to exert upon the interior hoop, becomes 
 practically so slight, that the tube in which the breech- 
 screw is seated may be torn apart without sensible dis- 
 placement of the hoops. If the tube be once broken, 
 unbreeching will as surely ensue as with cylindrical 
 ioops. Furthermore the perfect matching and shrink- 
 ing-on of two conical surfaces, as demanded by Col. De 
 
— 76 — 
 
 Bange, is almost a meclianical impossibility ; at any 
 rate it cannot be done by nsual shop methods. 
 
 On the other hand, the mantle devised by Krupp 
 and adopted twelve years ago, which is shrunk upon 
 the gun-body, and carries by itself alone the breech 
 mechanism, has answered all the expectations of its in- 
 ventor. To assert that the mantle in one piece applied 
 to field-guns is inferior to the juxtaposed hoops of De 
 Bange, and merits less confidence, would be almost fool- 
 hardy. For in the De Bange construction, the breech- 
 screw is carried by the gun-body or the interior tube, 
 which must therefore withstand both transverse and 
 longitudinal strains. Reinforcing the breech with hoops, 
 as admitted by our opponents themselves, has not the 
 slightest value in opposing this powerful effort. It was 
 for this reason that Krupp, who, like everyone else, for- 
 merly constructed hooped guns, abandoned the method , 
 and substituted the stronger jacket, or as he calls it, 
 mantle system. This mantle, which as the outer coating 
 of the gun, is less directly subjected to transverse strain, 
 bears at the bottom of the breech-slot the whole longi- 
 tudinal stress, and transmits it through the trunnions to 
 the carriage. 
 
 The possibility that the gun may be torn out of the 
 mantle, need not, experience has shown, be feared, as the 
 latter is shrunk on and bears sufficiently hard through- 
 out its length , and after all, in such cases, extended 
 experience is the crucial test. 
 
 Some assert that on account of the slot, the breech in 
 the Krupp construction is a weak point, but they forget 
 to add that the mantle at this point is under no transverse 
 strain, and that its designer took care to strengthen it for 
 withstanding the longitudinal efiort, which is distributed 
 over the whole surface of the metal before reaching the 
 cross-section most subject to strain, the front face of the 
 slot. 
 
— 77 — 
 
 Others allege that circumferential tension can be more 
 accurately attained by small hoops than by large ones. 
 In theory this is correct, but with experienced mech- 
 anics and special machine tools, such as Krupp has, 
 there is no difficulty in turning out mantles and tubes, 
 with the desired constant difference of diameter for the 
 necessary length, as shown by the thousands of guns de- 
 livered by the Essen Works. Finally, it is assumed that 
 if any flaw exist in this single hoop, it will spread with 
 firing throughout the mantle. The truth is, that there is 
 but very little chance of a flaws existing in Krupp' s 
 " Crucible steel," while with the Open-hearth steel, used 
 in the De Bange guns, the conditions are very different. 
 In this latter, the flaw may exist in the tube, as well as 
 in each of the six hoops, and a serious defect in one of 
 these seven parts can lead to the destruction of the gun 
 during firing. 
 
 The De Bange method of construction, which has 
 been m-ade to pose as a practical solution of the problem 
 of making the French gun " go," is in reality an evident 
 proof of its inferiority to its Grerman rival. 
 
 II. Bebech Mechanism and Gas Checking. 
 
 We have gathered here the various reasons advanced 
 by the admirers of the French gun in support of 
 their assumption that the De Bange is superior to the 
 Krupp system. 
 
 First they cite the fact that as the construction 
 admits of complete hoop reinforcement, the walls of the 
 bore in the French gun are not weakened as in the 
 Krupp. We have already shown that for the whole 
 length of the breech-screw, hooping is of no avaU, 
 for only longitudinal strains are here developed. 
 
 To meet these longitudinal strains, we recall the fact 
 that Krupp has adequately reinforced the breech of his 
 
78 
 
 gun, and that this increase of cross-section also abun- 
 dantly makes up for the vent- screw seat tapped ii^to the 
 the breech . 
 
 Further, the Broadwell ring, it is asserted, also does 
 its part in weakening the German guns. We take the' 
 liberty of again stating that the gun tube does not sus- 
 tain longitudinal strain, and that the mantle serves as 
 a protection against the injurious effects of transverse 
 stresses. 
 
 The objection advanced against the Broadwell ring, 
 applies, with greater force, to the breech threads of the 
 DeBange fermature. 
 
 As already shown, these do weaken the tube, as it is 
 subjected to longitudinal strain, and is not itself 
 strengthened to meet this duty, the hoops in this respect 
 being of no avail. 
 
 The vent-bushing of the Krupp gun is made up of 
 three parts, a complication, as claimed by its opponents, 
 which must of necessity permit the escape of gas, and. 
 consequently, admit of injurious fouling. But they 
 forget to add, intentionally or otherwise, that in order 
 to avoid injurying the foot of the vent-screw, it is 
 recommended that the wedge be withdrawn without 
 shock. By observing this precaution, exceedingly sim- 
 ple, and in fact incorporated in the Prussian Artillery 
 Regulations, all other supposititious ill-efPects 
 resulting from the use of the Krupp vent-screw are 
 entirely baseless. 
 
 Besides, a similar caution is found in the French Reg- 
 ulations ; the De Bange fermature must be worked 
 gently, as rough handling might swell the gas-check 
 packing, when softened by firing to an extent suflB.- 
 cient to prevent the screw' s being brought home. 
 
 To guard against all erroneous conclusions, we are 
 compelled to add that the common top vent is used by 
 
— 79 — 
 
 Krupp only for field pieces, and were it absolutely nec- 
 essary, it would not be difficult to devise even for this 
 method of venting, a primer that would do away with 
 all possibility of fouling, as has indeed been done 
 already with the Swiss field guns. 
 
 For large calibres, Krupp used altogether the axial 
 vent, through the wedge, and all escape of gas is pre- 
 vented, not by the complicated apparatus ascribed by 
 various authors to him, but by means of the simple 
 obturating primer already described. 
 
 In the De Bange gun, its admirers maintain, the 
 breech mechanism is completely sheltered behind the 
 gun ; the breech hoop projecting above the tube affords 
 thorough protection to all the details of the fermature. 
 Against this assertion, we oppose a less flattering one, 
 quoted from an adherent, who has, however, been con- 
 verted to more orthodox ideas. 
 
 " In high-angle fire," he vsrrites, "the breech-screw 
 tends to come out by its own weight, which makes it 
 work very hard ; and, further, it lengthens the gun to 
 the rear very inconveniently." 
 
 What one praises as a merit, the other decries as a 
 fault. We must leave to the doctors themselves the 
 task of reconcilmg these statements. 
 
 As a matter of fact, the only parts of the Krupp fer- 
 mature that project beyond the gun are the crank handle 
 on one side, and the housing on the other ; they are not 
 at all in the way, and require no especial protection. It 
 is very different with the exceedingly sensitive De Bange 
 mechanism, for when open, it far exceeds the Krupp in 
 liability to injuries that may interfere with its regular 
 working. 
 
 French writers further sing the praises of the De 
 Bange fermature, on account of its simplicity and small 
 
— 80 — 
 
 weight, claiming that it may be dismounted and assem- 
 bled without tools, while the more complicated Krupp 
 necessitates the attachment of artificers to the battery. 
 This assertion just reverses the facts, the complexity of 
 the De Bange fermature, in comparison with the simpli- 
 plicity of the Krupp, is readily seen by contrasting the 
 descriptions given by these very writers of the working 
 of the two systems. 
 
 It is far from our thoughts to assert that the Krupp 
 fermature can be roughly treated with impunity ; all 
 ireech mechanisTns, no matter Jiow naTned, require con- 
 siderate handling to insure proper and enduring 
 action. 
 
 The De Bange closure is not at all an exception to 
 this law. In the French siege piece, the movable spindle 
 head, the plastic-packing bearing, the screw threads, 
 and last, the vent itself, require careful cleaning after 
 each round, and indeed, also after every round, the 
 chamber must be wiped with a special short-handled 
 sponge, and this done, the female breech plug threads 
 have to be cleaned. 
 
 On the other hand, for the Krupp, the only manda- 
 tory direction is to keep the gas checking surfaces of 
 the Broadwell ring and the gas-plate clean ; actually 
 though, many rounds may be fired without intermedi- 
 ate preliminary cleaning. As a result of neglect to 
 clean, both the De Bange and the Krupp fermatures 
 may show erosions after a number of rounds, but with 
 this very essential di£Eerence, in the De Bange gun 
 they are cut into the very metal of the piece and ren- 
 der it unserviceable ; in the Krupp they are confined 
 to the Broadwell ring and gas-plate, which may readily 
 be replaced by the spare parts carried with each 
 Krupp gun. This operation requires a few minutes 
 only, and does not, as claimed by our opponents, de- 
 
— 81 — 
 
 mand the services of a skilled mechanic; under ordinary 
 circumstances, the Chief of piece is competent to make 
 the substitution. The writers on the French side tacitly 
 recognize this facility of exchange, by their recorded 
 admission that the German gas checking system works 
 well, provided ring and plate are properly fitted. It 
 goes without saying, that this condition is thoroughly 
 fulfilled in every gun turned out by an establishment so 
 well stocked with tools, so well supplied with men 
 skilled in their use, and so deservedly proud of the repu- 
 tation of its output as Krupp's Works. 
 
 We deem it of interest to quote here a remark found 
 in the first edition of a work, by one of Colonel De- 
 Bange's most devoted adherents, which the author 
 (whose name we v/ill not be so unkind as to mention," 
 he, probably, having, like Saul, seen the error of his 
 way), has omitted from the second edition of his work ; 
 " In rapid firing, the gas-check of the French field pieces 
 at times gives evidence of decided softening, this can 
 be easily remedied by cooling it, either by plunging in 
 cold water, or simply by wetting with a sponge." 
 
 We will add, that during extreme cold, the plastic 
 matter may become frozen, and require heating before a 
 fire, or in hot water, in order to soften the packing. 
 
 To avoid this inconvenience Colonel De Bange has 
 proposed that in countries of very low temperatures, 
 like Russia for instance, the tallow of the plastic compo- 
 sition be replaced by glycerine. We have heard noth- 
 ing of the practicability of this substitution. The 
 French constructor further claims, as an advantage of 
 his system, its uniformity for all calibres. Let us see 
 upon what this claim is based. 
 
 The fermature of small calibres carries one gas-check 
 packing-ring, that of howitzers and guns of large 
 calibres, two rings, one within the other. The thirty-four 
 
— 82 — 
 
 centimetre gun exhibited at Antwerp had two packing 
 rings. It follows as a matter of course that this varia- 
 tion in the method of gas checking requires modifica- 
 tions of the fermature. The Krupp wedge f ermature, 
 with simple Broadwell ring and gas plate, is used in 
 every kind of gun and for every calibre. 
 
 In the heavy guns, two additional features have been 
 applied, one to keep the wedge well locked under high 
 jjressures ; the other to facilitate its movement;. These 
 details of construction add no complication to the ap- 
 paratus ; it works just as easily. The Krupp field guns 
 need no special charging funnel, and for heavy guns a 
 similar construction has been devised, which requires as 
 the only preliminary to loading, the withdrawal of the 
 vredge. 
 
 In all De Bange guns, a charging funnel must be 
 used in order to keep the threaded portion of the tube 
 clear of projectile and charge. 
 
 In speaking of the Krupp system, the Kreiner ferma- 
 ture has been mentioned ; we do not understand what 
 connection there can be between two such entirely diff- 
 erent methods, and, therefore, will not enter further into 
 the matter here. 
 
 It is charged that the Krupp mechanism requires 
 skilled attendants, and demands constant attention, 
 together with the most minute precautions. 
 
 The service of the Krupp fermature necessitates no 
 more skill or training, on the part of the cannoneers, than 
 the service of the De Bange, on the contrary, it is 
 acquired more easily and in less time. The casualties 
 which occurred with the De Bange field pieces in the 
 autumn mancEuvres of 1885 have shown that, even in the 
 hands of a trained personnel, the De Bange apparatus 
 does not work with certainty. We may well ask, what 
 would happen with untrained cannoneers 1 
 
— 83 — 
 
 Krnpp's opponents assert that working the handle of 
 his breech apparatus often demands considerable effort ; 
 to increase the leverage, a short pipe rammer must then 
 be slipped on the crank, an operation, which as is 
 claimed, causes delay. This may be, but our opponents 
 must admit that this rare contingency, of secondary con- 
 sequence at best, has been most simply and effectively 
 provided for ; in the De Bange fermature, on the other 
 iand, it may occur that the gunner is compelled to work 
 "the breech-screw backwards and forwards several times 
 before locking can be accomplished. The reader will 
 recall the minute instructions contained in the Manual, 
 quoted in Part First of this monograph, applicable 
 when No. 2 finds it too hard to open the breech by 
 hand. 
 
 One of the weightiest arguments advanced by French 
 authors, one that, in their opinion, furnishes clear, con- 
 vincing proof of the superiority of the De Bange gun, 
 lies in the fact that England has just adopted the 
 French breech mechanism, that the United States have 
 declared in favor of the system, and, finally, that in the 
 comparative trials at Belgrade this gun came out ahead 
 of all competitors. 
 
 England' s decision is not at all surprising ; for var- 
 ious reasons, the authorities were led to adopt the screw 
 fermature. 
 
 In the first place, for the same calibres the wedge 
 fermature requires more massive ingots than the screw ; 
 a most important consideration for a country like Eng- 
 land, which, as a great maritime powei', requires a large 
 number of heavy guns, and it is now acknowledged that 
 the British makers find great difficulty in furnishing 
 satisfactory ingots for the new guns. How would it be 
 if they were compelled to furnish the huge blocks re- 
 quired for the application of the Krupp wedge ? 
 
— 84 — 
 
 Further, the machining of the wedge fermature necessi- 
 tates special tools, while the screw can be finished on 
 ordinary lathes. Finally, there were already on hand 
 quite a number of Armstrong guns with screw breech 
 plugs. So much we have to say concerning the ferma- 
 ture itself. With it, until quite recently, was used a 
 metallic gas-check, very much like the Broadwell ring, 
 but it did not give entire satisfaction. Hence, it ap- 
 peared advantageous to adopt the plastic gas-clieck 
 which had stood the proof up to a certain point, for 
 small calibres at least. 
 
 Whether or no England has acted wisely in prefer- 
 ring the screw to the wedge fermature, is an open ques- 
 tion. During the past ten years, English Ordnance haS 
 undergone a series of changes ; each time, the result 
 ■\vas the abandoning of one model which before has been 
 declared the best in the world and the substitution of 
 another, embodying one of Krupp's well established 
 principles, whose adoption had long been bitterly op- 
 posed. 
 
 We think that even now Krupp can look undisturb- 
 edly upon the extension of tlie enthusiasm aroused on 
 thejother side of the channel by the De Bange system. 
 
 Indeed it behooves one, if confidence can be placed in 
 the statements of the British press, to accept only with 
 the greatest distrust the conclusions of English Ordnance 
 authorities, as they appear to be as unstable and as un- 
 certain as water. The recent bursting (May 4, 1886), 
 of the ' ' Collingwood'' s ' ' steel gun, occurring so soon 
 after the casualty on the " Active,''^ is in this connection 
 exceedingly instructive. For the proper application of 
 this accident, we yield the floor to the English papers. 
 
 The Engineer, May 7, 1886, says : 
 
 " The piece in question was one of twelve ordered on 
 first approval of the pattern. This is a trunnionless gun 
 
— 85 — 
 
 made of wrought iron and steel, being one of the guns 
 that had steel coils in front of the trunnions. After the 
 introduction of these guns, slower powder came in, 
 yielding results with lower maximum pressures, but, of 
 course, continuing high pressures further forward in the 
 bore. This, in conjunction no doubt, with the difficul- 
 ties attending the introduction of steel ordnance on a 
 large scale, led to the guns being found too weak near 
 the muzzle. One gun burst on board H. M. S. ' Active ' 
 near the muzzle, just as this one has done on board the 
 ' ColUngwood. ' ' ' 
 
 The Times of May 6, is still more severe in its com- 
 ments : 
 
 ' ' The bursting of a 43-ton gun on board the ' ColUng- 
 wood,'' which we reported yesterday, forcibly recalls 
 public attention to the grave defects of the Ordnance 
 Department, and the serious risks which we incur as a 
 nation by neglecting to provide a remedy. 
 
 The vaunted Woolwich system of gun-making has 
 cost the country an immense amount of money, and has 
 been elaborated with a deliberation to which is largely 
 due the inadequacy of our national defences, now being 
 tardily removed. Expressions of impatience have been 
 met again and again by assurances that delay would be 
 fully justified by the excellence of the gu;i finally de- 
 veloped, and by our happy avoidance of the mistakes 
 into which more hasty constructors inevitably fell. 
 The type has at length been settled, and, to judge from 
 the sum set apart in this year's estimates for guns for 
 the navy, a serious efl'ort is at last being made to pro- 
 vide armament for our costly ships. The ' ColUngwood' 
 is armed with guns embodying the long results of Wool- 
 wich research, and it is one of these monsters which on 
 Tuesday gave way under a charge of powder equal to 
 about seventy-five per cent, of that which would be re- 
 
— 86 — 
 
 quired in action. It will be remembered that more than 
 a year ago a six-inch Woolwich gun burst in exactly the 
 same way. That is to say, the fore part of the gun 
 went off bodily along with the shot. An elaborate series 
 of experiments was undertaken to prove the War Office 
 theory, that something must have been accidentally left 
 in the bore which jammed the shot, and so subjected the 
 gun to a wholly abnormal pressure. 
 
 Repeated attempts were made to burst a similar gun, 
 by fixing steel wedges in the rifling, but the projectile 
 unfortunately persisted in carrying away the obstruction 
 which was afterwards sifted out of the sand-heaps into 
 which it had been fired. On board the ' Collingwood ' 
 precautions were taken to clear out any possible obstruc- 
 tion by the firing of a scaling charge of seventy-five 
 pounds of powder, so it may be hoped that on this oc- 
 casion we shall not hear anything of the wedge theorj'-, 
 which, by the way, served no other purpose in the case 
 of the six inch gun than to amuse the public and effect 
 that suspense of judgment which plays so large a part 
 in current politics, until other incidents had thrown the 
 explosion into the background. AYe shall await with 
 some interest the official defense in the ' Collingwood ' 
 case. The unstrengthened portion of the steel tube has 
 been torn out of the coils shru.nk on to strengthen the 
 breech, and the foremost of the coils lias itself been rup- 
 tured. As Woolwich is responsible both for design and 
 manufacture, and as the design can be vindicated only 
 by piroving the manufacture faulty, the dilemma seems 
 tolerably complete, and it only remains to be seen on 
 which horn the Ordnance Department will elect to impale 
 itself." 
 
 No more bitter criticism upon the great Woolwich 
 establishment could be uttered. It is true its defenders 
 ascribe the accident to the bad quality of the steel sup- 
 
— 87 — 
 
 plied by home Works. The Ordnance Committee, to 
 which Messrs. Armstrong, Abel, Xoble, Leece of the 
 Whitworth Works, and Colonel Maitland were added, 
 reported in fact that " the steel undoubtedly exhibited 
 a weak spot, due either to a blow-hole or to some other 
 undiscovered caiise, and the factor of safety was too Ioav 
 to meet such a contingency." 
 
 Broad Arrow, a N"aval and ililitary Gazette, in its 
 issue of May 8th, 188G, is equally hard on the Ordnance 
 authorities. 
 
 ' ' The bursting of the 43 ton breech loading Woolwich 
 gun on board the ' Oollingwoocl ' is another illustration 
 of the inaptitude characteristic of the history of our 
 national armaments. After waiting a considerable time 
 to see what other nations were doing in the matter of 
 heavy guns, the authorities I'oused themselves up to tlie 
 necessity of providing the British Navy with ordnance 
 that was to be superior to anything Essen or Ruelle 
 could produce. They, therefore, took away a most 
 promising and efficient officer from his regimental duties 
 and set him down, with no previous training or know- 
 ledge as an expert, to manufacture cannon. According 
 to his lights and the resources placed at his disposal, that 
 officer performed more than coiild have been expected of 
 him, though he was handicapped by the dead-weight of 
 official formulae. 
 
 In the very able lecture which Colonel Maitland gave 
 in June, 1884, at the Royal United Service Institution, 
 it was not a fact of good omen that no two speakers, in 
 the subsequent discussion, could agree generally on the 
 subject of big guns. The theoretical portion of the 
 question was fairly threshed out. The practical portion 
 came last autumn, when out of the four 43-ton guns 
 supplied to the ' Colossus,' two broke down, on trial." 
 
 " Both the 6-inch gun on board the ' Active,'' and the 
 
43-ton gun this week, broke at the weakest part where 
 the core looses the support of the jackets. ' ' 
 
 But the series is not yet ended. In July, 1886, two 
 38-ton guns were seriously injured on board the English 
 ironclad ^ Ajax.^ Our readers will learn the particulars 
 of this accident from a passage, quoted from the French 
 journal, Le Temps. In its issue of July 19, 1886, ap- 
 pears the following : 
 
 " The AdTniralty and Horse Ouard Gazette reports 
 that the 38-ton guns of the ' Ajax, ' one of the new iron- 
 clads of the Reserve Squadron had been rendered unser- 
 vicable during practice firing in Vigo Bay. One round 
 had been fired from each of the guns in the forward tur- 
 ret, when it was discovered that the bores had been very 
 seriously scored and that the gas-checks had been 
 broken to pieces. Vice -Admiral Baird, in command of 
 the squadron, directed the cessation of practice with 
 these pieces. 
 
 This accident, so close on the heels of the bursting of 
 the 48-ton ' Collingwood ' gun has created great excite- 
 ment in England, for it is certain that the mode of con- 
 struction must be changed, by no means a small matter. 
 
 The new English guns are the outcome of experiments 
 begun in 1878, at the time the Admiralty decided to adopt 
 breechloaders for the armament of its vessels." 
 
 Those of our readers who desire to make a thorough 
 study of this subject are referred to the report of Lord 
 Beresford, one of the Admiralty Lords. We have given 
 these few extracts that the value of English Ordnance 
 methods may be appreciated and that the adoption by 
 the Woolwich authorities of the De Bange gas-check, 
 exaggerated and harped upon, may be judged from a 
 proper standpoint. 
 
 For a decision to have weight, the essential condition 
 is that the judge must be competent. But the very 
 
— 89 — 
 
 comments of the English press have taught us to regard 
 with decided mistrust the conclusions which in the 
 argument we are maintaining the Woolwich Committee 
 appear to have made their own. We can only express 
 the wish that the favor, now shown the French construc- 
 tor across the channel, may continue longer than was the 
 case with the shoal of inventors who preceded him in 
 the good graces of the Ordnance Committee. 
 
 Our readers wiU have doubtless perceived that the 
 articles quoted from the British papers are a formal 
 condemnation of the policy pursued as well in France as 
 in England, extolled by some as the only rational one, 
 namely: purchasing rough forgings from private Works, 
 and finishing them in government gun factories. 
 
 The United States Government has not up to the present 
 time, entered upon the fabrication of its new armament, 
 and has not yet decided in favor of the French f erma- 
 ture.^i^ We must conclude that its advantages have not 
 appeared as evident as we are solicited to believe. 
 
 Further on in this work, we propose to discuss the 
 Belgrade tests, the adoption of the DeBange gun by the 
 Servian artillery, and also the comments of the military 
 journals, which, on account of this competition, attended 
 by many and various episodes, have taken sides on the 
 Krupp-DeBange question. 
 
 III. — Rifling of Uniform and Inceeasing Twist. 
 
 The advocates of the De Bange material inform us — 
 we knew it already — that France has adopted an increas- 
 ing twist for the gun, and copper slugging bands for the 
 projectile, and that in Germany all guns have a uniform 
 twist, and some, in addition, wedge-shaped grooves, 
 which we did not know, for very good reasons. In 
 their opinion, grooves of uniform twist have the advan- 
 tage of being easily cut, and of requiring projectiles of 
 
 (1) The construction of our experimental guns differs widely from the 
 DeBange method ; the French fermature is applied from necessity rather 
 than from choice. (O. E. M.) 
 
— 90 — 
 
 simple construction ; on this account, especially, they 
 assert, such grooves were applied to the first rifles. 
 
 These statements are inaccurate as far as regards 
 German guns, and the reasons assigned for the adoption 
 of a uniform twist. 
 
 All guns made in Germany since the adoption of slug- 
 ging by means of a single copper band, placed near the 
 base of the projectile, have an increasing twist ; there is 
 no deviation from this rule, except where iinder peculiar 
 circumstances it may have appeared more advantageous 
 to employ a constant twist. The Prussian field pieces, 
 model 1873, have a uniform twist, for at the time of their 
 introduction, lead-coated projectiles were used. Now-a- 
 days, guns can be rifled with an increasing, as easily as 
 with a uniform twist, and require no more complicated 
 projectiles. On the other hand, as long as slugging was 
 accomplished by a lead jacket or by two copper bands, 
 placed at the top and bottom of the cylindrical portion 
 of the projectile, an increasing twist could not be thought 
 of, as, under these circumstances, the projectile would 
 have been subjected to torsional stress for the entire 
 length of the bore. But as soon as it was proved that a 
 single copper band at the base of the projectile insured 
 effective slugging, and that the head of the projectile re- 
 quired only to be kept in position and guided in the 
 direction of the axis of the bore, no further objection 
 could be advanced against the adoption of an increasing 
 twist, especially suitable for high initial velocities and 
 very long projectiles. 
 
 We must remark, however, that in a field gun of tough 
 metal, an increasing twist is only theoretically advanta- 
 geous. A single copper slugging band gives, with rifling 
 of uniform twist, the same accuracy, and the maximum 
 gas pressure does not exceed the usual limit. 
 
— 91 — 
 
 IV. — Practice of the Guns. 
 
 "We have already remarked that our opponents, in 
 trying to accomplish their difficult task, the proof of the 
 ballistic superiority of the De Bange guns, strive to 
 lighten the labor b j? taking for comparison the guns sup- 
 plied by Krupp to Prussia in 1873, which still used tlie 
 lead-coated projectiles. 
 
 To make the comparison fair, we will take the De 
 Bange 8 centimetre gun, and the Krupp 8.4 centi- 
 metre, new model, already adopted by several States, 
 and which was pitted against the French gun at Bel- 
 -prade. 
 
 GENERAL DATA. 
 
 
 Krupp 
 
 De Bange 
 
 
 8.4 cent. 
 
 8 cent. 
 
 • 
 
 Gun. 
 
 Gun. 
 
 Weight of gun .... Kilograms . 
 
 450 
 
 435 
 
 Weight of gun and carriage 
 
 witliout gunners' seats . " 
 
 945 
 
 955 
 
 Weight of gun and carriage 
 
 ■witlx gunners' seats . . " 
 
 980 
 
 
 Weight of shell 
 
 i 
 
 5.6 
 
 Weight of charge .... 
 
 l.;5 
 
 1.5 
 
 Mean Initial velocity . . . Metres. 
 
 459 
 
 490 
 
 Muzzle energy .... Metre-tons. 
 
 7.J 
 
 68.5 
 
— 92 — 
 
 B. 
 
 ACCURACY. 
 
 Range iu Metres. 
 
 Krupp 8.4 cent. Gun. 
 
 De Bange 8 cent. Gun. 
 
 MEAN DEVIATION IN METRES. 
 
 Longitudinal. 
 
 Horizontal. 
 
 Longitudinal. 
 
 Horizontal. 
 
 600 
 
 4.8 
 
 0.06 
 
 7.9 
 
 — 
 
 1,000 
 
 5.1 
 
 0.17 
 
 8.0 
 
 0.2 
 
 1,500 
 
 6.5 
 
 0.34 
 
 8.2 
 
 0.4 
 
 2,000 
 
 6.1 
 
 0.54 
 
 8.5 
 
 0.7 
 
 2,500 
 
 6.9 
 
 0.83 
 
 9.0 
 
 1.0 
 
 3,000 
 
 7.9 
 
 1.18 
 
 9.7 
 
 1.4 
 
 c. 
 
 VELOCITY AND ENERGY. 
 
 Range in Metres. 
 
 Krupp 
 
 8.4 cent 
 
 Gun. 
 
 De Bange 8 cent 
 
 . Gun. 
 
 Remain- 
 ing 
 Telocity. 
 
 Loss 
 
 of 
 
 Velocity. 
 
 Remain- 
 ing 
 Energy. 
 
 Remain- 
 ing 
 Velocity. 
 
 Loss 
 
 of 
 
 Velocity. 
 
 Remain- 
 ing 
 Energy. 
 
 
 Metres. 
 
 Metres. 
 
 Metre-tons. 
 
 Metres. 
 
 Metres. 
 
 Metn-tons. 
 
 600 
 
 392 
 
 67 
 
 54.8 
 
 400 
 
 90 
 
 45.7 
 
 1,000 
 
 356 
 
 103 
 
 45.3 
 
 360 
 
 130 
 
 87.0 
 
 1,500 
 
 321 
 
 138 
 
 36.7 
 
 325 
 
 165 
 
 30.2 
 
 2,000 
 
 295 
 
 164 
 
 31.0 
 
 300 
 
 190 
 
 25.7 
 
 2,500 
 
 275 
 
 184 
 
 27.0 
 
 280 
 
 210 
 
 22.4 
 
 8,000 
 
 258 
 
 201 
 
 23.8 
 
 265 
 
 225 
 
 20.1 
 
 4,000 
 
 231 
 
 228 
 
 19.1 
 
 345 
 
 245 
 
 17.1 
 
 5,000 
 
 212 
 
 347 
 
 16.2 
 
 235 
 
 255 
 
 15.8 
 
— 93 — 
 
 These data, drawn from the official range tables, re- 
 quire no commentary, they prove in every respect the 
 ballistic superiority of the Krupp gun. 
 
 V. — The Ammxtnition Supply of Kkxtpp and 
 DeBange Field Pieces. 
 
 Our opponents themselves acknowledge that the 
 Prussian field limber carries more rounds than the 
 French ; in this regard the Grerman superiority is evi- 
 dent. 
 
 The new model Krupp guns maintain this super- 
 iority ; thus the 8 cent. De Bange gun is supplied with 
 29 rounds, the 8.4 Krupp, with 33. 
 
 VI. — Rapidity of Pike of the two Systems. 
 
 Rapidity of fire, we are told, does not depend so 
 much upon the rapid service of the piece as upon the 
 facility of supplying ammunition. So far as we are 
 concerned, we do not object to this dictum, are even 
 willing to make it our own. The most important con- 
 sideration affecting this facility of supply is evidently 
 the method of stowing the ammunition in the chests. 
 In this respect the Krupp chest is beyond criticism ; 
 even the French Ordnance Corps have recognized its 
 merits, for they have adopted an identical method. 
 
 As regards the rapidity of fire of the Krupp field 
 gun, the test to which it was successively submitted at 
 Belgrade, May 6, 1885, proved, without a shadow of 
 doubt, that in this respect also, the German gun was the 
 peer of the French. 
 
 The gun tried was the same which December 4, 1884, 
 owing to neglect in the manipulation of the f ermature, 
 required 33 minutes for 30 rounds in the rapid firing 
 trial, while the De Bange delivered the same number of 
 of rounds in 23 minutes. 
 
— 94 — 
 
 These figures were given in the French reports. 
 They were so surprising that the test was repeated. 
 The Krupp gun was made ready for the practice without 
 ■difiiculty, and on May 0, 1885, the second test took place 
 in the presence of the Board that conducted the com- 
 parative trials, and of Krupp' s representatives. The 
 gun detachment were Servian artillery-men, and the 
 conditions were precisely those governing the test of 
 Dec. 4, 1884. 
 
 This time the German gun fired 30 rounds in 16 
 minutes, while the French gun, as already stated, had 
 required 23 minutes. 
 
 Til. — The Elevating Screw of the two Systems. 
 
 The Krupp gun is pointed by means of a double 
 elevating screw upon whose head the breech of the gun 
 freely rests. This arrangement is very simple and 
 works well, as shown by the accuracy of the piece. 
 
 The objections to this method are entirely imaginary, 
 and there is not the slightest use, in our opinion, for 
 employing the complicated De Bange mechanism. 
 
 The Krupp 8.4 cent, gun can be depressed 8° and ele- 
 vated 24°, the 8 cent. De Bange 6° and 26° respectfully. 
 The statement of the author who writes, ' ' the French 
 elevating apparatus allows the piece to be elevated 24°, 
 while the German gun can be elevated only 18°," is of no 
 value, for it has no application to Krupp' s recent 
 models. 
 
 The same author continues in this strain : 
 " In heavy guns, France has done away with breech 
 preponderance ; in field guns, however, it is still re- 
 quired, for they sometimes receive shocks which other- 
 wise would overturn them." 
 
 For years these two principles, the necessity of pre- 
 ponderance for field guns, and the possibility of doing 
 
— 95 — 
 
 without it in heavy guns, have been accepted and applied 
 everywhere. Hence this digression is either purposeless, 
 or it would seem to mean that upon this question the 
 French construction has followed in the wake of others, 
 which is not the case. We hold French Ordnance 
 Officers in too high esteem to believe that their suppres- 
 sion of breech preponderance in large calibre guns was 
 deemed a novelty. 
 
 VIII.— Fuzes. 
 
 The manufacture of fuzes is one of the specialties of 
 the Essen Works. 
 
 Percussion, time and combination fuzes for short as 
 well as long ranges are fabricated. The care exercised 
 in their construction and workmanship and their cer- 
 tainty of action are known to such hosts of military men, 
 that no defence is required here. Krupp has no need 
 of seeking models abroad ; he can supply his own and 
 guarantee their reliability. 
 
 According to newspaper reports, Colonel De Bange, 
 having no fuze of his own, supplied fazes of Swiss 
 manufacture, with the material purchased by Servia. 
 
 IX. — Collar AND Breast Harness. 
 
 There are two kinds of harness, collar and breast ; it 
 is difficult to assert positively that one is better than the 
 other ; the choice would depend upon the special con- 
 ditions of the case, or upon personal predilection. The 
 German artillery uses collar, the French, breast harness. 
 Krupp supplies one or the other as may be desired. A 
 number of artillery officers have declared for breast har- 
 ness, and base their opinion upon the favorable French 
 reports regarding its use in the war of 18'70-71. Against 
 these reports, we cite other, as conclusive, ones made 
 by the Germans, who also went through this 
 war of 1870-71, and yet retain their har- 
 
— 96 — 
 
 ness. And we reply to tlie arguments advanced in 
 France in favor of breast harness, by inviting attention 
 to this rather curious fact, that the De Bange carriages 
 furnished Servia will be drawn by collar harness, and 
 still more singular to relate, an adjustable collar of Oer- 
 Tnan invention will be used. 
 
 The Belgian Artillery is generally well satisfied with 
 the collar harness heretofore used. 
 
 X. — Mountain Batteries. 
 
 France has mountain guns on account of possible 
 Alpine or Pyrenean campaigns, but Germany has no 
 important mountain frontier, and it is not, therefore, 
 probable, under present circumstances at least, that 
 her Artillery will have occasion for the use of such guns. 
 
 It is not surprising then that this gap, if one can 
 speak of wanting that for which there is no necessity, 
 exists in the German material. 
 
 But the Krupp Works supply mountain batteries con- 
 structed on the most approved model, and have sent 
 them to all quarters of the globe. It is well known that 
 the English deemed themselves fortunate in finding at 
 hand for their Soudan campaign, the Krupp mountain 
 guns purchased by Egypt, and, even before this, these 
 small calibre Krupp guns had played a most important 
 part in Spanish and South American warfare and in the 
 Dutch Colonies. 
 
 Hence it seems a work of supererogation to attempt 
 to prove at this late day, by experience of the Tonquin 
 campaign, the utility, never denied for particular cases, 
 of mountain artillery. 
 
 Everybody aiJknowledges the services it may render 
 under fitting circumstances. 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 The French and German Systems of Gun Manufacture and their 
 
 Results, 
 
 1. — Gun-Metal supplied bt Private Industry, the 
 French System and the Krupp Monopoly, the 
 German System. 
 
 Much, praise has been awarded, the French system of 
 gun manufacture, under which the rough forgiugs are 
 made at private works, and assembled and finished in 
 the Government factories, while in Germany, the Krupj) 
 Works monopolizes the fabrication. 
 
 In support of their preference, the believers in the 
 French system advance the following arguments : 
 
 First of all, it encourages home work. The fostering 
 of native industry is, undoubtedly, correct in principle. 
 But when such protection demands the expenditure of 
 enormous sums by Government without adequate hope 
 of reimbursement through the industry in question, or 
 when the possession of inferior guns might enfeeble the 
 military prestige of the State, all must agree, except 
 possibly those personally interested, that true patriots, 
 worthy the name, should be willing with, one accord, to 
 sacrifice commercial profits, inconsiderable with an 
 active army of limited strength, for the sake of the 
 national defense. 
 
 This view will hardly please those Belgian manufac- 
 turers who dabble in guns ; in regard to this we could 
 
•98- 
 
 "a tale Tinfold," but we are here influenced by but a 
 single consideration ; the search for the best tool, the 
 best arm. 
 
 It stimulates, they add, the zeal of Ordnance Ofii- 
 cers. 
 
 Many inventors in a military corps, is a matter of 
 doubtful advantage, and all must admit that the French 
 policy is open to the objection of instability of tenure, 
 as regards the administration of the State factories. We 
 do not know whether sufficient time have elapsed to 
 make this objection felt in France, but in England, 
 where the same policy has been pursued for years, its 
 full weight has been felt, especially at Woolwich. This 
 could have been anticipated ; for no sooner have officers 
 detailed on ordnance work become thoroughly familiar 
 with their technical and administrative duties, than, for 
 the sake of promotion, they must be relieved by others, 
 who again must serve an apprenticeship before becom- 
 ing skilful in their new profession. 
 
 Finally, it is claimed, this policy permits the divi- 
 sion of the work among several establishments. 
 
 We do not believe any Government can keep differ- 
 ent plants, completely outfitted for gun-worTc, going. 
 Such a method, like every other, would result, either 
 in an impartial allotment of the work, or in its concen- 
 tration in one establishment. 
 
 This applies with equal force to the fabrication of in- 
 gots. There cannot thrive in a country a whole series of 
 plants for turning out steel masses of the superior and 
 uniform quality required for gun-metal. Even in France, 
 there is already apparent a tendency to establish a dis- 
 tinction between Creuzot and Saint-Chamond Open- 
 hearth steel ; in England, Firth alone produces Crucible 
 ingots for cannon ; in Russia, the Obouchofl Works 
 supply the finished guns ; in Germany, finally, this is 
 done by Krupp. 
 
— 99 — 
 
 It is, accordingly, an open question which, of the two 
 policies is the best, but we can assert that results speak 
 decisively in favor of the German method. And we are 
 convinced, in face of the complaints presented to the 
 Reichstag by Representative Berger, who at the very 
 time was the owner of a steel plant, that Germany has 
 never regretted permitting the Essen Works to mono- 
 polize her gun fabrication. 
 
 Even if it be conceivable that a great nation, endowed 
 with vast industries, should, at a given time, deem it its 
 duty to undertake its own gun work, and to aid the 
 development of private plants by purchasing the re- 
 quired ingots, when, as the report of the U. S. Gun 
 Foundry Board shows, their manufacture cannot be 
 undertaken without large and frequent subsidies ; even 
 then, a similar procedure on the part of a smaller State 
 would entail expenditures out of all proportion. Hence, 
 such a State, as a matter of highest duty, for the sake 
 of its own security, should purchase, no matter where, 
 the tiery best ordnance. 
 
 For this ordnance, it must go to Essen. 
 
 Considering all that has been said upon the subject, 
 we would be justified in making no further attempt to 
 establish this conclusion ; but we have still in reserve 
 some additional cumulative arguments, the effect of 
 which will be the dissipation of the last remnant of doubt 
 that may yet rest in our readers' minds. 
 
 The essential features of modern artillery are deter- 
 mined by three conditions : 
 
 1. — Maximvim ballistic efficiency, that is, greatest ac- 
 curacy and energy. 
 
 2. — Ease and certainty of manipulation, combined 
 with endurance. 
 3. — Minimum liability to mishaps. 
 
— 100 — 
 
 Each of these necessary conditions is again depen- 
 dent upon these three concomitant elements : 
 
 (a.)— The design of the gun. 
 
 {b.) — The workmanship. 
 
 (c.) — The quality of the material. 
 
 The ballistic superiority of the Krupp over the De- 
 Bange gun, was clearly shown in the exhaustive com- 
 parison given in Chapter III of this monograph. 
 
 The Krupp gun would have even a greater lead were 
 we to institute comparisons with the Armstrong, but 
 this is not necessary, for it is admitted that the English 
 engineer has been distanced by his French and German 
 competitors. 
 
 Quite recently, at the Bucharest trials, in December 
 and January of last winter, the construction and equip- 
 ment of the 21 cent. Krupp mortar attracted, justly too, 
 the special attention of all the experts present, and no- 
 tably, the French. 
 
 We have already made clear the advantages of the 
 Krupp closure compared with the De Bange, but we re- 
 serve the privilege of returning to the subject again 
 in our proposed critical discussion of the Belgrade tests. 
 The long service life of the Krupp gun is established by 
 varied experience. In Belgium, we have a 9 cent. 
 KrupiJ which has fired several thousand rounds and 
 is still in perfect condition. {Cours de V e cole d? applica- 
 tion de V artillerie et du genie de Belgique. ) During 
 the winter of 1880, two Krupp siege guns, 10.5 and 12 
 cent, calibre, were fired for endurance about 1000 rounds 
 each, without perceptible scoring or diminution of ac- 
 curacy. 
 
 As regards ability to stand the vicissitudes of the 
 march, by no means an unimportant consideration, the 
 Belgrade experience is conclusive, the Krupp 8 cent, 
 mounted gun, endured all the carriage tests without the 
 
— 101 — 
 
 slightest injury, while both, the DeBange and Arm- 
 strong guns were damaged in many ways. But above 
 all technical claims, far outweighing the results of the 
 firing ground, is the supreme and decisive test of actual 
 warfare ; from it there is no appeal. The Krupp gun is 
 the only one which during the European and American 
 wars of the past two decades, has demonstrated its per- 
 fect efiicacy under all the varying circumstances of nu- 
 merous and severe campaigns. 
 
 The Krupp guns offer the best guarantee against 
 casualties. The number of burst guns is indeed insig- 
 nificant, hardly appreciable, in comparison with the 
 number turned out at Essen, over 21,000, and these acci- 
 dents all occurred to obsolete models. This question we 
 shall thoroughly examine further along. 
 
 Again, it must not be forgotten that the Krupp 
 Works is better able than all others to obtain a high 
 standard of excellence for its products, inasmuch as it 
 has at command everything necesary for the continued 
 improvement of its output, and is always kept posted as 
 to what is doing in the various States whose ordnance 
 it supplies. Then too, the Works possesses a body of 
 engineers and mechanics, trained in all the untold diffi- 
 culties of fabrication ; a matter of vital importance, for 
 ordnance construction is controlled by complex laws, 
 which demand in their observance great scientific and 
 practical knowledge, and no establishment can under- 
 take gun work of special design and quality by merely 
 providing a first class mechanical outfit. Finally, we 
 must not overlook the fact that the Essen Works turns 
 ' out in its famous Crucible steel the only metal really 
 able to meet the ballistic requirements of the day, and 
 the good quality of the metal is, after all, the very 
 foundation of gnn construction. 
 
— 102 — 
 
 II. — French and Gteeman Gun Steel. 
 
 Notwithstanding the contrary statements of rival es- 
 tablishments, it is an undeniable fact that in cannon 
 manufacture, Krupp uses only Crucible steel of special 
 make. 
 
 From the smallest to the largest gun, not a particle 
 of other metal is employed, in tube, in mantle, in hoops, 
 or indeed, in any portion of the construction. The raw- 
 material of the Krupp Crucible steel is made up of re- 
 markably pure ores, producing a special pig, itself 
 again converted into puddled steel in a puddling fur- 
 nace. 
 
 This steel, in conjunction with iron puddled for the 
 purpose, makes up the crucible charge for remelting 
 into Crucible steel of the required tenacity and of abso- 
 lute homogeneity. The ore used in the fabrication of 
 this steel is drawn from mines belonging to the Krupp 
 Works, and every process to which it is subjected, from 
 the very beginning, to the forged block and completed 
 gun, is carried out in Krupp furnaces and Krupp shops. 
 The Q-erman constructor carried on the manufacture of 
 Crucible steel on a grand scale before the Bessemer and 
 Open-hearth methods were known ; his process has the 
 sanction of long experience, and, while formerly tenta- 
 tive, is now based upon scientific principles. To 
 those who say to us, "Colonel De Bange deems 
 it of little importance who supplies the steel, or 
 how it is made, provided it" comes up to 
 specification," we answer, that we consider the enunci- 
 ation of such an opinion a purely individual matter, for 
 we have too high a regard for the French constructor's 
 ability, not to be convinced that, even if he accept this 
 dictum, he does so under stress of circumstances, and 
 that, had he free choice, he would not hesitate an instant 
 to obtain metal of absolute guarantee, in following the 
 Prussian system. 
 
— 103 — 
 
 It is fallacious to assnme that specimens, cut from a 
 steel block for shock and tension tests, determine its 
 mechanical properties. The experiments of the French 
 Marine Artillery are a sufficient proof, as appears from 
 Colonel De la Rocque's testimony. This experienced 
 officer of rank, in his " Mude Tiistorique de la resis- 
 tance des cannons r ayes, ^^ already quoted, writes thus of 
 the period from 1860 to 1871. 
 
 ' ' The steel which our makers were able to supply did 
 not offer satisfactory guarantees. It had defects of every 
 kind, coarse and crystalline grains, making up a lumpy 
 and seamy mass, whose ends and surface appeared all 
 right, blow-holes and other breaks in the iibre, due to 
 various causes which combined to shake confidence, even 
 under conditions of fire far within the mean resistance 
 of the metal." 
 
 In reporting upon a more recent period, the author 
 continues : 
 
 ' ' Consequently, the conclusion was drawn that steel, 
 which at this time (about 1872) could not offer absolute 
 guarantee, even for 24 cent, tubes, was unfit for the com- 
 paratively thicker bodies. 
 
 The fissuring of two 24 cent, guns, both opening more 
 than one millimetre, actual cracks, the blow-holes, the 
 spongy spots characterizing the whole bore, must have 
 confirmed the heads of the Naval Ordnance in their often 
 announced decision, that steel was still a hazardous 
 metal to use, and therefore unfit for gun purposes." 
 
 The following from the same author is quite as in- 
 teresting : 
 
 ' ' Taking together the facts already cited, others less 
 important but equally significant, as for instance, the 
 breaking off at Ruelle of the chase of a 24 cent, gun 
 (fortunately with a long tube) at the fifth proof round, a 
 break ascribable to a blow hole extending almost over 
 
— 104 — 
 
 the whole section ; circumstances noted during practice, 
 during machining, in the turning out of the rough parts, 
 all combine to establish incontestably the truth of the 
 conclusions reached in 1874 and 1875 from actual trials, 
 regarding the 24 cent, steel guns. 
 
 During this period, from 1875 to 1881, up to the very- 
 time of the setting up of the Creuzot and Saint Chamond 
 80-ton hammers, the substitution of steel for cast-iron, 
 while trebling their cost, had not increased the ballistic 
 power of heavy guns ; it had, however, delayed for 
 some years coast defence armament, and to avert the 
 dangers due to the use of defective steel forgings, it was 
 necessary to have recourse to safeguards out of use, and 
 needless with lined and banded cast-iron guns." 
 
 To conclude, Col. De la Rocque speaks thus of the 
 period of 1881-1885 : 
 
 ' ' We shall, as regards these years, here enter into no 
 details. French makers are supplying tempered steel 
 -with a minimum elastic limit of 32 kilograms. Mechaur 
 ical and powder tests are increasing the rigor and pre- 
 cision of the inspection of their deliveries, including 
 tubes, gun bodies and hoops." 
 
 These quotations, drawn from an author certainly 
 not inimical to French steel, as shown only too clearly 
 by the last passage cited with this very purpose in view, 
 prove that the mechanical tests before acceptance, do 
 not suffice to establish the integrity of the steel block. 
 Further, a feto rounds fired without accident from each 
 piece, or endurance tests with a limited number of guns, 
 do not establish the excellence of the material used. Of 
 course, these tests can in no case be omitted, but to 
 establish confidence in steel as gun-metal, the mode of 
 fabrication must, in addition, in itself guarantee its homo- 
 geneity, and of course it is still better if the possession 
 of this quality has been demonstrated by successful 
 
— 105-- 
 
 proof, extending over a long period o€ time, and embra- 
 cing a very great number of guns. 
 
 These are the controlling reasons whicli have impelled 
 Krupp, notwithstanding the example of Colonel De 
 Bange and other makers of equal reputation, to continue 
 making guns of crucible steel alone, high as regards 
 cost of production, it is true, but of incom^parable homo- 
 geneity and trustworthiness. Still, owing to unparal- 
 lelled manufacturing facilities, Krupp guns cost no 
 more than their competitors, constructed of decidedly 
 inferior material. 
 
 III. — The Accidents to Krupp Gtjns. 
 
 We might, at this stage, consider the discussion 
 closed, did we not deem it a duty to disprove certain 
 erroneous assertions set up by Colonel De la Rocque 
 in his book. 
 
 An advocate, as are many of his comrades of the Ma- 
 rine Artillery, of lined and banded cast-iron guns. Col. 
 i)e la Rocque, compelled to put up with steel, rebels 
 decidedly against Krupp steel, the very metal which 
 has forced him and his school to a change of opinion. 
 
 We can readily understand that, after the unfor- 
 tunate French experience with Creuzot and Saint-Cham- 
 ond steel, this distinguished officer, compelled by the 
 logic of events to accept this metal, is not an extrava- 
 gant enthusiast. Still, it seems to us that in his charac- 
 ter of author, he has overstepped the bounds of criti- 
 cism to give free rein to his disappointment, and the bet- 
 ter to defend his inclination, painfully apparent, for 
 lined and banded cast-iron ordnance, in charging up 
 against the German guns a long tale of mishaps, whose 
 character and scope he changes entirely by his accom- 
 panying remarks. 
 
 Colonel De la Rocque's list of accidents comprises 
 thirteen cases. By adding the Glogau casualty, cited by 
 
— 106 — 
 
 other writers, we have a total of fourteen, distributed 
 among over 21,000 guns. 
 
 This is insignificant, but we hurry to the rescue and 
 acknowledge twenty-five ; twenty-five accidents have 
 indeed occurred with Krupp guns during the period of 
 thirty years ! 
 
 Sixteen of these occurred he/ore 1868, and were due, 
 either to demanding too much from the solid guns of the 
 day, without mantle or tube, or to defective construction, 
 that is, the use of a rectangular wedge with unfilleted 
 breech-slot angles, or finally, to the improper manner in 
 which the pieces were tested. 
 
 Seven of these sixteen accidents, happened to Prus- 
 sian field guns, for which Krupp supplied the f orgings, 
 but which were finished at the Arsenals. 
 
 This model was abandoned and replaced by one hav- 
 ing slots with well-rounded angles. Not one of these 
 belied the promises of the constructor, notwithstanding 
 the exhaustive and unusual proof they received in the 
 war of 1870-71, during which some of them were fired 
 an excessive number of rounds. In the Loire campaign, 
 for instance, a Krupp gun delivered in a single day 300 
 rounds. 
 
 Of the nine cases occurring since 1868, two happened 
 to solid guns, two to field guns, damaged in the chase by 
 premature explosions, and the other five, to hooped 
 guns of obsolete model, due either to overstraining or to 
 wedging of the projectile. 
 
 We, therefore, feel justified after thus detailing the 
 real facts, in declaring unwarrantable and not in accord- 
 ance with the truth, the conclusion which Colonel De la 
 Rocque thus formulates : 
 
 "These instances clearly show the insecurity of the 
 system." On the contrary, nothing can demonstrate 
 more clearly the security of the Krupp system than the 
 astonishingly small number of accidents, of well-defined 
 
— 107 — 
 
 character, which are chargeable to 21, 000 guns, supplied 
 to most of the armies of the civilized world. 
 
 IV. — The Accidents to French Guns. 
 
 French writers, who dwell at length upon the casual- 
 ties to Krupp guns, exceedingly serious, they call them, 
 though we now know how to take this, still acknowl- 
 edge that some slight mishaps have occurred with De 
 Bange guns. 
 
 "Accidents have recently occurred in France," says 
 one, ' ' but they are of no importance, they are of 
 daily occurrence." 
 
 We might have expected this, what is criminal with 
 Krupp, becomes trivial with De Bange. But for what 
 can they be striving, who, passing their time in foisting 
 upon Krupp guns, accidents said to have occurred at 
 Constantinople, Cairo, at any rate so far away that little 
 ■opportunity for personal confirmation is afforded, yet 
 assert that "accidents of daily occurrence," prove 
 nothing ? 
 
 The Pr ogres militaire, which, as all the world knows, 
 has no acquaintance with Colonel De Bange, considers 
 it a grievance that Krupp publishes, far and wide, a list 
 of casualties to French guns, and carries its assurance 
 io the point of finding fault with the Essen manufacturer, 
 heoause he printed this list at his Works. 
 
 To us, Krupp' s open method of fighting seems manly. 
 Between it and that other method, which consists in 
 spreading false rumors through the press, sensational ac- 
 counts of burst giins, we do not hesitate to choose, and 
 Krupp, whose scientific and technical reputation pre- 
 clxTdes resort to such contemptible means, does not need 
 to have recourse to the petty devices followed by certain 
 newspapers in the pay of his detractors. 
 
— 108 — 
 
 It is admitted, then, that accidents do happen to the 
 Be Bange guns — what are they, and of what nature ? 
 
 There are some, according to the statements of the 
 France militaire, which lead one to suppose that the 
 tube has been torn off with completely closed ireech. 
 We find namely, to be more exact, in its issues of July 
 5 and December 1 0, 1885, a report of accidents of this 
 kind which happened to a 9 cent. De Bange, a 9.5 cent. 
 LahitoUe, noticed too by Progres militaire, and to two 
 other field pieces, also in all probability, De Bange 
 guns. 
 
 In its issue of September 6, France 'militaire prints 
 these pertinent words : 
 
 " After having spoken of the bursting of practice 
 guns, bursts more frequent tlian is generally supposed 
 etc." 
 
 This remark, made by a French journal, should in- 
 duce hesitation on the part of those who are infatuated, 
 far more than necessary, with the French construction ;, 
 it certainly is not very encouraging. 
 
 The tearing off of the tube may be due either to 
 faults of construction inseparable from the screw, the 
 longitudinal strain acting too suddenly upon the bottom 
 of the threads, to the inferior quality of the steel, or to 
 both combined. The tube of the LahitoUe gun has at 
 the bottom of the threads a section of 3.7 square centi- 
 metres per square centimetre of chamber section, while 
 in the two De Bange guns the ratio is only 3 square 
 centimetres. 
 
 We are, therefore, of the opinion that, in both in- 
 stances, this kind of accident admits of the same ex- 
 planation, the concurrent action of both causes mentioned 
 above. In 1864, similar casualties occurred with the 
 recently adopted Prussian light field guns ; they were 
 at once withdrawn, and replaced by a new model. We 
 are not gifted with second sight, and cannot therefore 
 
— 109 — 
 
 predict that a similar fate awaits the French guns, but 
 the coincidence is curious and worthy of note. From 
 the summary of accidents to the De Bange, two more 
 are to be specially noticed. 
 
 They occurred, according to France militaire of Sep- 
 tember 6, 1885, " because the piece had been fired with- 
 out assurance that the breech had been carefully locked." 
 This explanation Progres militaire would like to apply 
 to all the De Bange accidents ; but this endeavor is 
 merely a joke of doubtful taste, for the language of the 
 French military press is too clear upon this point, and 
 it is evident that if the mishaps were all due to this de- 
 fect in the construction of the f ermature, a remedy would 
 long ago have been provided. 
 
 The accidents to De Bange guns aroused general 
 anxiety in France, the effect of which was felt in the 
 Chamber of Deputies. 
 
 On January 16th, 1886, M. Lejeune introduced a re- 
 solution calling for a report from the Minister of War 
 upon a letter from General Campenon, in which he uses 
 the following words : 
 
 ' ' Upon the occurrence of the first accident, the un- 
 breeching of a 9 cent, gun, I directed immediate search 
 for a breech mechanism offering entire security.'''' At 
 that time, then, in the opinion of General Campenon, 
 the screw fermature with De Bange gas-check, did not 
 possess this desirable quality of security. 
 
 General Boulanger, after three guns had been un- 
 breeched during the grand manoeuvres, announced that 
 the defect had been cured, and that, thanks to a small 
 locking finger, soon to be applied to all guns, there 
 would be no more of these accidents. We will round 
 oflf this announcement with a word. The Independence 
 'beige of Sept. 13, 1886, reports the bursting of a field 
 piece, the blowing off of the breech killing one man, Sept. 
 9, during the minor manoeuvres near Avignon, We do 
 
— no — 
 
 not deem it out of place to ask whether or no the lock- 
 ing finger had already been applied to this gun, and, 
 should this question be answered in the negative, to in- 
 quire why officers and soldiers, after the lesson of all 
 previous accidents, had not been so emphatically warned 
 in regard to premature firing, as to make repetition im- 
 possible ? 
 
 We consider these facts as confirmatory of our opinion 
 that the innate weak spot of the French field pieces is 
 brought out by accidents due to the natural tearing off 
 of the breech, accidents which cannot be explained away 
 by ascribing them to negligent service. This latter diffi- 
 culty may be overcome, but the former, hardly. But 
 there is more to come. France Tnilitaire, in the issue 
 of Oct. 11, 1885, reports the breaking of a portion of the 
 chase of the first two 42 cent, guns, built up entirely of 
 sj;eel, during their proof at the Ruelle foundry. These 
 accidents, like the others, must be due either to faulty 
 construction, unsound metal, or to both. 
 
 The correspondent of France Tnilitaire appears to 
 lean to the latter alternative. 
 
 Now, the De Bange guns are made of the same metal 
 as the 42 cent, guns, the same as those of the French 
 Marine service, so that as far as the reliability of the 
 metal is concerned, the serious aspect of accidents to one 
 applies to the other. 
 
 We learn further that in consequence of improved 
 methods of determining interior pressures, it was shown 
 that the unhooped chase of the 15.5 cent. De Bange gun 
 was not quite strong enough to sustain the pressure of 
 the 9 kilogram maximum charge of slow burning pow- 
 der, which was therefore, as a measure of precaution, re- 
 duced to 8.75 kilograms. With all confidence in the 
 deductions of French Ordnance Officers, we yet cannot 
 persuade ourselves to believe that with a given system 
 of construction, the reduction of the maximum charge 
 
— Ill - 
 
 of a 16.5 cent, gun by :|- of a kilogram will assure the 
 security before wanting. Indeed, if the absence of 
 chase hoops were the cause of the casualties to the 42 
 cent, guns, their absence on the 15.5 cent. De Bange 
 gun, which now seems too weak, affords much food for 
 thought. 
 
 The only accident to De Bange guns which has come 
 to the knowledge of the Progres militaire we will 
 gladly pass by without remark. We are compelled, 
 however, to say that this paper deceives itself in assert- 
 ing that the Krupp Works alone draws from these 
 accidents mentioned, conclusions unfavorable to the De 
 Bange system ; all impartial experts must surely have 
 come to their own conclusions, and we doubt, if they be 
 favorable to the material lauded by Progres militaire. 
 
 When, at the beginning of 1885, Colonel De la 
 Rocque wrote, " — the French Marine Artillery has 
 achieved, even with steel guns, a positive progress, 
 which abroad is still a matter of theory or dependent 
 upon manufacturers' promises, conditions whose fulfill- 
 ment heretofore was not exempt from service failures or 
 from grave mistakes," this prominent officer little 
 thought, that a few months later, the bursting at the 
 Ruelle Foundry of two of the largest calibre guns of 
 the Marine Artillery would point so cruel a moral, while 
 Krupp' s still larger guns stood most successfully their 
 proof at the Meppen firing ground. 
 
 V. — The DEVELePMEBTT op the Krupp Gxjn. 
 
 A retrospective summary of the history of Krupp 
 guns, it seems to us, would add value to our discussion. 
 In his work, "The Development of the Prussian Sea- 
 coast and Naval Guns from 1860 to 1878" (Berlin, 1879) 
 Major H. Mueller thus expresses himseli : " Austria and 
 Prussia had, toward the close of 1867 adopted breech- 
 loading guns with lead- jacketed projectiles. The 
 
112 
 
 method of hooping proposed by Krupp, as well as the 
 interior construction of the bore, had not yet at this 
 time, been positively determined. Further great diffi- 
 culties were still to be overcome in securing a sufficiently 
 strong, thoroughly gas-proof breech mechanism ; the 
 problem of proper material and bearing for the pro- 
 jectile had not yet been solved, and the question of 
 powder was still under examination." 
 
 As correctly stated by the author, Austria and 
 Russia adopted in 1867 the Krupp gun, hooped, with 
 his cylindro-prismatic wedge. 
 
 The Prussian Ordnance Corps could not yet however, 
 decide to abandon the double wedge with copper gas- 
 check. It continued its investigations and later experi- 
 ments confirmed the value of the constructions proposed 
 by Krupp. 
 
 Lieutenant Colonel De la Rocque is unwilling to 
 yield the palm of seniority in merit to the Essen construc- 
 tor, for in connection with his account of the bursting in 
 May, 1867, of a Krupp 21 cent, naval gun, he draws this 
 conclusion : 
 
 " To sum up, at the close of 1868, the Krupp Works 
 had not produced a 21 cent, gun capable of firing with 
 safety a charge of from 9 to 12 kilograms, and a projec- 
 tile of 85 kilograms." 
 
 The author is plainly in error, let us repeat the facts. 
 In May, 1867, two solid 21 cent. Krupp guns were put 
 to proof, one with the Kreiner f ermature, the other with 
 the Krupp, and during the firing, the steel gas-plate 
 and the front wedge of the former broke. 
 
 Hence it required more than good wishes to father 
 this accident upon Krupp. 
 
 The breech mechanism was replaced, and the firing 
 continued without interruption. Colonel De la Rocque 
 indeed silently acknowledges the injustice of the charge 
 
— iia — 
 
 in writing, ' ' this accident led to the abandonment of 
 the dovMe loedge, and, in July, 1867, 20 guns with cylin- 
 dro-prismatic wedge were ordered of Krupp." 
 
 The French author farther writes : " On January 27, 
 1869, another 21 cent, gun burst, during experimental 
 firing, after having stood 500 rounds ; its chamber hav- 
 ing been gradually enlarged to receive charges from 9 
 kilograms upwards." 
 
 This records the bare fact ; it should be added that 
 this was the second of the two 21 cent, guns whose 
 proof was just concluded ; that 650 rounds had been 
 fired with charges varying from 8 to 12 kilograms, and 
 that the piece burst under the pressure due to 12 kilo- 
 grams of prismatic powder, after some experimental 
 rounds with a very quick baryta powder. We invite 
 Colonel De laRocque's attention to the fact that he has 
 not correctly comprehended the Grerman text of Major 
 Mueller, whom he cites as authority for his statements. 
 We oppose to the conclusions of the French author, 
 those of Captain C. von Doppelmair of the Russian Ar- 
 tillery, who does full justice to the merits of the Krupp 
 gun. His paper, published during 1869 in the Russian 
 Artillery Journal,is entitled : " The heavy steel breech- 
 loading Prussian and 9 inch Woolwich gun, ' ' and is based 
 on the results of the comparative trial carried on in 1868 
 at the Tegel Firing Ground near Berlin. 
 
 The article was translated into French by Lieutenant 
 Colonel Martin des Brettes (Paris, 1870), and into Eng- 
 lish by G. H. Penton (London, 1870). According to 
 this account, the Krupp guns triumphantly sustained the 
 endurance tests, and proved themselves fully able to 
 meet aU the demands of actual warfare. 
 
 The following table, which is also given by Major 
 Mueller, requires no comment in explanation. 
 
114 
 
 KRUPP STEEL GUNS, ABOUT THE CLOSE OP 1868. 
 
 
 Solid Guns. 
 
 Hooped Guns. 
 
 Calibre of gun . Millimetres. 
 
 303.3 
 
 209.2 
 
 228.6 
 
 335.4 
 
 279.4 
 
 Weight of gun . Kilograms. 
 
 7800 
 
 6750 
 
 14,800 
 
 14,650 
 
 26,000 
 
 Weight of charge . . " 
 
 10.25 
 i to 
 12.9 
 
 9 
 to 
 9.5 
 
 18.5 
 to 
 21 
 
 24 
 
 37.5 
 
 Weight of projectile . " 
 
 83 
 
 102.5 
 
 125 
 
 153 
 
 225 
 
 Number of rounds fired in en- 
 durance test 
 
 1205 
 
 638 
 
 825 
 
 676 
 
 400 
 
 All these guns, after the rounds given in the table, 
 were in excellent condition, with the exception of the 
 23.54 cent, gun, the bore of which was injured on the 
 662d round by the explosion of a chilled shell. 
 
 Notwithstanding the weakening effect of these in- 
 juries, the gun, according to Major Mueller, fired thirty- 
 six additional rounds without diminution of accuracy. 
 
 We cannot better show the superiority of the Grer- 
 man heavy guns of this model to their French bapded 
 cast-iron rivals, than to compare Captain Doppelmair's 
 figures with those in the subjoined table, given by Col- 
 onel De la Rocque. 
 
 CAST-IBON. BANDED FRENCH GUN OF LARGE CALIBRE, 
 ABOUT THE CLOSE OF 1868. 
 
 Calibre of gun 
 
 Millimetres 
 
 194 
 
 240 
 
 274 
 
 Weight of gun 
 
 Kilograms, 
 
 8,050 
 
 14,550 
 
 22,000 
 
 Weight of charge .... 
 
 (( 
 
 12.5 
 
 24 
 
 36 
 
 Weight of projectile . . . 
 
 . 
 
 75 
 
 144 
 
 317 
 
 Life of gun, fixed at rounds 
 
 
 600 
 
 500 
 
 300 
 
— 115 — 
 
 The French guns were breech-loaders, but did not 
 use lead-jacketed projectiles, a condition that gave rise, 
 according to Colonel De la Rocque, "to windage, a dan- 
 ger to the bore and a drawback to the smooth movement 
 of the projectile." 
 
 On the other hand the more efficient Krupp guns 
 were not only breech-loaders, but also used, thanks to 
 their lead jackets, slugged projectiles. 
 
 Since 1867, the reputation of Krupp heavy ordnance 
 was so firmly established that in 1868 and 1869, the 
 Essen Works supplied Russia with a considerable num- 
 ber of the 23 and 28 cent, guns included in the above 
 table. 
 
 " Deep disappointment," says the French author, 
 " very soon arose." 
 
 This is far from the truth, for it must not be for- 
 gotten that Russia, profiting by the experience gained 
 at the Krupp Works, established about 1869 a Gun 
 Foundry, planned directly upon the German establish- 
 ment. 
 
 Since that time Russia herself produces Crucible 
 steel upon the identical method followed at Essen, and 
 constructs guns of Krupp model, in whose designing 
 Russian officers had assisted. Notwithstanding these 
 favorable circumstances, Russia has continued to pur- 
 chase guns from Krupp ; indeed all foreign orders have 
 been given exclusively to the German constructor — new 
 and unimpeachable evidence of the excellence of 
 Krupp' s metal and construction. 
 
 Prussia, during the years 1867 to 1869 purchased a 
 number of these Krupp guns of large calibre. 
 
 The esteem thus shown Krupp by two great military 
 powers, explains how it came about that he exhibited at 
 the Paris Universal Exposition of 1867 a 35.5 cent. 
 hooped steel gun weighing 50,000 kilograms, which at- 
 tracted such general attention in France. 
 
— 116 — 
 
 This gun would doubtless have given as satisfactory 
 results as the 28 cent, guns furnished Russia, but as it 
 was known to be too short, and as it had akeadybeen 
 determined to replace it at once by a longer model, an 
 endurance test would have been not only costly, but 
 useless. We cannot attempt to correct all the errors 
 concerning Krupp guns with which Colonel De la 
 Eocque's book teems, we will, however, quote and 
 analyze two more passages, to show that the author has 
 either drawn from unreliable sources, or incorrectly 
 translated the German text. 
 
 " During the summer of 1876," he vsrrites, " experi- 
 mental firing with the second 26 cent, gun made by 
 Krupp was resumed, charges of 47-48 kilograms being 
 used. With a chilled cast-iron shell of 187 kilograms 
 and 48 kilograms of powder, a velocity of 490 metres was 
 obtained. The construction of these pieces began at the 
 close of 1876, and an endurance test was determined 
 upon. 
 
 The first firing took place in 1877 ; 423 rounds were 
 fired, 315 with charges of 47 to 48 kilograms. After 158 
 rounds, the enlargement, extensive for the whole length 
 of the chamber, had reached two millimetres. Deep 
 erosions were found at the beginning of the rifling. The 
 gun was pronounced unserviceable. In 1878 it was used 
 in experimental practice and fired altogether 709 rounds. ' ' 
 
 We make a simple, but rather important correction ; 
 it was not after 158 rounds that the havoc described by 
 the author was observed, but after 709 rounds, surely 
 a very different state of affairs. 
 
 If Lieutenant-Colonel De la Rocque will reperuse the 
 text of Major Mueller, he will find that the enlargement 
 of the chamber was due entirely (Report of the Prussian 
 Ordnance Board) to the imperfect slugging of the pro- 
 jectile. The substitution of copper bearing bands for 
 the lead jacket proved a cure. In the following extract 
 the author again misinterprets Major Mueller's idea. 
 
— 117 — 
 
 " In imitation {Rafter the manner,'' is the correct trans- 
 lation) of the French Marine Artillery, the Krupp Works 
 constructed in 1875 the first so-called Mantel-Ring- 
 Eoehre, jacketed and hooped guns, and — " 
 
 The body of the French guns is derived from the cast- 
 iron body of the obsolete constructions. 
 
 Its object, unlike the Krupp mantle, is not to relieve 
 the tube from longitudinal strain. 
 
 Even if the gun had at the same time, both body and 
 tube, the latter would still carry the closure ; and if a 
 special base-ring were interposed, as nut for the breech- 
 screw, it yet would have to be screwed both into the 
 body and on the tube. 
 
 On the other hand, the Krupp mantle was designed 
 from the very beginning to carry the breech mechanism, 
 that is to say, it alone was to take up the longitudinal 
 strain. Hence the French gun body and the Krupp 
 'mantle fulfill altogether different functions. 
 
 In concluding this question, we must protest against 
 the* method followed by Colonel De la Rocque in taking 
 as his standard for judgement the Krupp guns of large 
 calibre now used by Germany. Most of the heavy Ger- 
 man naval and Prussian sea-coast guns are conversions 
 of obsolete models, that is their ballistic power has been 
 increased by certain structural modifications. It is 
 readily understood that the efficiency of such ordnance 
 does not rank high, and that it is not always propor- 
 tionate to calibre. We repeat what we have already 
 said ; we must not lose sight of the fact, that, by this 
 means, Germany has kept, without great expense, 
 in the track of modern Ordnance progress. All 
 must acknowledge that this consideration has weight. 
 Colonel De la Rocque is not justified in im- 
 pugning the data published in the Krupp Firing 
 Ground reports, as exceptional, as dressed up 
 for a special purpose. Though the Krupp work- 
 
— 118 — 
 
 shops are barred against investigation for personal 
 benefit, the Essen proving grounds are open to the in- 
 spection of all Ordnance officers. All the trials are car- 
 ried out conscientiously, and the figures give, except in 
 cases of special tests, the normal performance of the 
 piece tried, according to the programme, which of 
 coarse, varies with the gun. 
 
 As regards exhaustive endurance tests, the Krupp 
 Works are very fortunately situated, as both the quality 
 of the metal and the system of construction have been 
 proved by long experience. 
 
 In order to draw entirely fair conclusions, Colonel 
 De la Rocque should compare the most recent type of 
 French guns, with the present Krupp siege and sea-coast 
 ordnance, a homogeneous and well defined system, the 
 details of which will be found in the table on page 91. 
 We cannot better close this review of Colonel De la 
 Rocque's work than by expressing the hope that some 
 day the author wUl undertake the task hinted at, which 
 is at once worthy of his technical knowledge andlitefary 
 ability. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 The Belgrade Competition. 
 
 All who oppose Krupp regard this " Servian matter" 
 with great satisfaction; Colonel DeBange's adherents 
 keep ringing the changes, and gleefully quote favorable 
 newspaper comments, especially those from the French 
 press, at the same time both judge and advocate. As the 
 question hinges on the fact whether the Belgrade trials 
 of 1884 were favorable to Krupp or De Bange, an accu- 
 i*ate summary would seem to be in place. 
 
 The comparative tests were made near Belgrade in 
 November and December 1884, a Krupp 8.4 cent, gun, 
 a De Bange 8 cent, and an Armstrong 7.5 cent, partici- 
 pating. The tests were of varous kinds. 
 
 I — Caekiage Tests. 
 
 On the 4th and 5th of N'ovember, the rival carriages 
 were submitted to march tests. In these trials, the 
 Krupp gun answered all the demands of the programme. 
 " Action front " was executed more easily and more 
 quickly with the Krupp, than with the French gun. 
 The French and English ammunition chests were of old 
 model ; as a result, the insecurely packed cartridges, at 
 the conclusion of the test, were found scattered about, 
 a result of the concussions of the march. 
 
 During the march, the French gun jumped in an 
 alarming manner ; one of the staples of the front car- 
 riage transom was brokeu off, the hub of the right wheel 
 and some of its spokes were loosened, similar evidences 
 of weakness were noticed in the English carriage. The 
 Krupp carriage and gun stood this test without the 
 slightest harm. 
 
— 120 — 
 
 II. — ACCUKACT AND EFFECT OF FlEING. 
 
 The Krupp gun fired in all one hundred and thirty- 
 two rounds, divided as follows : 
 
 
 
 Range 
 
 Number 
 
 
 Series. 
 
 Kind of Projectile. 
 
 in 
 Metres. 
 
 of 
 Rounds. 
 
 Remarks. 
 
 H 
 
 Blank shell . . . . ) 
 Loaded shrapnel . . ) 
 
 1,000 ] 
 
 10 
 9 
 
 
 II. 
 
 Loaded shell .... 
 
 1,500 
 
 12 
 
 
 Ill] 
 
 Blank shell .... 1 
 Loaded shrapnel . . ) 
 
 3,000 ] 
 
 24 
 9 
 
 
 IV. 
 
 Loaded shell .... 
 
 2,900 
 
 12 
 
 
 V. ■ 
 
 Loaded shell . • • ) 
 Blank shell . . . . j 
 
 3,500 ■ 
 
 3 
 
 10 
 
 
 VI. 
 
 Loaded shell .... 
 
 4,100 
 
 13 
 
 
 VII. 
 
 Blank shell 
 
 4,100 
 
 30 
 
 Rapid firing. 
 
 The French gun went through the same programme. 
 The Armstrong had to stop after the sixty-fourth round, 
 the fermature housing to which the elevating screw is 
 attached having given way. We now give the details 
 of the practice : 
 
— 121 — 
 
 A. — Practice with Blank Shell. 
 
 Otgect aimed at : a vertical target 6 metres square. 
 
 First Range, 1,000 metres, November 12th, 188 Jf. 
 
 
 Krupp. 
 
 De Bange. 
 
 Armstrong. 
 
 
 centimetres. 
 
 centimetres. 
 
 centimetres. 
 
 1 Vertical . . . . 
 Dispersion, v 
 
 Horizontal . . 
 
 115 
 175 
 
 200 
 100 
 
 180 
 135 
 
 Mean ) Vertical . . . 
 
 23.0 
 
 57.0 
 
 32.4 
 
 Deviation. [ Horizontal . . . 
 
 48.3 
 
 25.6 
 
 28.0 
 
 One-half the hits were | High . . 
 grouped in a space >• 
 on the target. Wide . . 
 
 38.9 
 81.6 
 
 96.1 
 43.3 
 
 54.8 
 47.8 
 
 Second Range, ^,000 metres, November 13th, 1884- 
 
 On the 12tli, the weather was so unfavorable that it 
 interfered seriously with the accuracy of the practice, 
 which was accordingly postponed until the 17th. 
 
 Third Rarvge, 2,000 metres, November 17th, 188^. 
 
 Olo'ect aimed at: as before. 
 
 Ten rounds resulted as follows : 
 
 
 Krupp. 
 
 Remarks. 
 
 
 centimetres. 
 
 
 Vertical . . . . 
 
 470 
 
 During this days' prac- 
 
 Dispersion. >• 
 
 
 tice a mistake occurred. 
 
 Horizontal . . . 
 
 350 
 
 which had its effect upon 
 the firing. The cannon- 
 
 ,, Vertical . . . . 
 
 47.6 
 
 eer used a coarse sight; 
 
 Mean ( 
 
 
 Krupp's representative 
 
 Deviation. [Horizontal . . . 
 
 83.8 
 
 gave a fine sight correc- 
 tion. 
 
 One-half the hits were High . . 
 
 198.7 
 
 The results were not so 
 
 grouped in a space \ 
 
 
 good as were with justice 
 
 on the target. Wide . . 
 
 140.8 
 
 expected of the gun. 
 
122 
 
 We have not at hand the corresponding data for the 
 other guns, but we can state that the results were not at 
 all more favorable. 
 
 Fourtli RangeS,500 metres. Becemher M, 188J^. 
 
 Object aimed at : as before. 
 
 Three loaded shells were used to determine the dis- 
 tance, given as 3,000 metres, but which was actually 
 3,500 metres. 
 
 a. KeTIPP GrlJN. 
 
 Ten shots were grouped between 10 metres in front 
 and 50 metres (average 13 metres) behind, the target ; 
 there were six direct hits. 
 
 b. De Bange Gitn. 
 
 Ten shots were grouped between 40 metres in front 
 and 100 metres (average 22.5 metres) behind, the target ; 
 there was one direct hit. 
 
 B. — Practice with loaded shell. 
 
 Object aimed at : txiro targets 20 metres wide by 1.8 metres high, 
 with an interval of 20 metres. 
 
 First range — 1,600 metres. 
 
 NoToernber 18th, I884.. 
 
 Number of rounds: 10. 
 
 Krupp. 
 
 De Bange. 
 
 Armstrong. 
 
 Total number of bits . . . . 
 Number of hits per round . . . 
 
 400 
 40 
 
 105 
 10.5 
 
 250 
 25 
 
— 123 — 
 Second Range — 2,900 metres. 
 
 December 1st, 1884.. 
 
 The range was given as 2,500 metres ; it was really 
 
 2,900 metres. 
 
 Number of rounds: 12. 
 
 Krupp. 
 
 De Bange. 
 
 Armstrong. 
 
 Total number of hits .... 
 Number of hits per round . . . 
 
 49 
 
 4.1 
 
 3 
 0.25 
 
 29 
 2.4 
 
 T/iird Range — Ii.,100 metres. 
 
 December 3d, 1881(.. 
 
 The range was given as 3,500 metres ; it was really 
 4,100 metres. 
 
 Number of rounds : 10. 
 
 Krupp. 
 
 De Bange. 
 
 Total number of hits 
 
 17 
 1.7 
 
 1 
 0.1 
 
 Number of hits per round 
 
 C. — Practice with loaded shrapnel. 
 
 Olgect aimed at: as before. 
 
 First Range— 1,000 metres. Nommher 26th, 188^.. 
 
 Number of rounds: 9. 
 
 Krupp. 
 
 De Bange. 
 
 Armstrong. 
 
 Total number of hits .... 
 Number of hits per round . . . 
 
 281 
 31 
 
 141 
 16 
 
 342 
 
 38 
 
— 124 — 
 Second Range of 2,000 metres. Wovember 27th, 1884.. 
 
 Number of rounds: 9. 
 
 Krupp. 
 
 De Bange. 
 
 Armstrong. 
 
 Total number of hits .... 
 Number of hits per round . 
 
 295 
 33 
 
 129 
 
 14 
 
 144 
 16 
 
 III. — Rapid Piring. 
 
 The programme required the delivery of thirty rounds 
 at close range, without accurate aim, in the shortest 
 possible time. The further condition was imposed that 
 the fermature should not be lubricated or cleaned dur- 
 ing the trial. 
 
 From the beginning of the test, the Krupp ferma- 
 ture was not carefully closed. At the tenth or eleventh, 
 round, Krupp' s representative, fearing that this persist- 
 ent carelessness would have an injurious effect upon the 
 service of the piece, wanted to stop the firing in order to 
 close the wedge securely, but the cannoneer, who did 
 not understand what was wanted, nevertheless pulled 
 the lanyard. During the subsequent rounds, the breech 
 mechanism was properly closed, but the previous neg- 
 lect had already caused erosions on the gas-check ring, 
 and, in consequence, the fermature became more and 
 more fouled. After the sixteenth round, the wedge 
 stuck ; it was loosened from the right and doused with 
 glycerine ; thanks to which, it worked well to the end. 
 Another cause of delay was added to this ; the can- 
 noneer who fired the piece did not fully enter the 
 primer in the vent, so that in pulling the lanyard, he 
 tore off the branch. It should be stated that this was 
 a new man, who replaced another taken sick, and that 
 this trial was his first service with the piece. All the 
 
— 125 — 
 
 primers, including, of course, the one in question, were 
 supplied by the Servian officials and were a part of 
 the old Turkish equipment. The extraction of the. 
 broken primer and the clearing of the vent consumed 
 several minutes. Notwithstanding these drawbacks^ 
 the gun fired its 30 rounds in 33 minutes. As the failure 
 of the primer could not be attributed to the piece, the 
 Board fixed the official time at 30 minutes. The French 
 gun fired the 30 rounds without interruption in 23 min- 
 utes. The erosions already existing at the front end of 
 the vent were considerably extended. "We have then 
 in few words the results of these trials. 
 
 IV. — Analysis of the Results. 
 
 Soon after the test, the gun was examined by an in- 
 spector from Essen and it was found that the locking 
 screw was upset, at the end of the threaded part, as well 
 as the breech slot threads. 
 
 These injuries could be produced by the cannoneer' s 
 not keeping the screw handle horizontal while moving 
 the wedge. The proper position of the handle is very 
 readily fixed by keeping it against the stop on the left. 
 Krupp's opponents declare " that the injuries to the 
 locking screw manifested in the gun were due to the 
 handle's not being kept horizontal, and yet this hori- 
 zontal position is assured by a spring catch. It is prob- 
 able that the cannoneer serving the breech, after having 
 pushed the wedge home, forgot, in the excitement of 
 rapid firing, to depress the spring catch, which, when 
 down, prevents the handle from turning, and of course, 
 the breech from opening." 
 
 This ingenious hypothesis is open to but one objec- 
 tion, it is altt)gether wrong, for the horizontal position 
 of the handle here referred to characterizes an open, and 
 not a closed breech. Upon this point Krupp's explana- 
 
— 126 — 
 
 tions are surprisingly clear, misapprehension is impos- 
 sible. 
 
 Further, the object of the catch is not, as assumed 
 by our adversaries, to prevent the turning of the handle, 
 or, in other words, to lock the breech in firing ; it is 
 merely designed to prevent the wedge' s opening on the 
 march. Those who doubt this had better consult the 
 Prussian Field Artillery Instructions of August 23, 1877, 
 page 44, where it is enjoined not to depress the catch in 
 firing^ an injunction already referred to in the descrip- 
 tion of the Krupp gun. Hence the explanations offered 
 by the adherents of the De Bange gun to account for 
 the injuries to the Krupp fermature, as well as their 
 commentaries thereon, are entirely without foundation. 
 
 It is further worth while to quote the Prussian In- 
 structions upon another point ; in them we find the fol- 
 lowing : 
 
 ' ' The gas-plate and rear surface of the gas-check 
 ring should be sponged during the pauses in firing, but 
 this may be done earlier if necessary ; but, in all cases, 
 under the special direction of the Chief of piece." Here 
 we have official confirmation of the fact that frequent 
 cleaning of the gas-plate and ring of the Krupp fer- 
 mature is not essential. Before Russia adopted the 
 Krupp field-gun with cylindro-prismatic wedge and 
 steel gas-check, of the model still in service, there were 
 fired at Essen 500 and 250 rounds respectively from 
 a four and a nine pounder, for the very purpose of testing 
 the gas checking device. During the trial, cleaning was 
 permitted only after every hundred rounds ; thus the 
 proof was exhaustive. 
 
 At the inspection of the gun used at Belgrade, made 
 by Krupp experts, the injuries to the vent-plug did not 
 appear to have been produced by the rude handling of 
 the wedge, they had more the appearance of hammer 
 marks ; the metal was upset on one side as though it 
 
— 127 — 
 
 had been driven in by a punch. Indeed, the end of 
 the guiding groove cannot strike the vent-plug unless 
 the wedge be open; closed, it is impossible that it should 
 ever come in contact with it. The compression of the 
 metal may in a measure be explained by assuming that 
 the wedge had been pulled out at the moment when the 
 gunner' s gimlet was used to clear the vent of the broken 
 primer. Aside from the damage, it is certain that the 
 other three injuries must have existed before the begin- 
 ning of the rapid firing. 
 
 Krupp' s opponents allege that it is indeed somewhat 
 astonishing that the Essen representative, Mr. Prehn, 
 the experienced director of the Meppen Firing Ground, 
 had not perceived this abnormal state of affairs before 
 the trial. On the contrary, it seems quite natural to us 
 that these defects should have escaped Mr. Prehn' s 
 observation, more easily perhaps, because never during 
 regular tests at Meppen, or elsewhere, has the Krupp 
 fermature been thus injured. The only precaution taken 
 before commencing to fire was to ascertain that the gas- 
 check was in good order. 
 
 That these injuries existed before the firing seems to 
 be fully established by the fact that already during the 
 first few rounds, the wedge worked stifily and could not 
 be perfectly locked, and that at about the tenth round 
 the locking screw was engaged very incompletely in its 
 nut. 
 
 To recapitulate, the detriment to service which re- 
 sulted from the imperfect working of the fermature was 
 limited to the fouling and stiff movement of the wedge, 
 to some scoring upon the rear face of the gas-check ring 
 and to a delay of seven minutes, compared with the rival 
 gun, in the rapid firing trial. It is evident that the very 
 same accidents might have happened to the De Bange 
 gun. The safeguards to be observed, according to the 
 French Instructions, in the working of the De Bange 
 
— 128 — 
 
 fermature, and the mishaps that occurred with this gun 
 in last year's field manoeuvres, are tangible proofs. It is 
 a fact, announced by French journals that on several oc- 
 casions, imperfectly closed pieces were fired, and that — a 
 . graver matter than the fouling and stiff working of the 
 Krupp fermature — cannoneers fell victims to this negli- 
 gence. These accidents occurred, as we have a right to 
 infer, with well-trained detachments. That it came 
 about that in the Belgrade tests negligence in serving 
 occurred with the Krupp, and not a suspicion of it with 
 the De Bange gun, must probably be ascribed to pure 
 luck. Still this question is not now an important one, 
 for it must be clear to all that if the De Bange gun had 
 been fired at Belgrade with an incompletely closed 
 breech, it would not have completed the test with the 
 comparatively slight delay of the Krupp; indeed, it would 
 not have fired another shot during the trial. We have 
 geen that tho French gun succeeded in delivering 30 
 rounds in 23 minutes, while the German required, on 
 account of the unusual conditions described, 80 minutes. 
 The triumph of Colonel De Bange was short-lived ; upon 
 the request of Krupp, the test was repeated under pre- 
 cisely the same conditions. May 6, 1885, and the 30 
 rounds were easily fired, as stated in the official report, 
 in 16 minutes. 
 
 The results at Belgrade showed that, as regards accu- 
 racy, both the Krupp and the De Bange gun did not 
 come up to expectation ; but the exceedingly unfavorable 
 weather, and the generally trying conditions under 
 which these trials were carried out, may be offered in 
 explanation of their impaired performance. * Yet still, 
 the Krupp gun did better, as might have been foreseen, 
 for the range tables of the two guns would prove to any- 
 one caring to examine them that, under normal condi 
 tions, the German gun is superior to the French. 
 
 Krupp used with his gun at Belgrade cast-iron ring 
 
— 129 — 
 
 shell with, percussion fuze, and steel shrapnel with base 
 vent and time fuze. Detailed drawings were furnished 
 the Servian War Department. 
 
 The De Bange gun fired during the trial cannister 
 shell, model 1880 {Cours special, § 22), containing 93 
 cast-iron bullets in 12 layers, and a shrapnel, the same 
 as used for the 12 and 15.5 cent. guns. (See Cours 
 special, § 151.) The latter are nothing less than an 
 elongated form of the old spherical case. Both projec- 
 tiles used the field percussion fuze, {Cours special, 
 § 28), Colonel De Bange not having at this date a time 
 fuze in his equipment. 
 
 In view of the disparity in the technical value of the 
 projectiles used with the guns, the superior effect of the 
 Krupp shrapnel is not surprising. We must admit that 
 lately the French journals have cited instances of 
 extraordinary results obtained with the De Bange pro- 
 jectiles ; they may be founded on fact, for progress is 
 not confined to any one country, but before accepting 
 them we must await the details of the trials, the size 
 and number of the targets, the weather and so on, all 
 necessary factors in the formation of a correct and logi- 
 cal conclusion. Keeping in mind these explanations, 
 are we not justified in asking every unprejudiced Ord- 
 nance ofiicer whether or no Krupp came out of this sin- 
 gular tournament ahead of his rival De Bange ? (i) 
 
 y. — The True Inwardness of the Belgrade 
 
 COMPETITION. 
 
 It was a foregone conclusion that, notwithstanding 
 Krupp' s success, the Call Company should receive the 
 contract. The Belgrade experiments had but a single 
 object ; they were a species of sop to Cerberus, under- 
 taken to satisfy in a way those Servian officers who 
 wanted Krupp guns for the national armament. 
 
 To-day, when the Servian loan negotiated by the 
 
 (1) For further particulars regarding the De Bange material in the 
 SerTian Service, see Appendix. 
 
— 130 — 
 
 Comptoir d? Escompte of Paris, a concern, as is well 
 known, deeply interested in the Call Works, is an 
 accomplished fact, all doubts are dissipated, and we may 
 well say, it could not have been otherwise. The gist of 
 the matter is this : the forty million franc Servian loan 
 was put on the market at 77, bearing 5 per cent, interest, 
 redeemable at par in 49 years, and guaranteed by the 
 Government Tobacco Monopoly. Among the offsets for 
 its signature, received by Servia, appears at the very 
 head, the De Bange Artillery material. Assuredly 
 the shareholders of the Comptoir d" Escotripte could not 
 blame their directors for concluding a profitable negotia- 
 tion, and also endeavoring to share their good fortune 
 with French manufacturing interests ; but surely a little 
 more frankness would have been in place, especially now 
 that by degrees the veil is lifted, and the Belgrade tests 
 appear to even the most distant observer in their true 
 light. Surprise is expressed in the De Bange camp 
 that Krupp did not know what the Servian Government 
 was after, when he entered the lists. 
 
 It is, however, probable, if not certain, that, at the 
 time, the Servian authorities themselves had not yet 
 taken into account the extent of their future orders-; we 
 may positively state, though, that had Krupp known 
 that the Comptoir d' Escompte would be the promoter 
 of this loan, and had determined to place the supply of 
 guns with the Gail Works, he would have refused to 
 take part in the comj)etition proposed to him. We 
 would not indulge in such plain statements had we not 
 backing in the opinion of Emile de Laveleye regarding 
 this kind of financial bondage imposed upon Servia. 
 This author, in his striking work, ' ' The Balkan Pen- 
 insula" (Muquardt, 1886),' writes in these prophetic 
 words : "I read in a financial paper, ' The Berlin press 
 is occupied with the Servian Tobacco Control question. 
 The establishment of this government monopoly is con- 
 
— 131 — 
 
 ceded in the preliminary loan negotiations with, the 
 OesterreicMscTie Laender Bank and the Comptoir 
 d ' Bscompte. The revenue is fixed for the first five years at 
 3,250,000 francs, increasing in quinquennial periods, and 
 is pledged in guarantee of a forty million loan. The 
 interest will be paid directly by the holders of the Gov- 
 ernment Tobacco Monopoly from their receipts." The 
 distinguished political economist adds: "How sad! 
 Here is Servia, just emancipated and numbered among 
 independent States, following the example of Turkey 
 and Egypt. She hypothecates and pledges, by degrees, 
 all her resources, and gives European money-lenders — a 
 far more serious matter — the right of interference in her 
 internal affairs. This ends her independence ; she no 
 longer pays tribute at Constantinople, but at Vienna 
 and at Paris, and upon much more onerous conditions. 
 She is striding towards bankruptcy or the financial en- 
 slavement of her people." 
 
 The vain efforts now making by the Servian Chamber 
 to free the country from the galling yoke of this con- 
 tract are an exceedingly sad verification of Laveleye' s 
 prophecy. 
 
 And we are calmly told that under these conditions, 
 indissolubly bound as she is to the Comptoir 
 d'Escompte, Servia, in view of Krupp's success at Bel- 
 grade, might have repudiated the obligation to purchase 
 De Bange guns ! Nonsense ! 
 
 A personal explanation to conclude this train of 
 thought : Captain A. Mariotti, author of ' ' French and 
 German guns," finds fault with us because, in an 
 anonymously published report of the Belgrade tests, we 
 quoted Lieutenant-Colonel Muellertz, a retired Danish 
 Artillery ofiicer, in favor of the Krupp system. 
 
 "This," says our critic, "is open to suspicion, for 
 Colonel Muellertz is at present Krupp's agent for Nor- 
 
— 132 — 
 
 Tvay, Sweden and Denmark." We candidly confess 
 that, while we were not aware of this fact, had we 
 known it, we would stUl have attached as much weight to 
 the opinion of this " honorable ofBcer of rank," as Cap- 
 tain Mariotti calls him, as to that of Colonel Gjertsen, 
 Captain Mariotti' s father-in-law and the Norway agent 
 of the Societe anonyme des aneiens etahlissements Cail 
 (General Manager — De Bange). Both wore the uniform, 
 and that satisfies us. But let us once for all abandon 
 this method of discussion, unworthy of the pen of Cap- 
 tain Mariotti or any other officer. 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Last Words. 
 
 We cannot close this discussion without pointing out 
 to our readers the weakness of the arguments advanced 
 by the author of '■^ Canons frangias et allemands,'''' or 
 without adding a word concerning Lieutenant Colo- 
 nel Hennebert's exceedingly bitter pamphlet, '■^ L''ar- 
 tillerie Krupp et V artillerie Be Bange. 
 
 Captain Mariotti, like most others who write in Colo- 
 nel De Bange' s interest, denies that there is a "Krupp 
 metal," though he enumerates, among the various pro- 
 cesses of making steel, the crucible method. But every 
 one knows that "Krupp metal" is simply a special 
 variety of crucible steel made at Essen, and it is gener- 
 ally acknowledged that Krupp, who began making 
 steel guns when the rest of the world confined itself to 
 bronze and cast-iron, deserves the credit of inaugurat- 
 ing this radical change in gun- construction. It is an 
 open fact that all Ordnance authorities, including the 
 French, in taking action upon this new departure, 
 largely availed themselves of Krupp' s experience. This 
 is in brief the history of the development of steel gun 
 fabrication. 
 
 Captain Mariotti has then undertaken an unwelcome 
 task in trying to deprive Krupp of this proper pri- 
 ority, and is unfortunate in basing his proof upon 
 inexact quotations from a German authoritative work. 
 Major Mueller' s ' ' Entwickelung der FeM- Artillerie. ' ' 
 The reader can attach his own value to Captain Mari- 
 otti' s assertions, after comparing the following passages: 
 one, the French author' s ; the other, a literal translation 
 of the same Grerman text. 
 
 In " Canons franga is et allemands,'''' we read: "Un- 
 
— 134 — 
 
 fortunately, in 1865, some 8 cent, guns (Model 1864) 
 burst without discoverable cause ; similar and more nu- 
 merous casualties occurred during tlie campaign of 
 
 1866, and these accidents had a most unhappy effect 
 upon the morale of the troops, as they lost confidence in 
 their material. It was at first thought that these mis- 
 haps, in part at least, were due to the method of closure, 
 and modifications were made which led to the model of 
 
 1867. "However,' says Major Mueller, 'it was not an 
 easy task to do away, by means of purely theoretical 
 arguments, with the mistrust that had arisen against the 
 use of steel. This feeling was intensified by reports 
 received from the officers in charge of construc- 
 tion. Having had an extended tour of duty at the 
 Krupp Works, they were thoroughly familiar with the 
 Essen methods, and yet they doubted the uniformity of 
 the output.' 
 
 ' ' According to these officers, each steel gun had its 
 individual qualities, and results obtained with one were 
 not necessarily applicable to other guns. The Ordnance 
 Corps, in deference to this unanimous expression of 
 opinion, was compelled to fall back upon bronze con- 
 structions, and, towards the end of 1869, the Prussian 
 Government placed a large order for 8 cent, bronze guns, 
 intended for the reserve batteries. Th ese pieces appeared 
 but in small numbers upon the battle-fields of 1870-71. 
 They did well ; yet it was observed that under fire they 
 deteriorated more rapidly than the steel guns. The 
 steel guns of the divisional batteries, which it was im- 
 practicable to replace, gave proof of excellent qualities 
 (except as to the mishaps, to be discussed in the next 
 chapter), and restored confidence in the use of this 
 metal." 
 
 The accidents to Krupp guns, of which Captain 
 Mariotti speaks, are thus described by him: " Surely 
 the same thing could not be said of the Krupp guns, 
 
— 135 — 
 
 which, according to the papers, have burst, not during 
 experimental firing or with increased charges. Even 
 admitting that these press reports are incomplete or in- 
 accurate, and that the writers, unfamiliar with technical 
 terms, call accidents resulting from the awkwardness or 
 negligence of gunners, 'bursts,' yet many of these guns 
 must have actually burst during field-firing, for the 
 German accounts of the war of 1870-1871 make men- 
 tion of a large number of pieces rendered unserviceable 
 by their own fire. At Eezonville and Saint-Privat 
 especially, a number of Prussian guns were compelled 
 after some rounds to cease firing. * * * 
 
 On May 15th, 1875, Major Haig stated before the 
 Royal Artillery Institution that two hundred guns had 
 been rendered unserviceable during the Franco- German 
 war ; a statement confirmed by Krupp in a letter sent 
 to Engineering.^' * 
 
 It appears then from this summary of facts which 
 the author of '■''Canons frangais et allemands'" declares 
 to have drawn from Major Mueller's work, that this 
 field officer of the German Ordnance, announced himself 
 in 1873 as opposed to the use of Krupp cast-steel. 
 
 Here is, word for word, what Major Mueller does 
 write : 
 
 " In 1865, and during the war of 1866, some of the 8 
 cent, guns with the wedge fermature adopted in 1864, 
 burst without previous warning, and without a visible 
 defect in the metal. There did not seem to exist a pos- 
 itive guarantee of the strength of the steel ; at any 
 moment, similar accidents might happen. This possi- 
 bility exerted an unhappy influence upon the battery, 
 which lost confidence in its weapon. An exhaustive ex- 
 amination of the subject led to the conclusion, especially 
 in view of the fact that not a single 9 cent, gun wdth 
 bolt fermature had burst ; that the accidents were due 
 
 * See Appendix. 
 
— 136 — 
 
 not to the quality of the metal, hut to the defective con- 
 struction of the 'breech slot. 
 
 As a result, this was modified about 1867, and no 
 further mishaps, not even during the war of 1870-71, 
 occurred. Still, this theoretical explanation could not 
 at once overcome the distrust felt against steel. In fact, 
 it increased, when the reports of officers stationed at 
 Essen, upon the fabrication of cast-steel, were received. 
 These officers had had opportunities of observing the 
 details of the process, and doubted the uniformity of 
 method, so that each gun had to be considered as a 
 unit, whose behavior did not necessarily indicate what 
 that of others would be. 
 
 The Ordnance Corps, which was in duty bound not to 
 incur the slightest risk, deemed it expedient to design 
 and to order bronze guns. 
 
 The Ordnance Board was directed at the beginning 
 of October, 1866, to consider the construction of a 9 cent, 
 bronze rifle, to weigh not more than the steel gun, and 
 to fit the model 1864 carriage. * * * After these results, 
 some few further details of construction were deter- 
 mined upon, and thereupon, at the end of 1869, with the 
 Royal sanction, a larger number of 8 cent, bronze guns 
 were ordered. For the present, these guns were not to 
 be assigned to field batteries, but only to the foot bat- 
 teries of the reserve. 
 
 A number of the Prussian 8 cent, bronze guns were 
 used, though upon a restricted scale, during the war of 
 1870-71, and no special shortcomings were observed. 
 But further trials have shown that the bronze pieces en- 
 large very rapidly in firing, and therefore lose their ac- 
 curacy much sooner than steel guns. This, in con- 
 junction with the fact that the steel guns brought about 
 the great success of the war, that they on occasions fired 
 very many rounds without decrease of accuracy, and that 
 not a single one burst, completely restored confidence 
 
— 137 — 
 
 in cast-steel, and led to a just appreciation of its merits. 
 It cannot be denied that bronze guns subjected to the 
 same hardships would not have endured as well, would 
 have deteriorated in accuracy, and would have had 
 much less. effect. Cast-steel has on this account won 
 the victory, not only in Prussia, hut in most States 
 where ir'onze was still used." Captain Mariotti has 
 either not comprehended Major Mueller's thought or he 
 has used — of course without knowing it — a translation 
 colored to suit the interest he defends ; for it is now 
 clear to every reader that the opinions ascribed to Major 
 Mueller are in direct opposition to those advanced in 
 his work. There is no justification for that species of 
 argument which consists in taking a phrase here and 
 there from the author' s work at the risk of giving a false 
 impression as to his opinions, and every impartial ob- 
 server must share our view, that a theme which requires 
 such means of defense must indeed be in desperate 
 straits. We accordingly believe that the comparison of 
 the French author's text with the real text of Major 
 Mueller is sufficient rebuke to Captain Mariotti, Avith- 
 out further comment on our part. 
 
 We shall not here revert to the mishaps charged to 
 Krupp guns, and catalogued with relish by Captain 
 Mariotti ; we have already met these imputations, which, 
 though the author may change, always remain the same. 
 Besides, the major part of the allegations are drawn 
 from Lieutenant Colonel De la Rocque' s book, and 
 have already been answered. Our adversary, however, 
 following the lead of most of the De Bange adherents, 
 is careful not to cite the authority from which he 
 draws so copiously. This timidity is rather easily 
 understood, when we recall that Lieutenant-Colonel De 
 la Rocque is not an enthusiastic advocate of the use of 
 Martin-Siemens steel. Indeed this outspoken, well- 
 posted officer is too doubtful an ally to bring his in- 
 
— 138 — 
 
 vestigations to the notice of believers in crucible steel. 
 Captain Mariotti seems, however, to have had qualms of 
 conscience, a^ he cites Colonel De la Kocque to shovr the 
 rigorous restrictions governing entrance to the Essen 
 Works. Availing himself of this oflScer's pamphlet, 
 '■'■ Les principales artilleries de V Europe, d'apres la 
 commission speciale desEtats- Unis,'''' he gives an extract 
 from a communication addressed by Krupp to the Presi- 
 dent of the Gun Foundry Board, which is thus translated 
 by Colonel De la Rocque : " The "Works at Essen cannot 
 be seen, as these are closed even to those who have 
 special business of inspection of war material on order." 
 We deemed it worth while to look up the original letter 
 (Appendix Q, Report of Gun Foundry Board), and here 
 reproduce the passage : 
 
 " The Works at Essen cannot be seen, as these are 
 closed to aE but those who have special business of in- 
 spection of war material on order." It does not require 
 a very profound knowledge of the language of Shakes- 
 peare and Milton to convince one' s self that this means ; 
 " The Works at Essen cannot be seen, as they are closed 
 to all excepting those etc." 
 
 As is seen. Colonel De la Rocque makes the Essen 
 constructor say just t7ie opposite of what he wrote to the 
 Board. It is not a matter of wonder, then, to find, in 
 French writings, extracts from English and also German 
 authors condemning the Krupp system, or the Essen 
 methods ; to reach this result, it is only necessary to 
 misinterpret or to mistranslate. Before finishing with 
 Captain Mariotti' s work, we feel it necessary to express 
 an opinion u^Don a matter made very prominent in his 
 argument. We refer to the fact, that recently Krupp 
 furnished Norway, for experimental trials about to take 
 place, two field-pieces with De Bange fermature. 
 
 Captain Mariotti denies that there is the slightest 
 commercial justification for such action, and asserts that 
 
— 139 — 
 
 French makers would never attempt to imitate Krupp's 
 designs, though, they could do so with the greatest ease. 
 Krupp's adherents are taunted by the author with being 
 compelled, after their enforced acknowledgement of the 
 superiority of the De Bange constructions, to have re- 
 course to the fiction of a " Krupp metal " to save the 
 reputation of the German guns. 
 
 We have already shown what there is in " Krupp 
 mietal " ; our position in this respect is not a new one, 
 it goes back to the first steel gun ever made. As to 
 breech mechanism, we are convinced, as are the vast 
 majority of artillerists, that the Krupp fermature, even 
 for field guns, is superior to the De Bange, and we have 
 already given the reasons. Still it must be kept in mind 
 that the De Bange fermature is something new, and 
 possesses qualities well adapted at first sight to 
 engage the attention of Ordnance Officers, so 
 that prejudice in its favor, though it be but 
 fleeting, is not hard to explain. We think there is no 
 reason why the Krupp Works should be blind to this, 
 or why they should decline to furnish the De Bange f er- 
 m.ature upon a Oovernmeni order. No patent rights are 
 infringed, and as to consideration for the brain-work of 
 the inventor, it is undeniable that the De Bange ferma- 
 ture is the direct offspring of the designs and investiga- 
 tions of Treville de Beaulieu, Reffye, and Montluisant. (i) 
 Besides, Colonel De Bange has no scruples in following 
 Krupp models when the occasion arises. It is estab- 
 lished that the gun-carriages, limbers, etc., furnished 
 Servia by the Call Works, are exact copies, except as to 
 some details, of the Krupp constructions, which the 
 French experts had abundant opportunity of examining 
 at Belgrade. Captain Mariotti, it appears to us, has 
 hardly acted wisely in reproaching Krupp for doing 
 what his French competitor practises on an extended 
 scale and without the least compunction. 
 
 (1) See in this connection Benjamen Chambers' (of Washington D. C.) 
 patent of July 31st, 1849. (O. E. M.) 
 
140 
 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Hennebert's pamphlet contains no 
 important fact which we have not already discussed, 
 only the mode of presentation varies. More than all its 
 predecessors, it is characterized by an indisputable spirit 
 of dislike and unfairness to the Krupp Works. Of 
 course, up to ' a certain point, we can understand that 
 France feels humiliated in not being able to overcome 
 Krupp' s acknowledged superiority in gun fabrication, 
 but we candidly ask the author, ' ' Can you gain well- 
 wishers for French manufacturing interests by present- 
 ing the actual state of affairs in a light entirely differ- 
 ent from that accepted as true by everybody else ?" 
 
 Thus, Col. Hennebert asserts that the Krupp estab- 
 lishment is subsidized by the German Grovernment ; of 
 course, the object of this is plain : it is intended to show 
 that French industry copes on altogether unequal con- 
 ditions with Krupp. 
 
 Any one at all acquainted with financial or commer- 
 cial matters, leaving officers out of account, knows that 
 the Essen Works are the exclusive property of Mr. 
 Alfred Krupp, and that, since the repayment of the loan 
 openly negotiated about ten years ago, the owner oper- 
 ates entirely with his own capital. It is, therefore, 
 somewhat surprising to find in serious writing such 
 comicalities as the following: "Everybody knows 
 that the German Emperor, the Imperial family, all the 
 important Court functionaries and Prince Bismarck, are 
 (without exception) stockholders in the celebrated plant 
 on the banks of the Euhr." 
 
 " The German Government has granted Krupp a sub- 
 sidy of 1,500,000 francs to enable him to submit bids 
 ewn at a loss, and thus to maintain his supremacy in 
 the fabrication of ordnance material. " * * " Krupp has 
 opened a credit of 100 millions in favor of the smaller 
 Eastern Powers, who are at present in financial 
 straits." 
 
141 
 
 It is possible such flights of imagination may be 
 acceptable to French readers ; but, of course, no unpre- 
 judiced person would regard them as possessing any 
 weight whatever. Lieutenant-Colonel Hennebert also 
 harps upon the Belgrade competitive trial, and treats 
 the matter from a stand-point that compels us to refuse 
 to follow his lead. 
 
 Under this heading there are rumors of ' ' insinu- 
 ations of conduct to whicJi Krupp Jiad not feared to be 
 led, and which affected the honor and standing of various 
 personages." There is mention of "bribes, which, 
 according to Krupp, the Call Works had offered the 
 Servian Commissioners," all, of course, entirely unknown 
 to the great gunmaker, and unworthy a place in the dis- 
 cussion of so elevated a theme. We feel it a duty to 
 affirm that such methods of discussion detract greatly 
 from the interest taken in the Call Works — interest due 
 not only to the General Manager' s efforts in furthering 
 ballistic progress, but also to his struggle against the 
 powerful competition of Krupp. Such arguments 
 destroy the cause they are intended to serve. After 
 what we have said it can readily be understood why 
 Krupp has not taken up the gauntlet thrown down by 
 Colonel De Bange, to try anew conclusions between 
 guns made at Grenelle and at Essen. Such a competi- 
 tive test would at best be fruitless, for the decision of 
 the most important questions would necessarily be 
 beyond its scope. The past history of Krupp guns is an 
 assurance of their future. 
 
 Couclnsioiis. 
 
 Having arrived at the end of this comparative inves- 
 tigation, we think it best to summarize the conclusions 
 reached : 
 
 I. — The Krupp construction is the result of elaborate 
 investigation, and provides especially, in all calibres, for 
 
— 142 — 
 
 the thorough absorption of longitudinal strain, while 
 Colonel De Bange' s double taper hooping does not meet 
 this requirement, and leads only to erroneous estimates 
 of the strength of the gun. 
 
 II. — The wedge, owing to i1?s elastic action, offers a 
 perfect safeguard against unbreeching, while the screw 
 acts directly and suddenly upon the metal, and the slot 
 threads are actual inducements to rupture. 
 
 III. — The Broad well ring has been tested in all the 
 Krupp guns, and under all pressures ; it is the same 
 for all calibres. The plastic gas-check of De Bange 
 though it may have been tested successfully up to a cer- 
 tain point in medium calibres, is of doubtful efficacy 
 with large calibres, a doubt corroborated by the neces- 
 sity of using two concentric packing pads. 
 
 IV. — Taken altogether, the Krupp fermature is 
 simpler than the De Bange ; its working is easier and 
 surer. 
 
 V. — The finishing and fitting of the De Bange guns 
 are inferior to the mechanical work of the Krupp, of 
 which all parts, to the minutest details, have been 
 evolved with thought and care after exhaustive trial. 
 
 VI. — The practical value and the endurance of the 
 De Bange guns have not yet been put to the test of a 
 single campaign worthy of the name : for, of course, the 
 experience gained in the Tunis and Tonquin -expe- 
 ditions is not sufficient for the formation of correct 
 conclusions ; on the other hand, the ballistic advantages, 
 the facile manipulation, and the service life of Krupp 
 guns have been strikingly proved in every important 
 war of the last quarter of a century. 
 
 VII. — The ballistic effect and accuracy of the De 
 Bange field, siege and position guns are inferior to 
 those of the Krupp. In large calibres there does not 
 
— 143 — 
 
 exist a single practically tested De Bange gun which 
 can be pitted against Krupp's heavy guns, of great 
 power and accuracy, and which have been supplied to 
 nearly all States. 
 
 VIII. — Krupp Crucible steel meets the requirement 
 of homogeneity, an indispensable quality of gun metal, 
 which the Open-hearth steel used for De Bange guns 
 does not always possess. 
 
PART THIRD. 
 
 A visit to the Erupp Works. 
 
 If we have been fortunate enough to retain our 
 readers' interest thus far, we will invite them to visit 
 with us the great Krupp "Works at Essen, which are so 
 justly entitled to be called the pride of Germany. 
 
 I.— Essen. 
 
 The. city of Essen lies north-east of Dusseldorf,and is 
 reached from Brussels by way either of Cologne or of 
 Grladbach. It is situated in the fertile basin of the Ruhr, 
 near Duisburg, another manufacturing city. Indeed, 
 Essen is in the centre of the great factory district of 
 "Westphalia, a veritable hive of industry, in which are 
 also to be found, Crefeld, Elberfeld, and Dortmund. 
 These are not the only noticeable features of Essen's 
 position, for it lies in one of those fortunate regions in 
 which K"ature has stored abundant coal and iron, the 
 very bases of metal working. 
 
 To the Krupp "Works Essen owes its world-wide rep- 
 utation, and in a great measure, all its prosperity. In 
 1862, its population scarcely reached seventeen thousand, 
 but the number of workmen employed in the great 
 foundry increasing from day to day, the little town did 
 not cover sufficient ground to shelter them all, and rap- 
 idly expanded. In ten years the population doubled, 
 and to-day, encircled by a belt of attractive suburbs, the 
 old city contains nearly one hundred thousand people. 
 The impression is at once received that the whole town 
 is more or less dependent upon the Works. 
 
Alfred Krupp. 
 
— 145 — 
 
 Let lis stand, at about noon near the Mills, on the 
 Essen and Duisburg turnpike wMcli traverses them; at 
 the twelfth stroke, the gates open, a flood, of workers 
 issues, and scattering, flows towards the comfortable, 
 well-drained, houses, which Krupp's fatherly interest 
 in his people has provided at moderate rentals. 
 
 When the bell recalls to work, the city resutaes its 
 medieval calm, and retains it untU evening, when again 
 the mighty multitude overflows its streets. 
 
 II. — TuRGAN's Pamphlet. 
 
 Turgan, who published in 1865 a description of the 
 Krupp Works, as far as we know, the only one up to the 
 present time, relates that he experienced a singular sens- 
 ation when awakened in the early morning by the foot- 
 falls of the men silently marching to their work. " The 
 Germans on this side of the Rhine," the French writer 
 tells us, "either have little to say, or talk in very low 
 tones." 
 
 We were impressed in the same way, and, had our 
 attention not been called to the fact, we should have 
 thought of the still, impressive marching-by of an army. 
 As we have mentioned Turgan, we may say that in many 
 points, his description applies to-day ; we have verified 
 his statements step by step. His account of the fabri- 
 cation of crucible steel is stiU, in the main, accurate. 
 Of course it is hardly necessary to state that since 1865 
 every improvement, the result of scientific investigation 
 or practical experience, has been introduced. Bessemer 
 converters and Martin-Siemens furnaces are used in 
 making commercial brands of steel, but— to us the 
 cardinal, the essential point— for gun-metal, crucible 
 steel alone is used, a steel produced here for over half a 
 century, and to which the establishment owes its success. 
 
— 146 — 
 
 III. — First Impressions. 
 
 The Krupp establishment at Essen occupies about 
 1,000 acres, of which nearly 200 are under roof. Let the 
 reader endeavor to realize what this really means. The 
 buildings run north and south of the Dortmund and 
 Duisburg turnpike. On approaching from the town, 
 these rows of shops present an imposing sight; fifty, sixty, 
 possibly more, structures, whose high chimneys or rathe:r 
 towers, are continually pouring forth showers of sparks, 
 or thick clouds of smoke, the ponderous booming of the 
 steam hammers, the loud humming of the engines, the 
 signal whistles of the locomotives, laboring and puffing 
 under their heavy loads, the black bulk of the enormous 
 bulging gasholders for lighting the Works, all appear to 
 be the embodiment of wonderful force and power, and 
 bring up a vivid image of the man who, actuated by a 
 determination as unbending as iron, a persistence as 
 strong as steel, created this Temple of Work. 
 
 IV. — The Entrance. 
 
 Here we are at the Works ; the gates' do not open for 
 every caller, everybody knows that. Admission is posit- 
 ively refused to all metal makers or workers, these must 
 tarry in the reception room. This prohibition is not due 
 altogether to a useless desire for mystery, still there are 
 processes, the results of several generations of experience, 
 which are kept secret. Were all admitted, the crowds 
 of sight-seers, who would be attracted by the great rep- 
 utation of the Essen Works, would require an army of 
 guides to conduct them through the labyrinth of shops. 
 The attention of workmen would be diverted, the prompt 
 handling of huge masses of metal would be delayed. 
 Such continual interruptions would be a great nuisance, 
 certainly causing loss of time and money, without the 
 slightest return, for Krupp' s reputation is made. As to 
 
— 147 — 
 
 interested visitors, manufacturers, scientific and practical 
 experts, etc., it certainly would be the height of folly to 
 permit them to wander at will all over the Works, and 
 study at leisure the thousand peculiar details in vogue, 
 any one of which may for the moment assure especial 
 advantage. Whatever may be said, we regard the 
 experience gained in a life-time of incessant work and 
 unparalleled activity such as Krupp' s, as a precious pos- 
 session, whose influence outweighs all else in the daily 
 improvement of manufacturing methods. 
 
 To allow the keen glances of rival manufacturers an 
 opportunity of noting and appropriating the fruits of 
 such life-long labors and experience, would be silly and 
 weak, and against the interests of thousands who are 
 dependent upon the Works for their living. It would 
 be a voluntary cession of all rights. 
 
 V. — The Office and Krupp' s Cottage. 
 
 But a truce to these prefatory comments, let us enter. 
 The gatekeeper, one of a number, whose long uniform 
 overcoat suggests the old soldier, eyes us as keenly as a 
 customs inspector scrutinizes a passenger suspected of 
 smuggling; we make no sign, however, and as we are 
 under proper guidance, Cerberus hides his tusks. 
 
 This great building which first meets our view is the 
 Ofiice, where a regiment of accountants pass their days 
 in keeping the books of the great firm. 
 
 Here is entered everything that goes out and comes 
 in, here are kept the accounts of the States dealing with 
 the Works. We felt a longing to peep, were it but for 
 an instant, into the great ledger, whose contents must be 
 exceedingly interesting, but we did not seek to indulge 
 our indiscreet curiosity ; besides we had so much to learn 
 that we did not dare jeoparding, for the gratification of 
 an idle whim, f uther opportunity of gaining information. 
 
— 148 — 
 
 Close to this brick structure, there is a cottage, such. 
 a one as Jean Jacques Rousseau sighs for, with green 
 blinds, small square lights and clean white window cur- 
 tains ; it is pretty and attractive, and had not a locomo- 
 tive, drawing iron laden cars, rudely interrupted our 
 train of thought, we should for the moment have believed 
 ourselves rusticating amid Swiss mountains. 
 
 In this little house, the father of the present proprie- 
 tor passed his life in making the incomparable steel 
 which has made the Works to-day famous.* 
 
 He was not spared to see the full fruition of his life- 
 work, but the tool which his aged hand could no longer 
 wield, was firmly grasped by his son. With the help of 
 a few mechanics, he set to work, by his perseverance he 
 conquered all difficulties— the result is known. 
 
 * See note on pa^e IGtj. 
 
— 149 — 
 
 This humble cot, almost lost amidst its towering 
 surroundings, has been kept as an experimental labora- 
 tory, and here Krupp' s son works daily ; it is the family 
 talisman, and the recollections which it calls into life 
 make up the history of two generations, devoted to labor 
 and to duty. 
 
 YI.— The Gxjn Shops. 
 • 
 
 Our obliging guide takes us first of all to the gun 
 shops; we enter an immense roofed space, we must 
 apologize for the frequent use of this adjective, but it 
 alone, is descriptive — where about one hundred Krupp 
 field-guns are receiving their final touches. 
 
 These little playthings, so neat, so pretty that one feels 
 like using them for watch charms, are for his Highness 
 the Sultan of Turkey. He seems to be in a hurry for 
 them, as they are in hand daj' and night. 
 
 We enter a second shop, then a third, both of colossal 
 dimensions ; in one, the guns are turned, in the other, 
 bored ; here, grooves are cut, there, the breech mechan- 
 isms are constructed. 
 
 We will not dwell upon this phase of our visit, for 
 though we saw the many operations necessary to convert 
 the unfinished tube with its mantle and hoops into a gun, 
 yet in the main they are similar to those pursued in 
 other gun factories. Only, here, the work is done on a 
 grander scale. As elsewhere, great lathes turn with 
 ponderous dignity, fieet pulleys whirr on their shafts, 
 metal parts groan under the biting of smoothing files; 
 here, however, the hundreds of lathes, the thousands of 
 pulleys, and the steel fashioned by numberless tools, 
 constitute a grand orchestra, ever performing the im- 
 pressive symphony of Work. 
 
— 160 — 
 VII.— The Four 120-ton Guns. 
 
 In an adjoining skop, tlie great guns are majestically- 
 enthroned ; the Leviathans of naval armament, the 
 Behemoths of coast defense. Man feels his insignificance 
 in the presence of these awe-inspiring engines, yet he is 
 their lord and master. Among all these finished masses 
 of pure steel, at whose sides a horde of mechanics are 
 busy, four especially rivet the attention of the beholder ; 
 they are the 40 cent, guns, 14 metres long* and weighing 
 the trifle of 120 tons, say one hundred and twenty thou- 
 sand kilograms ! And yet but a few years ago, the 100- 
 ton iron gun with steel lining, made by Sir William 
 Armstrong for the ' ' Duilio, ' ' was emphatically announc- 
 ed as the supreme effort in the struggle of ordnance 
 against armor, the final outcome of constructive ability ! 
 Here the metal is not iron, but steel entirely, and crucible 
 steel at that. The charge of each crucible is only 40 
 kilograms, and the reader can picture to himself the 
 amount of work embodied in each of these pieces, in 
 remembering that the casting of each involves the simul- 
 taneous pouring of from 1,700 to 1,800 crucibles, yielding 
 an ingot of 70,000 kilograms. As each gun consists of 
 tube, mantle and rings, this Titanic operation must be 
 repeated twice for each piece, as the rings alone permit 
 the use of much smaller ingots. The ponderous blocks 
 of steel required for these enormous guns are neverthe- 
 less forged and finished with comparative ease, so great 
 is the capacity of Krupp's tools and so daring the intelli- 
 gence which directs them. 
 
 These guns were ordered by the Italian Government 
 for sea-coast defense. * 
 
 *Two of these guns are now embarking at Antwerp for Spezia, their 
 destination. The others will presently follow by the same route. 
 
— 151 — 
 
 The press questioned the practicability of transport- 
 ing these ponderous and unwieldy productions, and 
 asserted that the rails would give under the weight of so 
 exceptional a load. But the problem was readily solved 
 by Krupp' s engineers ; a platform car was constructed, 
 running on thirty-two wheels with independent axles, so 
 arranged that the whole weight was equally distributed 
 upon all the wheel bases. 
 
 VIII.— The Caeeiage Assembling Shop. 
 
 We regretfully left this interesting sight to enter 
 another structure in which are the assembling shops for 
 naval and sea-coast carriages. Communicating galleries 
 are built at a height of 10 metres between the shops. 
 From one of these we glanced above us at the traveling 
 cranes of 50, 000, and 30,000 kilograms' capacity, which, at 
 a height of 15, and with a span of 22, metres, traverse the 
 great shops, lifting and shifting the heaviest masses, 
 working automatically by bell signals. 
 
 Below us we see in hand a carriage with rotating 
 platform protected by a sheet steel cupola. This model 
 is designed for a great ironclad, the pride of modern 
 navies. Other carriages, of established model, with 
 hydraulic buffers and shot-cranes are ready for the cars, 
 for the track that serves the Works and connects with 
 the Government Railroad system, begins at these shops, 
 and is thus a terminus of the main lines. 
 
 Let us go down to get a nearer view of the work of 
 assembling ; let us see how the cupola turns on its rollers. 
 Stop, it is moving. ' ' She doesn' t work badly," said the 
 foreman, " a little filing here and there, and she's all 
 right." Above us the crane advances, goes back with 
 impressive deliberation, making nothing of its huge 
 loads, and, from time to time, the click of gearing and 
 the ringing of a small bell reveals the existence of the 
 
152 
 
 train that moves this indispensable apparatus ; and every- 
 thing goes apparently in a routine way, quietly, without 
 excitement or shouting ; little is said in the Krupp 
 establishment, but the work goes on all the time. At 
 the four corners of the edifice, ponderous lifts are 
 installed, and taken all in all, we are sure that there 
 could not be a better disposition of the powerful 
 mechanical devices with science has placed in the hands 
 of the constructor. But let us hasten to examine the 
 various processes of steel making in use here, for the 
 Essen Works turn out Bessemer, Open-hearth, Puddled 
 and Crucible steel. 
 
 IX. — The Bessemee Plant. 
 
 Bessemer steel is made on a great scale at Essen, ten 
 thousand tons of rails can be made per month. This 
 shows that Krupp is not unwilling to take advantage of 
 scientific progress, in whatever direction it trends, and 
 does not disdain to make cheap steel to meet the wants 
 of all railroad interests. But we must make no mistake; 
 he uses the Bessemer process only for making commer- 
 cial brands. 
 
 Interested parties have started a rumor that the 
 crucible steel which alone is used for gun-metal, is made 
 in part by remelting Bessemer scrap. We have assured 
 ourselves by watching the charging of crucibles that this 
 rumor is entirely baseless. It would be still more 
 audacious to assert that the converters furnish the ingots 
 required for tubes, mantles or even rings, for we looked 
 in vain for moulds at the Bessemer Works of sufiicient 
 size for the purpose, or for cranes powerful enough to 
 handle the great blocks out of which the gun parts are 
 fashioned. The fact is apparent that the Works are 
 especially equipped for the output of the small ingots 
 required in rail fabrication. The Bessemer process is so 
 
— 153 — 
 
 well known, even taking into account the most recent im- 
 provements, that it would be a thankless task to attempt 
 a description here : whoever has seen it in operation 
 must recall the absorbed interest with which he watched 
 it ; the gorgeous pyrotechnic display of "blowing oif," 
 the silvery sheen of the sheet of living steel flowing from 
 the converter's mouth amid a scintillating halo into the 
 devouring maw of the charging ladle. Once seen, this 
 fairylike spectacle can never be forgotten. 
 
 We witnessed every detail of rail fabrication, from 
 the billets' leaving the heating furnace to undergo 
 transformation in the roll trains, to the last mechanical 
 operations, cutting to length and straightening. 
 
 We think that, in this manufacture, our own makers 
 are not behind Krupp, and that they do the work just 
 as well, and as economically. But the old saw, " Shoe- 
 maker, stick to your last," comes to mind, let us stop 
 talking of rails, concerning which we have nothing new 
 to say. 
 
 X. — The Opeist-hearth Plant. 
 
 Krupp also makes steel by the Martin- Siemens pro- 
 cess, which besides affording facilities for determining 
 the character of the bath by the drawing of test speci- 
 mens, yields a more constant and homogeneous product 
 than the Bessemer. It is slower, we must admit, but it 
 is more certain ; the carbon ^oint can be so regulated that 
 we can obtain the hardest as well as the softest metal, 
 steel suitable for springs or for boiler plates. The open- 
 hearth plant is extensive and well arranged. The 
 reverberatory furnaces, in which the molten metal 
 simmers under the action of the flame, are arranged in 
 two rows, having between them cranes of medium ca- 
 pacity ; under these are the casting pits. Here, as at the 
 Bessemer plant, there is no sign that open-hearth steel 
 
154- 
 
 is used for gun-metal ; no deep pits, no gigantic cranes. 
 Not a particle of this steel goes into the crucibles, we 
 assert this without fear of denial, for we have at hand 
 convincing evidence. 
 
 Open-hearth steel is used at Essen for the fabrication 
 of all kinds of plate, tires, axles, and other structural 
 parts; also for all castings, such as car- wheels, cross- 
 heads, hydraulic cylinders, and in general for all machine 
 members which do not need that absolute homogeneity 
 and exceptional strength demanded by gun-metal, and 
 which so especially characterize crucible steel. As we 
 entered the foundry, the work was in full swing ; the 
 furnaces flamed with dull crackling, and the crane moved 
 along the great bay holding suspended the pouring ladle : 
 at intervals, when above a mould, a stream of molten 
 metal gushed out, momentarily as with a lightning flash 
 making darkness visible, and disappeared in the glowing 
 receptacle. In front of the Works, numerous castings, 
 just from the moulds, were slowly cooling under slag ; 
 they were truck wheels. These castings are not to be 
 trusted, inoffensive as they look ; they remain hot for a 
 long time, and those who walk about carelessly, are apt 
 to carry away ardent and lasting reminders. 
 
 XI. — Keupp Gun Metal. 
 The Puddled Steel Plant. 
 
 It is easily understood that the portion of the estab- 
 lishment devoted to crucible steel making, the metal of 
 which all Krupp guns are constructed, possessed the 
 greatest attraction for us. Besides, with or without 
 reason, all sorts of myths attached themselves to this 
 mysterious metal, and the probabilities are that had the 
 famous gun maker lived in the dark ages, his unlucky 
 competitors would have accused him of witchcraft, and 
 the stake would have effectually disposed of an incon- 
 venient rival. 
 
— 155 — 
 
 We were anxious, as was natural, to clear up the 
 mystery ; and we had been promised help. Further, we 
 had resolved to keep as "wide awake " as possible. As 
 the result of this somewhat underhanded investigation, 
 we are convinced that it is impossible to iind a method 
 of making gun-metal upon a more scientific basis, or one 
 more exactly carried out ; everything is designed and 
 regulated for the purpose of producing a steel which 
 chemically and physically is able to cope with the most 
 powerful powder efforts. 
 
 The iron ores used by Krupp in the fabrication of his 
 gun-metal, are of the very highest grade and of remark- 
 able purity. As a rule hematite and spathic ores are 
 used, the same ores from which that excellent cast-iron, 
 called by Germans spiegeleisen and by the French fonte 
 miroitante, is made. They come either from the Siegen 
 region, or from the firm's mines near Bilboa in Spain. 
 
 The iron is delivered at the Works in pigs, and makes 
 up the charge of the puddling furnace. The puddling is 
 under control of experienced and tried workmen; indeed a 
 regular puddling school exists at Essen ; no one can be- 
 come a boss until, after numerous and difiicult trials, he 
 has proved himself thoroughly up in all the details of 
 the art. Of course, puddled steel is made at Essen upon 
 the same scientific principles as in England, France, or 
 Belgium. While science is the same everywhere, each 
 mill has its own special "knack" which characterizes 
 its output. We will go a step beyond, and affirm that 
 were Krupp to establish Works in some foreign country, 
 without taking with him his mechanics, his ordnance 
 experts, and his foremen, many of them men born with- 
 in sight of his establishment, most of whom have grown 
 gray in his service, the steel he would there make, would 
 be different from that produced to- day at Essen. The 
 determining conditions are indigenous to the soil, and 
 
— 156 — 
 
 dependent upon the generations of workmen evolved un- 
 der their influence, just as the tree clings by its roots to 
 its mother earth. 
 
 Let us however return to the iron about to be partially 
 decarburized in the furnace. It is vigorously assailed by 
 the fire, and thoroughly rabbled by the puddler; the ex- 
 cess of carbon is driven off, and the iron becomes steel. 
 
 The skill of the puddler lies in stopping the operation 
 at the exact moment when the iron comes to nature; if 
 this passes, the work is lost. The loop, or ball, as the" 
 spongy steel mass is called, is carried on a trolley to the 
 steam hammer; the metal is squeezed under its blows, 
 and slag and other impurities are expelled, the molecules 
 are condensed, arranged, and rammed together, and the 
 ball becomes a billet. This hammered billet is then taken 
 to the rolls, and leaves them as a long square rod, which 
 is at once hardened in a pool occupying the centre of the 
 mill. Each rod, after critical inspection as to quality, 
 is broken into pieces about 30 centimetres long, which 
 are sorted accordingly. The toughest and most homo- 
 geneous are reserved for gun-metal charges ; the others 
 are classed for special work, such as crank-shafts, axles, 
 high grade tires, &c. The advantage of this procedure 
 is self-evident; the expert can, so to speak, after the 
 crucible charge has been fixed, determine beforehand the 
 strength which the melt will possess, and as it is worked 
 in small masses, there is the greatest possible chance of 
 securing almost perfect compactness, 
 
 The puddling Works always present a busy appear- 
 ance ; the steel bubbling in the furnaces is energetically 
 stirred and worked by the rabbles of the puddlers ; these 
 are fine fellows, all nerve and muscle, whose perspiring 
 faces, occasionally lighted up by a sudden flash of flame, 
 bear testimony to the hardships of their trade. 
 
 Here the steam hammers angrily pound the unwilling 
 
— 157 — 
 
 billets, further along, the glowing bars writhe in audible 
 agony through the roll grooves. Add to this the whirr- 
 ing of the pulleys, the clanking of the chains which hold 
 the roll tongs, that guide the heavy masses of steel, the 
 calls of the bosses, the chant of the hundred ovens in 
 which iron and coal crackle, the heavy puffing of the 
 steam motors, and you have a picture in ever varying 
 colors of one of the most magnificent phases of modern 
 industry. 
 
 Puddled steel, which by the very principle and 
 method of its fabrication, is assured great uniformity, is 
 the base of the crucibie charge ; the rest of the alloy is 
 puddled iron. This is made of special pigs and worked 
 in the manner just described ; it gives tenacity to the 
 compound. It is rather refractory, but then the puddled 
 steel, the greatest part of the charge, has a comparative- 
 ly low melting point, and a certain flux, one of Krapp's 
 "secrets," is added. We came to the conclusion that 
 charccal was its main ingredient. The crucible, whose 
 contents weigh exactly 40 kilograms, is carefully luted, 
 heated in the warming oven, and is then exposed to the 
 high temperature of the melting furnace. 
 
 XII. — Crucible Matstufactuee. 
 
 This is the proper time to speak of the melting pot, 
 the crucible. 
 
 It is made of a special composition, peculiar to the 
 Krupp Works. 
 
 We witnessed the manufacture, and came to the con- 
 clusion that the mixture consisted mainly of fire-clay 
 with a less proportion of graphite. 
 
 The material of which the crucible is made exercises 
 a great influence upon the final constitution of the melted 
 contents. Krupp has made this a subject of exhaustive 
 investigation, for the Works consume an enormous 
 
— 158 — 
 
 number of crucibles, as each can be used but once. No 
 further evidence of this is needed than the piles of 
 charred and broken pots stacked in the shop yards. 
 
 A part of this waste material however is utilized ; it 
 is ground into powder under huge vertical stones, and is 
 thus rendered fit for use in making new crucibles. New 
 -composition and old dust are ground fine, mixed in great 
 vats, and thoroughly worked up with the utmost care 
 into a thick pasty, slip. The crucible is now to be 
 moulded. 
 
 Imagine a hollow cast-iron truncated cone, the mould, 
 and a solid metal core of suitable size and similar shape, 
 which fit to just the dimensions of the prescribed cruci- 
 ble. Now fill the mould with the proper quantity of slip 
 and slowly enter the core ; the compressed plastic material 
 flows between mold and core and shapes itself ; the excess 
 seeks to escape, but is held in by a collar and forms the 
 rim. The pot is then taken out of the mould and dried. 
 
 The Works as already stated, consume daily a very 
 large number of crucibles, for as a rule, four crucible 
 casts are made every twenty-four hours. The drying 
 and storing rooms are in immense four-story edifices with 
 spaced flooring on which the crucibles stand in long 
 rows. The Superintendent of this important branch told 
 us that there were always one hundred thousand cruci- 
 bles in store, which are used in succession. We could 
 not verify this statement, but we are sure that it would 
 have taken us hours, possibly a whole day, to count 
 them. 
 
 XIII. — The Crucible Steel Plant. 
 Casting. 
 
 We come now to crucible casting, which in every way 
 is the most singular, the most interesting, and the most 
 picturesque work we saw during our whole visit. The 
 
— 159 — 
 
 foundry stretches out almost interminably, and is fur- 
 nished with all the apparatus necessary for the success- 
 ful carrying out of this delicate and dilficult work. 
 Upon the extended sides, along the walls, are installed 
 the gas heating-ovens ; parallel to them in two lines are 
 built the melting-ovens flush with the ground, and con- 
 nected by subterranean galleries for the service of the 
 attendants. 
 
 The Krupp establishment uses in its crucible steel 
 plant about 130 coke and 30 gas ovens. Each oven has a 
 capacity of 12 crucibles. Some however can hold 18, so 
 that casts of from 1,600 to 1,800 crucibles, even more if 
 necessary, may be easily undertaken. The largest steel 
 blocks cast at Essen up to the present time weigh 70,000 
 kilograms, required in the construction of the 120-ton 
 guns. About 1,700 crucible charges were needed in cast- 
 ing them. 
 
 Along the center line of the structure the casting pits 
 are dug, and the movable cranes are located. The pro- 
 cess of casting is in itself of absorbing interest ; it is a 
 striking illustration of the precision and coolness of the 
 master founder, of the discipline and skill of the work- 
 men. 
 
 When the steel in the crucibles has reached the 
 desired melting temperature, after being from four to five 
 hours in the furnace, the master founder places the 
 mould, as near as may be, equidistant from the active 
 ovens. He then sets up the casting runners, heavy sheet 
 iron channels lined with fire-brick. These runners lead 
 the liquid metal in corruscating streams to the gate 
 which surmounts the mould in which they are engulfed. 
 The f oundrymen are dressed in two long lines, facing to 
 the centre and divided into threes and twos. One of 
 each three, carries a tongs, the others a rod very much 
 like a brewer's mash ladle. As soon as the master 
 founder has completed his preparations, and, upon in- 
 
— 160 — 
 
 spection ascertains that the proper melting point hag 
 been reached, he gives ,the signal, the oven covers slide 
 back, and the casting begins. The melter with the tongs 
 clasps the crucible and resting the curved tong handle 
 upon the rod, held by the other men as a fulcrum, he lifts 
 it out of the oven. Keeping it vertical, the three place 
 it on the ground some distance from the furnace. Then 
 the other two take it, and pour its contents into the run- 
 ner. 
 
 The empty pots are thrown in a heap out of the way 
 of the workmen. Group silently follows group ; the 
 crucibles shimmer through the foundry in a meteoric 
 shower ; the silence is broken only by the clatter of the 
 sliding oven covers and the crackling of the molten 
 streams as they glide in the runners toward the flask 
 into whose fiery mouth they plunge in a glittering cas- 
 cade. 
 
 The incessant sheen which intoxicates the eye, the 
 intense heat coming in blasts from the underground fires, 
 the silent traflic of the workmen, all bring to mind some 
 witches' Sabbath of the Keign of Terror. In a word, it is 
 a magnificent drama of intense coloring and unapproach- 
 able grandeur, worthy the brush of a Callot. 
 
 To those who feel it incumbent upon themselves to 
 suggest that we are drawing upon our imagination, rather 
 than our memory, that enthusiasm induces us to throw 
 a halo about the description, we can only reply, ask 
 others, who like ourselves, have seen. 
 
 We may say that it is mathematically certain that 
 the casting, even if an 80,000 kilogram ingot be in quest- 
 ion, cannot fail. 
 
 Krupp's workmen are thoroughly trained in that iron 
 discipline, well taught in that characteristic Prussian 
 school of steadiness, which affords undoubted assurance 
 of success. Cast-steel chills quickly ; the ingot is drawn 
 from the pit by one of the powerful foundry cranes, and 
 
— 161 — 
 
 carried to an adjoining shop, where a fire-brick wall is 
 built about it, to prevent chilling to the very core, 
 which would retard forging. But before the block is 
 shaped, it is reheated in one of the furnaces convenient 
 to the hammer, and at the right temperature, it is taken 
 out, swung by a triple chain-sling to a crane, which by 
 deft movement, lands it on the anvil. 
 
 XIV.— The 50-tox Hammek. 
 
 A word about the 50-ton hammer, so long the boast 
 of the Krupp Works. 
 
 Imagine a square steel head, 3.70 metres long, 1.50 
 metres wide, and 1.25 metres deep, amass of seven cubic 
 metres, hung at a height of 12 feet in an arch five metres 
 high, whose supports are 1.50 metres in diameter. Now 
 a steel anvil, resting upon successive foundations of 
 masonry, oak, a Avhole forest was required, and cast-iron, 
 finally, in your mind' s eye, put the glowing ingot under 
 the hammer head. The hammer boss, a veteran artist in 
 blue glasses, for it is impossible to watch the incandes- 
 cent mass with the naked eye, is in direct charge. At 
 his right and left are the men who grasp the chains en- 
 circling the monster, and who, at a hand wave, without 
 a word or order, oscillate the block until the desired 
 position is attained. The hammer slowly descends, the 
 head hardly touches the ingot, then, after a rapid 
 inspection, it is quickly raised, and comes down with all 
 its might upon the metal which quivers and gives under 
 its terrible blows. About the hammer the ground 
 trembles as with an earthquake wave. Stop ! the ham- 
 mer rests, the block is turned on its side, the machine 
 takes breath again like a Colossus raising his club to 
 brain the enemy, and pounds again upon the bruised 
 mass, which finally gives way under this storm of blows ; 
 the block is forged. 
 
162 
 
 The 50-ton hammer was built about twenty years ago 
 and cost the small sum of 500,000 dollars, but it must be 
 admitted in excuse that it earns its living honestly, and 
 pays good interest on its cost. At that time Creusot had 
 only a 12-ton hammer ; now however there are 80 and 
 even 100-ton hammers. 
 
 "Why," it is asked, " does Krupp suffer himself to 
 be outdone by his rivals ? ' ' 
 
 We must first note that the Essen hammer has really 
 an effective weight of 60 tons, and the heaviest blocks 
 forged weigh, as already mentioned, 70,000 kilograms. 
 These blocks are bored ; the forging can therefore be 
 altogether effective, for the hammer blows need not 
 penetrate to the heart of the block. Further the mons- 
 ter guns now constructed date back only a few years. 
 Although up to the present, more powerful mechanic- 
 al contrivances were not required, yet for some time past, 
 Krupp has contemplated erecting a hammer of much 
 greater weight, and the matter is so far advanced that 
 within a few months Essen will again surpass its rivals 
 in its ability to forge the very heaviest steel masses. It 
 would hardly be proper for us to say more on this sub- 
 ject. After forging, the shapes are subjected to a 
 peculiar annealing process, and are then transferred to 
 the gun shops for finishing and assembling. We will 
 not dwell upon the other products of the Works, steel- 
 cast wheels, coil and elliptical springs, tires, &c., all 
 abounding in interest, and which in themselves justify 
 Krupp' s great reputation. We examined the entire 
 plant with sustained interest, but we cannot within the 
 scope of this paper, undertake to impart our impressions. 
 
 XV. — The Model Collection. 
 
 Before leaving, let us glance at the collection of 
 models, or rather the museum of the Krupp Establish- 
 ment. 
 
— 168 — 
 
 It contains specimens of every gun and military con- 
 struction designed or improved by Krupp ; it tells the 
 eloquent story of his researches and his labors. Here 
 are steel and iron plates which have been used as targets 
 in the various experiments that have lengthened out the 
 struggle between armor and gun ; here are samples of 
 ores, test pieces of gun metal, fragments of experimental 
 guns fired to destruction, mute witnesses to the enduring 
 patience and multifarious knowledge which character- 
 ize the continued researches of the tireless German Con- 
 structor. 
 
 Here can be seen all the stages of his fermature, before 
 it reached its present degree of perfection. Here are guns 
 of all systems, the breech mechanisms of Wahrendorf , 
 Kreiner, and others, in a word, everything to interest 
 Artillery and Ordnance ofiicers of every country. In 
 the centre of the museum stands, bright and attractive, 
 a Prussian battery, as it leaves the Works. Every ex- 
 pert in the fabrication of war materials must admit that 
 the Krupp output is treated, even to the smallest details,, 
 with the utmost care. 
 
 A great General has said " that the Prussian army is 
 the most perfect military machine in the world," surely 
 then its present war material deserves a large share of 
 this meed of praise. 
 
 We must not overlook the collection of the different 
 projectiles made at the Works, from the shell for the 7.8 
 cent, gun, to the 1,050 kilogram hammered and hardened 
 steel armor-piercing shell for the 120-ton gun, culminat- 
 ing in one still more phenomenal, 1.80 metres long, (4 
 calibres), weighing 1,500 kilograms, to be fired from the 
 projected 45 cent, gun of from 140 to 150 tons Aveight. 
 
 XVI.— Keupp's Proving Grounds. 
 
 Krupp has facilities in connection with the Works 
 for proving finished guns. The piece is placed in a vault 
 
— 164 — 
 
 whose walls are thick enough to retain the fragments in 
 case it should burst during endurance trials. The gun 
 is brought to the shaft by rail, and lowered upon the 
 carriage by a crane. At the word "ready", everybody 
 leaves, and the piece is fired by electricity. The projec 
 tiles lodge in a butt, 100 metres in front. This test, we 
 repeat, is for the purpose of noting the general behavior 
 of the -piece, but also gives the initial velocity and the 
 gas pressure. 
 
 Complete ballistic experiments, the determination of 
 ranges, accuracy and similar data, are conducted at the 
 Meppen Proving Ground, owned by Krupp, where, 
 thanks to a range of 16,800 metres and the latest appara- 
 tus, they can be pursued on the most extended scale. 
 
 XVII. — An Epitome of the Keupp Plant. — Keupp. 
 
 We conclude our task with some data which will give 
 a better idea than any words of ours of the magnitude 
 of the Krupp plant, and its steady progress since 1810, 
 the date of inception. 
 
 In 1883 the plant comprised : 
 1.— The Essen Steel Works, 
 2. — The Essen and Bochum Coal fields, 
 3. — 547 Iron Mines in G-ermany, 
 4. — Several ore beds near Bilboa, 
 5. — Four Smelting Works near Duisburg, Neuwied 
 
 and Sayn, 
 6. — The Meppen Proving Ground, 
 7. — Four Steamships, 
 
 8.— Various stone quarries, clay banks, and sand 
 pits. 
 There are in operation : 
 11 Blast furnaces, 
 1,542 Furnaces of various kinds, 
 439 Boilers, 
 
— 165 — 
 
 82 Steam hammers from 100 to 50,000 kilograms, 
 21 Roll trains, 
 
 451 Steam engines, of 18,500 horse power total 
 capacity, of which many, we are glad to say, were made 
 "by Vanden Kerchove, the well-known Ghent builder, 
 and finally, 
 
 1,622 machine tools. 
 
 The total output of the Essen Steel Works amounted 
 3n 1881 to 260,000 tons, including Crucible, Open-hearth, 
 .IBessemer steel, and H'omogeneous Wrought iron. 
 
 It is generally supposed that Krupp manufactures 
 -only guns, of which he has made to date, 21,000 ; carri- 
 .ages, ammunition wagons, projectiles and fuzes, in a 
 word, ordnance material only. 
 
 He also supplies, as we have seen, rails, switches, 
 axles, tires, locomotive and car wheels, everything re- 
 quired for road beds or rolling stock ; he rolls boiler and 
 rship plates, constructs bridges of all kinds, forges crank- 
 .shafts, anchors, and structural parts for the merchant 
 and naval service. 
 
 He serves the wants of commerce and trade as satis- 
 factorily as he meets the demand of warfare. We will 
 .add some figures, gleaned at hap -hazard ; 
 
 The Works consume : 
 
 Goal and Coke ; 3,100 tons per work-day, about 1,400 
 tons of which are chargeable to the blast furnaces and 
 steamers. 
 
 Water : From 5,000,000 to 7,000,000 gallons per work- 
 aday. 
 
 Gas for ligMing : From 475,000 to 1,500,000 feet per 
 work-day. 
 
 The blast furnaces are charged daily with 1,400 tons 
 of ore from the Krupp mines. The shafts and drifts 
 d.eliver daily an average of 3, 000 tons of coal. 
 
 For internal trafiic there are 27 miles of railroad 
 ^standard gauge, with 14 locomotives and 639 cars, and 
 
- 166 — 
 
 15}4 miles of narrow gauge road, with. 14 locomotives 
 and 344 gondolas. There are besides 71 horses with 191 
 carts, 40 miles of telegraph lines with 35 stations, and_ 
 since 1884, 100 telephones. 
 
 The plant has exclusively for its own needs, a chem- 
 ical laboratory, a photograph, gallery, a printing office, 
 and a book bindery. There is a iire brigade of 70 men. 
 and 32 fire alarms. The Commissary Department, whose^ 
 transactions in 1882 reached nearly a million dollars, 
 includes ; a hotel, nine beer gardens, a mineral-water 
 factory, a steam grinding mill, a bakery, an abattoir, 
 one clothing and two shoemaking establishments, forty- 
 six grocery, haberdashery, dry goods, hardware and. 
 other shops. 
 
 At the last general census taken in September, 1881,. 
 the total of employees footed up 19,605, of whom 11,211 
 belonged to the Steel Works, and 8,394 to the Smelting: 
 Works, mines, &c. 
 
 The other members of the families numbered 45,776,, 
 of whom 13,083 were school attendants, so that the entire^ 
 population dependent upon the plant amounted to 65, 
 381 souls. 18,698 of these occupied dwellings belonging- 
 to the establishment. We will not speak of the various^ 
 institutions for the public comfort, the dormitories for 
 unmarried men, the baths, hospitals, manual training- 
 schools. 
 
 According to the old saying that ' ' the left ear rings; 
 when good is spoken of us," Krupp must be unable to 
 hear his own words, for no one else does the good he 
 does. 
 
 A word concerning Krupp, the very soul of what, 
 we attempt to describe. 
 
 The present owner is an octogenarian, whose rugged^ 
 health and ceaseless activity defy age and sickness. * 
 
 * Since these lines were written, the world has been called upon to mourn the death. 
 o£ Alfred Krupp, crowned with years and honours, July 14th, 1887. See " Alfreci 
 Krupp ; a sketch of his Lite and Work," New York, 18:8. 
 
— 167 — 
 
 He is still the prime mover in all the great enterprises, 
 undertaken by the Works. As Commodore Vanderbilt 
 was called "The Railroad King," so has he been named 
 " The Cannon King." 
 
 This regal title — ^hardly intrinsically applicable to the 
 great American financier, who restricted himself to the 
 purchase of blocks of stock in sound and paying roads, 
 and never buHt a mile of line in his life — is a just tribute 
 to Krupp, for he himself, made not only the guns but 
 also the necessary metal. 
 
 E. MONTHATE. 
 
APPEi^DIX. 
 
REGARDING 
 
 KRUPP AND DE BANGE. 
 
 AN ANALYSIS OF SOME CRITICISMS MADE UPON 
 CAPTAIN MONTHAYE'S BOOK 
 
 PERTINAX, 
 
 Graduate of the Belgium Artillery and Engineer 
 School of Application. 
 
 "1 am not animated by that narrow patriotism 
 
 which demands that the Administration should 
 
 purchase poor material in Belgium, when good 
 
 can be procured elsewhere.'' 
 
 Extract from the speech of M. Necjkas, Deputy 
 
 from Li^ge. at the Chamber of Eepresenta- 
 
 tives, May 30th, 1887. Parliamentary A nnals, 
 
 p. 1158. 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER FIRST. 
 
 Page. 
 A Red-covered Pamplet, (compiled from the Journal de Liege) 171 
 
 CHAPTER SECOND. 
 A yellow-covered Pamphlet 189 
 
 CHAPTER THIRD 
 The Patriotism involved in the Gun Question 194 
 
 -r-e^Ra-.- 
 
CHAPTER I. 
 
 A Red-covered Pamphlet. 
 
 Ordnance experts and steel makers may be divided 
 into two classes, those who believe that crucible steel is 
 the only material for guns, and those "who are vsdUing to 
 accept any steel, without questioning its origin or fabri- 
 cation, provided it comes up to specification. 
 
 In Belgium we find active partisans of both schools, 
 especially in the Ordnance Corps, and, though closely 
 contested, the question to-day is far from settled. The 
 Belgian steel makers, however, are a unit in support of 
 the second class, for the very simple reason that we have 
 no plant for making crucible steel under the required 
 conditions. The occasion always furnishes the man. 
 Thus the Journal de Liege has brought to light among 
 its editors, an ardent advocate of confining the manufac- 
 ture of guns to national industry, an industry, by-the- 
 way, which has its seat in Liege and its environs. In 
 many editorials, somewhat local in spirit but otherwise 
 well- written, this aptly provided writer undertakes to 
 demolish the arguments of the believers in crucible 
 steel. By natural sympathy, (for all are in the same 
 boat), for the system of De Bange, who is also neces- 
 sarily opposed to crucible steel, the champion of the 
 Liege steel industry takes up with boyish enthusiasm 
 the cudgels in defense of the French constructor and ia 
 
— 172 — 
 
 opposition to the Essen steel maker., The most recent 
 articles from the Journal de Liege have been collected 
 and published under red covers as an " Open Letter to 
 Lieut. E. Monthaye." It is not our intention to iterate 
 here in their entirety the arguments advanced by the 
 two parties. Those of our readers who are desirous of 
 thoroughly sifting this question should read the excel- 
 lent work on this subject, just published, entitled 
 "Krupp and De Bange" by Lieutenant E. Monthaye, 
 recently promoted to a captaincy in the General Staff. 
 We only propose to answer some objections which have 
 appeared in the papers and elsewhere, since the issue of 
 this book, aimed at Krupp steel and Krupp guns ; a 
 task we gladly undertake, because we, with hosts of 
 others, believe that the Krupp method, embracing both 
 material and construction, is the only scientifically 
 sound one. 
 
 * * 
 
 Some advocates of Krupp steel, relying upon the 
 logical and carefully considered views of Fremy, Vale- 
 rius, Seebohm, and other eminent scientific and practi- 
 cal experts, have ventured to regard as established, the 
 superiority of crucible steel as a gun-metal over Besse- 
 mer, open-hearth, and other varieties. 
 
 Forthwith, the Journal de Liege puts on its war 
 paint, and calling to the rescue that member of its 
 editorial staff who also functions as a corporal of militia, 
 in "one time and one motion," makes away with all 
 these authorities. Gladly if it dared, would it regard 
 them as obstinate opponents of progress, old fogies, 
 whose writings — antiquated tomes — are only worth pres- 
 
173 
 
 ervation, on the shelves of some alcliemist's cabinet. 
 But then, why will these conscript fathers of science, 
 not to be confounded with "Modern Science," the true 
 fountain of life, indulge in views not in harmony with 
 the interests of Belgian industry ? 
 
 The Journal de Liege writer, who is a patriot, a war- 
 like one at that, for he is a corporal of militia, poses as 
 the high priest of mighty science, of "modern science," 
 of "Belgian science above all." This science is only 
 for the initiate ; no one may criticise its dogmas with- 
 out the risk of being overwhelmed with the whole 
 string of anathemas launched with such gusto by Doctor 
 Pancraceupon Sgnarelle in Moliere's "Marriage force." 
 But let us hasten to defend science, " old style," against 
 science, "new style patented" of this high and mighty 
 doctor of Tubal Cain's art. Sir Corporal of the Journal 
 de Liege. 
 
 * * 
 
 According to Fremy, the ideal gun -metal should be 
 made of charcoal iron and cement steel, melted in cruci- 
 bles ; but, adds the distinguished chemist, the production 
 of these components is too limited and their cost too 
 high to admit of their general use in gun construction. 
 
 The representatives of this "modern science," who 
 throne it so lordly in the Journal de Liege, do not ac- 
 cept this conclusion, which the French scientist bases 
 upon economical considerations, and, we hasten to say, 
 with some show of reason. "Sweden alone" they an- 
 swer, "not counting B.ussia or the United States, pro- 
 duces annually about 250,000 tons of charcoal iron, of 
 exceptional quality and low price, most of which finds 
 
— 174 — 
 
 its way to England, and America as raw material for 
 cement steel." But this is not the question. It is clear 
 that if Krupp deemed it advantageous to use charcoal 
 iron alone in making crucible steel, he could easily pro- 
 duce it in one of his Siegen blast furnaces ; but he 
 regards the coke iron he uses as possessing the requisite 
 purity. Indeed it does not follow as a matter of course 
 that charcoal iron is necessarily purer than coke, for a 
 pig made with the best quality of coke from very pure 
 ores, may be as good as any charcoal iron. This . is 
 Krupp' s case, for he works with coke and ores of re- 
 markable purity ; as a result he gets for his steel, iron 
 of the very highest standard. 
 
 Hence the JournaV s taunt that Krupp does not follow 
 the very first precept of Fremy falls to the ground. 
 
 There is another factor which assures cheinical puri- 
 ty for Krupp' s crucible steel ; all the ingredients which 
 make up the crucible charge, iron as. well as steel, come 
 from puddling pig metal. 
 
 The refining character of this process is well known. 
 Should for instance, there still remain in the pig traces 
 of phosphorus, they are eliminated in the puddling fur- 
 nace, so that the iron and steel, produced by this method, 
 ofEer an additional guarantee, not applicable to open- 
 hearth steel. 
 
 Besides, the purity of cement steel depends in the 
 same way upon that of the material of which it is made ; 
 it cannot be purer than the puddled iron, its base. This 
 however, is made by the same process Krupp uses for 
 his puddled iron and steel. For these reasons, the two 
 constituents of Krupp' s crucible steel, iron scndi puddled 
 
-175 — 
 
 steel, possess chemical qualities fully equalling those of 
 the choicest components used in any establishment where 
 steel is made, not in small and costly specimens, but for 
 every demand requiring a metal of high grade. 
 
 * 
 * * 
 
 The "professors" of the Journal de Liege YsiSiva.t2iva. 
 that the Martin- Siemens furnace, which Fremy expects 
 to be so much improved in the future, has fulfilled all its 
 promises, they claim that its product is as homogeneous 
 as crucible cast-steel. A few "common-sense" metal- 
 lurgical considerations will, we hope, prove the contrary. 
 Krupp takes his iron arid puddled steel in given proport- 
 ions for the charge of the hermetically sealed crucible, 
 and remelts them without exposure to either gas or air. 
 In this way he secures for the result, whose chemical 
 purity is already assured, the desired constitution and 
 absolute physical homogeneity. The minute impurities 
 still held by the iron and steel come to the surface of the 
 charge, which is kept in undisturbed fusion for some 
 hours, and in pouring remain in the crucible. 
 
 In the Martin- Siemens process, on the contrary, the 
 oxydizing iron and steel scrap are fused in a bath of cast- 
 iron in the furnace under the direct action of the flame, 
 which cannot always be maintained free from an excess 
 of air ; the oxygen of the scrap combines with the carbon 
 of the pig, the gaseous product escapes, and there re- 
 mains a liquid mass of metal lower in carbon. This is 
 open-hearth steel, the present main gun-metal of England 
 and France. It does not require profound metallurgical 
 knowledge to comprehend that such a metal does not 
 
— 176 — 
 
 offer the same guarantee of uniformity and Jiomogen&Uy 
 as crucible steel. Of course it is possible to cast ingots 
 of open-hearth steel, to roll them, and to remelt the bars 
 in a regenerative furnace. Undoubtedly a better metal 
 would thus be obtained than by the open-hearth process 
 pure and simple, but even in this case, the steel bath is 
 exposed to the direct action of the flame and gases, and 
 scum is formed upon the surface which at once reacts 
 upon the liquid mass. We may therefore be sure that 
 even this metal, made by the improved method, does not 
 merit the same confidence as regards homogeneity as 
 does crucible steel. 
 
 Whitworth also uses the open-hearth process for gun- 
 metal. His method of compressing the liquid steel 
 mechanically, so highly praised, has long ago been ac- 
 knowledged as insufficient and useless, for the reason 
 that it is essential to produce ingots without blow holes 
 in the very casting, and the compression has no greater 
 effect than can be attained by hammering, necessary 
 under all circumstances. 
 
 We submit these remarks in good faith to the "new 
 science" gentlemen of the Journal de Liege. Perhaps 
 they may admit that it is not altogether an impossibility 
 that Krupp metal is superior to its rivals, especially for 
 gun construction. 
 
 The reasons we have adduced to establish our point 
 are precisely the same as those given by the famous 
 metallurgists, whose conclusions the Journal de lAege 
 rejects vdth disdain because upset by "modern pro 
 gress." The metallurgical methods followed and de- 
 scribed by these experts have undergone no change in 
 
— 177 — 
 
 principle and even if tlie danger of blow-lioles, in open- 
 hearti. ingots has up to a given point been overcome, the 
 modification of the process has given rise to other draw- 
 backs, and has left untouched all the other causes v^hich 
 tend to impart uncertainty of constitution, an attribute 
 characterizing this metal, 
 
 The Martin- Siemens process has to-day the same 
 value in producing gun-metal as it had ia Fremy's time ; 
 it is inferior, and greatly so, as regards uniforinity and 
 homogeneity to the crucible method adopted for this 
 purpose in Krupp's Works. 
 
 * 
 * * 
 
 We agree fully with Lieutenant Monthaye in deem- 
 ing as a striking confirmation of his conclusions the 
 recent gun experience of England and France, and 
 Colonel De la Rocque's criticisms upon French gun steel, 
 not only that supplied in 1872, as it would erroneously 
 appear to the corporal- professor of the Journal de Liege, 
 but in the entire period from 1861 to 1887. Colonel 
 De la Rocque can speak authoritatively on this matter, 
 for his official connection with Government Foundries 
 has afforded him abundant opportunity for examining 
 and testing the steel blocks furnished by French Works. 
 The facts cited by him show that even at the present 
 time French gun steel still lacks homogeneity. We 
 repeat, upon this matter. Colonel De la Rocque is an 
 ■expert, for he speaks of what he has seen and tried, but 
 in his criticisms of Krupp guns this is not the case ; he 
 Tiad no personal knowledge of Krupp methods, and, not 
 being a fine German scholar, he has not translated cor- 
 
— 178 — 
 
 rectly — Lieut. Monthaye gives some telling instances — 
 the Grerman treatises on the subject. 
 
 * 
 * * 
 
 An apparently strong argument can be advanced. 
 The question may be asked, as was done by the Journal 
 de Liege, " Why does not France, if Fremy's investiga- 
 tions really proved the superiority of crucible steel, use 
 this make for gun-metal?" 
 
 Of course, the cost of plant, in so important a matter, 
 need not be taken into account, especially in connection 
 with so great an industrial nation as the French. This 
 is not the reason ; two inducements led France to make 
 what we must call, a mistake, one, the potent influence 
 of the leaders of " modem science" who positively as- 
 serted that the open-hearth furnace would yield a metal, 
 if not at once, at least very soon, fully equal to crucible 
 steel. 
 
 This assertion appeared to be confirmed for the 
 moment by various mechanical tests of open-hearth 
 steel which showed that it possessed apparently identi- 
 cal physical qualities. 
 
 Nowadays, this sort of test, based on a few figures, 
 formerly deemed of great importance by the authorities, 
 has not so much weight given to it, and practical experi- 
 ence upsets preconceived ideas. It has been proved, and 
 is now generally accepted, that satisfactory results ob- 
 tained with good test specimens cut here and there from 
 the ingots, do not determine the quality of the entire 
 block. The testimony of Colonel De la Eocque upon 
 
— 179 — 
 
 this point is irrefragable, its vital bearing in the discus- 
 sion cannot be gainsaid. 
 
 In drawing broad conclusions from the data of re- 
 stricted tests there is danger, as is readily seen, of great 
 miscalculation. 
 
 In this same train of thought, we believe that too 
 much weight should not be attached to the recent Wool- 
 wich experiments of Professor Abel and Colonel Mait- 
 land. This investigation covered the resistance to 
 erosion offered by steel of various makes and different 
 degrees of hammering. The future will demonstrate 
 whether or no these results, quoted with such evident 
 satisfaction, are not more apparent than real. Let us 
 wait until then. 
 
 The second inducement that led France to reject 
 crucible steel for gun construction, lay in the. difficulty 
 of producing it in great blocks, weighing 70 tons or more. 
 This requires something beside the preliminary provid- 
 ing of some thousands of crucibles, the only condition, so 
 it seems to the correspondent of the Journal de Liege, 
 required to be fulfilled. 
 
 But our "corporal," who is as bright as though he 
 were not a corporal, knows better, only he is too regard- 
 ful of others' feelings to say so. On the other hand, 
 since, from inability to cast great ingots, open-hearth 
 steel had to be used for heavy guns, there was the more 
 reason for using it for medium and light pieces. 
 
 It is true, as observed by the correspondent of the 
 Journal de Liege, that there are smaU Works in France 
 where crucible steel is made, but — he should have add- 
 ed — for some special purpose where cost, as compared 
 
— 180 — 
 
 with exceptional excellence, is not taken into account. 
 We have in mind especially tool steel. 
 
 The statement however, was unwise, for the Journal 
 de Liege thereby itself admits that even in France, when 
 steel of unsual high grade is required, recourse is had to 
 crucible. We have the right to conclude from this 
 admission that even the Journal acknowledges — in pri- 
 vate be it understood — that for special application 
 crucible is superior to open-hearth steel. 
 
 * 
 
 The Journal de Liege interprets from its own stand- 
 point, some recent comparative tests with Krupp and 
 French battering shells at Spezia and Saint Petersburg. 
 The reaZ truth, for it appears there are several kinds, 
 can be gleaned from all the trustworthy reviews. Here 
 it is. 
 
 At Spezia, the Krupp shells proved far superior to 
 those of French make. At St. Petersburg, there were 
 in some of the tests slight differences in favor of the 
 French shells. 
 
 But it is unquestionable that, in the quality and 
 fabrication of steel battering shells, Krupp is always in 
 the lead, notwithstanding the efforts of his French rivals. 
 Another point to note, one which has not escaped the 
 attention of the opponents of crucible steel, the French 
 projectiles in these trials were made, according to the 
 Journal de Liege of crucible, not of open-hearth, steel. 
 Will the French steel makers apologize ? 
 
 In concluding what relates to Krupp metal, we invite 
 the correspondent of the Journal de Liege to rely more 
 
— 181 — 
 
 upon his own fairness and good sense, and not to trust 
 
 so blindly to opinions advanced with, such apparent 
 
 striking pertinence by a so-called "modern science." 
 
 If he did this, he would, with the gentlemanliness we 
 
 willingly accord him, acknowledge that a man might be 
 
 an advocate of Krupp metal without making it a fetich. 
 
 * * 
 * 
 
 The friends of Krupp have been criticized for not 
 making use, in comparing the Krupp and De Bange 
 systems, of the tables of the Call Company, as well as 
 those of the Essen Works. The criticism is not just, for 
 the Gail tables give only approximate theoretical results 
 with guns not yet constructed, except for pieces identi- 
 cal with the corresponding French standard models. It 
 cannot be disputed that the range tables of these latter 
 must be valid for similar guns supplied by the Gail 
 Company. Krupp' s tables possess quite a diJBferent im- 
 portance and reliability, due to the fact that every one 
 of the guns compared with the De Bange, has been fur- 
 nished to some nation or other. Krupp issues with each 
 piece, range tables, tables usually drawn up under the 
 eyes of the inspecting officers, who, besides, at Meppen 
 have the entire control from beginning to end. 
 
 Hence it is a simple matter of personal interest for 
 Krupp to make his tables comport with the actual 
 results. 
 
 We believe that up to the present time no customer's 
 confidence in the German Establishment has been 
 shaken. 
 
 * * 
 
182 
 
 It is not our intention to enter upon a theoretical 
 discussion of the respective merits of the Krupp and 
 De Bange fermatures. Those who regard with doubt 
 the utterances of the adherents of the rival systems, and 
 rely upon experience alone, — after all, as said recently 
 by the Army and Na%y Oazette, the crucial touchstone 
 in so important a matter, — will be well pleased if they 
 give careful consideration to the following : Since the 
 introduction of the De Bange fermature side by side 
 with the Krupp, various States have adopted new' sys- 
 tems of field artillery. Which one has adopted the De 
 Bange gun? One only, Servia, and under well under- 
 stood politico-financial pressure. It is true that Norway 
 has also adopted the De Bange breech mechanism — but 
 applied to Krupp guns. 
 
 We shall revert .later to this matter. On the other 
 hand, among the greater Powers, Italy has adhered to 
 the Krupp mechanism for its new field pieces of swaged 
 bronze now making. Yet, when this decision was 
 reached, the De Bange system was well known in Italy. 
 Turkey, in introducing the new field artillery material 
 made at Essen, has also adhered to the Krupp fermature. 
 
 Bulgaria has done the same. The Dutch Commission 
 sent to witness the Bucharest trials, and which watched 
 the working of the Krupp gun in connection with the 
 De Bange, confirms in its report the superiority of the 
 German over the French system.* 
 
 *T?ie Bucharest Trials. — Extract from the Report of the Netherland 
 Commission. Brussels, Vanderlinden, 1886, p. 43 et seq. 
 
— 183 — 
 
 Belgium subjected the Kxupp fermature to tests, and 
 then adopted it for its new field equipment. 
 
 The important bearing of such facts can be denied 
 only by prejudiced individuals. The De Bange system 
 has been adopted in France. How about this? We 
 have no desire to stir up acrimonious discussion in re- 
 gard thereto ; we refer the reader to the criticisms of the 
 French press itself, criticisms though discreet and to 
 be read " between the lines." For our part, we repeat, 
 we have no desire whatever to engage in epistolary war- 
 faro with the French partisans of Colonel De Bange ; 
 they have their hands full in the task of meeting the re- 
 criminations of their own compatriots. 
 
 As to the Servian argument, here is a page of con- 
 temporaneous history, very singular on account of the 
 circumstances it discloses. We offer it to those who are 
 still in doubt. 
 
 In its issue of April 3 (new style), 1887, OdjeJc, a 
 Belgrade paper, published the following: "We have 
 now new guns, but the question is, what are they worth ? 
 We must announce with dismay, that although we have 
 them, we are no better off than if we had no artillery at 
 all." . ..." Is it a secret that aU the Colonels one after 
 the other, have reported upon the defects of their pieces ? 
 A summing up of all, shows not less than ninety." We 
 must mention that in its issue of April 13, the same 
 paper publishes a denial from an official source, which 
 renders nugatory its statements of April 3. The correc- 
 tion closes thus : 
 
 ' ' The Minister of War makes light of our despond 
 ing, and, in the face of our fears, asserts the efficiency 
 
— 184 — 
 
 of our new equipment in saying tliat when called upon, 
 it will brilliantly meet all demands." 
 
 Stung by this reprimand, Odjek^ in its issue of May 1, 
 comes to the point, and publishes a list of forty-two 
 defects reported by the commandants of regiments to 
 the War Department, and the steps taken to cure them. 
 As we are here discussing only the question of ferma- 
 tures, we will content ourselves with a taste, and quote 
 only one of the defects of the De Bange f ermature, and 
 the decision thereon of the Servian War Department. 
 
 '■'■ Second defect. — In rapid firing it is difficult to lock 
 the screw on account of fouling. It has happened that 
 the breech-plug could not be opened after the first 
 round." 
 
 ^^ Decision. — That this should occur no more, all 
 fermatures should be well oiled after each round, or 
 after every second round. Those fermatures which can- 
 not be opened after the first round should be examined 
 by the armorer with a view of repairing them. Besides, 
 it is necessary in all fermatures to smooth the edges of 
 the screw threads with a file." Here you have it ! The 
 first defect, which according to Lieutenant Monthaye, 
 attaches to the De Bange fermature, the possibility of 
 upsetting the metal of screw and nut, is confirmed by 
 the most recent practice. As to the second, the possi- 
 bility of unbreeching by the wrenching of the tube, due 
 to the sudden, uncushioned effect of the gas-pressure 
 upon the bottom of the threads, a proof exists in the 
 frequent tearing off of the breech of French field-guns. 
 
 The ease of working and the exemption from danger 
 of fouling claimed for the De Bange fermature is rather 
 
— 185 — 
 
 placed in doubt by the recent experience, instructive in 
 every respect, of the Servian Artillery. 
 
 * 
 
 "We learn from Engineering, that recently in Nor- 
 way the Be Bange gun came out ahead of the Krupp in 
 a comparative test, on account of its accuracy and a 
 host of other good qualities. 
 
 This is strict truth, in so far as the Christiana Board 
 has reported in favor of the adoption of a gun with De 
 Bange fermature, but it was forgetful not to state that 
 the gun is the 8.4 cent. Krupp, the same model that 
 competed at Belgrade, except as to fermature. We are 
 convinced that this material, furnished by Krupp, will be 
 free from the weaknesses, so glaringly manifest in the 
 Servian pieces supplied by French makers. The new 
 Norwegian equipment will have then in all essential 
 points but one, the superior attributes conceded to 
 Krupp guns ; but we still insist in doubting the real, 
 practical value of the French fermature. 
 
 We fear that in this respect the Norwegian Artillery 
 will undergo a rueful experience. 
 
 The De Bange gas-check for heavy guns has been 
 adopted in England, that this was a success for the con- 
 structor, no one will deny. But, after the accidents to 
 the guns of the "J.yaic,"— we refer to the 2Ymes concern- 
 ing them — the enchantment ceased, and most significant 
 fact, the new 110 -ton Armstrong guns, constructed for 
 the English Government, guns with breech-plugs having 
 movable heads etc., are to be furnished neither with the 
 Armstrong cap, nor with the De Bange plastic gas-check, 
 
— 186 — 
 
 but with a modification of this latter system, proposed 
 by Mr. Vavasseur. 
 
 It is evident that if the De Bange gas-check had 
 answered all demands, it would not have been necessary 
 to embark upon a new, untried construction. 
 
 * 
 * * 
 
 Engineering, in its issues of February 4, and 18, 
 makes a comparison between the ballistic effects of the 
 Krupp 120-ton and the Armstrong 110- ton gun, a com- 
 parison which it turns to the advantage of the latter. 
 Of course this is proper patriotism, decided Jingoism, 
 but is it the truth \ 
 
 We have lately received Krupp Report No. LXIII, 
 published in July, 1886, in which occurs this passage : 
 
 ' ' The four 40 cent, guns, 35 calibres long, have in 
 every respect come up to specification. Gun No. 19, 
 464, which has fired 66 rounds, shows signs of scoring, 
 as might have been expected in so great a piece with 
 330 kilogram charges ; but this scoring is so exceeding- 
 ly slight that no lengthening of the chamber can, up to 
 the present time, be detected, as shown by accompany- 
 ing measurements. This gun will soon be tried with 
 still heavier charges, and with new kinds of powder. 
 For this purpose, the gun has been already remounted 
 at Meppen, and the trials will begin next August. The 
 other three pieces will soon be sent to their destination." 
 The fourth 40 cent, gun, contrary to popular belief has 
 not been sent to Italy. Experimental firing was con- 
 tinued with it at Meppen in August and September, 1886, 
 
187 — 
 
 Krupp Report No. LXIV, published in September, 1886, 
 gives the later results. 
 
 We have drawn thence the subjoined data for com- 
 parison with the maximum effect thus far produced with 
 the Armstrong gun. 
 
 
 
 ■E 
 
 "Weight 
 
 3F 
 
 1 
 
 MUZZLE 
 ENERGY. 
 
 11 
 ^1 
 
 Thickness of 
 
 Ham mere 1 Plate 
 
 penetrated at 
 
 Muzzle. 
 
 GUN. 
 
 1 
 
 % 
 
 1 
 
 
 So 
 
 
 Calibre. 
 
 
 Tom. 
 
 Kll. 
 
 Kll. 
 
 Met. 
 
 Met. totis. 
 
 Kil. M. 
 
 Atmoi 
 
 Cent. 
 
 Krupp 
 
 40 cent. 35 
 cal. long. 
 
 Seot.38, 
 1886. 
 
 131 
 
 384 
 
 1,050 
 
 579 
 
 17,940 
 
 149 
 
 2,860 
 
 119 
 
 Armstrong. 
 
 «3rcent. 
 
 Mar. 3, 
 
 1887 
 
 111.76 
 
 386 
 
 880 
 
 655 
 
 17,949 
 
 161 
 
 3,025 
 
 -114 
 
 A projectile of the same weight, (820 kilograms) as 
 the Armstrong, would receive with a charge of 384 kilo- 
 grams in the Krupp gun, an initial velocity of about 650 
 metres. The pressure of 2,860 atmospheres is perfectly- 
 admissible in the Krupp gun, while according to En- 
 gineering of Febriiary 17, 1887, the pressure in the 
 Armstrong with action charges should not exceed 2,600 
 atmospheres. It follows then that for the maximum 
 effect, as given in the above table, the pressure is con- 
 siderably higher than prescribed by the Constructor. 
 
 Lately it has been stated that the gun is warranted 
 up to 3,800 atmospheres, {Engineering, May 13, 1887) 
 but we prefer to stick to the figures given by the maker 
 himself. 
 
 This article, in Engineering of JNIay 17, is a com- 
 parison between the two guns, made by Mr. Longridge. 
 
— 188 — 
 
 We earnestly recommend its perusal to the "Cor- 
 poral ' ' of the Journal de Liege, without however being 
 conceited enough to hope that all the author' s conclus • 
 ions will be to his taste. Yet, this in the way of caution, 
 we avow having little faith in the. proposed steel wire- 
 wound guns of the English writer. It must be acknowl- 
 edged that the 40 cent, guns supplied by Krupp to the 
 Italian Government have nothing to dread, even under 
 ballistic performance, in a comparison with the latest 
 output of the Elswick Works. Besides it must be borne 
 in mind that this new Armstrong gun is, at best, but an 
 experimental piece, whose construction involves alto- 
 gether untried innovations, and as to whose accuracy, 
 we have as yet no data. 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 A Yellow-covered Pamphlet. 
 
 Havermans of Brussels has recently issued a little 
 yel'low-covered pamphlet, entitled: "The Gun Ques- 
 tion," and signed by Lieutenant J. Malengreau. This 
 young officer is a voluminous author ; it will be said of 
 him-we fear with truth-that the number of his worts, 
 which all resemble each other, detracts somewhat from 
 their quality. Like its predecessors, the new pamphlet 
 is not destined to revolutionize the art ; being of the 
 still-bom class, it does not even possess a death-bed 
 glamour. In other words, we shall not criticise all the 
 "godsends," discoverable in its forty-three pages, it 
 would take too long, and be of very little use. It is 
 worth while however, from abstract considerations, to 
 call the attention of the readers of this booklet to two 
 points : 
 
 1. — The author's method as regards those who dif- 
 fer from him. 
 
 2. — The degree of competence possessed by him. 
 
 We have neither the right, nor the duty to under- 
 take, as against Mr. Malengreau, the defence of the 
 author of " Krupp and De Bange," but if Mr. Monthaye 
 disdains to reply to the controversial methods we are 
 
— 190 — 
 
 about to stigmatize, we shall obey tlie instinct of pro- 
 fessional fellowship by nailing them to the pillory. 
 
 How has Mr. Malengrean proceeded in his attempt 
 to convict his opponent of recantation of opinions ? He 
 has picked from his writings a number of apparently 
 pertinent passages, put them cleverly together, ( is clev- 
 erly the right word ? ) and thus formed a whole, which 
 at the first blush, appears consistent. 
 
 He has thus most disloyally misrepresented his com- 
 rade's views. 
 
 It would be a deserved punishment for Mr. Malen- 
 greau to print his mutilated quotations in juxtaposition 
 with the original text, and restored amid sentences 
 which give them their true import ; but this punitive 
 task is little to our taste. We content ourselves with 
 denouncing the method without more severe comment, 
 leaving it to every one to form his own opinion. 
 
 Is Mr. Malengreau more competent than he is loyal 1 
 In "Krupp and De Bange," on page 48, under the 
 heading, "Mountain G-uns," occurs this sentence: 
 
 "The excessive weight of the French projectile re- 
 duces the number carried by each pack animal, a very 
 important consideration ; and, as a result of the low 
 initial velocity, the shock of the recoil is harder on the 
 carriage, which is therefore more strongly constructed 
 than the German, and is of course, much heavier." 
 
 Mr. Malengreau thinks it necessary to prove his 
 ignorance, by annotating the passage in this ridiculous 
 fashion : " Any comment would dim this pearl !" 
 
 We have no especial desire to instruct, but we can- 
 
— 191 — 
 
 not here resist the temptation of placing before the 
 author of "The Gun Question," this simple demonstra- 
 tion. 
 
 Let 
 
 p^ =weiglit of the projectile, 
 (jj ^ts initial velocity. 
 P =weiglit of gun and carriage. 
 ■Vi=mean velocity of recoil. 
 
 The mean velocity of recoil is approximately deter- 
 mined by the equation : 
 
 assuming, with the same charge, a projectile weighing 
 
 Pi > Pi. 
 we can find its velocity from the equation : 
 
 Pl ■Ol^Pi 1>i 
 
 (2) 
 
 25' ■" ^g 
 
 in which g is the acceleration of gravity. With the pro- 
 jectile whose weight is p^, the mean velocity of recoil, 
 Vj, is given by the equation : 
 
 substituting the value ofp^ from (2), we have 
 
 But from (1) 
 
 =^-^X^(4) 
 
 Vi--p- 
 
 Prom which follows that in firing successively heavier 
 projectiles from one and the same piece with constant 
 charge, the mean velocity of recoil of the system in- 
 creases inversely as the initial velocity. As the shock 
 upon the carriage increases with the theoretical velocity 
 of recoil, the proposition is proved, and Mr. Monthaye 
 
— 192 — 
 
 is justified in making the statement, disdainfully called, 
 by his presuming opponent, ' ' a pearl." We wager that 
 " this gentleman " (to follow his footsteps ) now wishes 
 he had not disturbed this jewel. We trust that Mr. 
 Malengreau will in future be more cautious, and that 
 before attempting to belittle the knowledge of his col- 
 leagues, he will set himself to work to fill np the con- 
 stantly evident voids — and the case cited is to the point 
 — in his own technical education. 
 
 Mr. Malengreau, a graduate of the Academy, which 
 entails a certain presumption of literary capacity, ought 
 to have better command of the language of Voltaire 
 and Buffon. 
 
 He concludes the yellow booklet in question with 
 this remarkable sentence : 
 
 "Modern Artillery has not uttered its last word; 
 we are later than others, we can thus profit by their ex- 
 perience, and, appropriate the good points of each of 
 their system" [de chacun de leur systeme). 
 
 Modern Artillery has not uttered its last word. 
 True, but common-place and hackneyed. We are later 
 than others. "Others" is rather vague, almost dream- 
 ily so. We can thus profit by their experience. This 
 is logical and indisputable. And appropriate the good 
 points of each of their system. Of each of their sys- 
 tem, ? — that requires reflection. Sach of their system is 
 surely unpublished. All praise to the unappreciated 
 genius who brought this pearl-bearing oyster to the 
 surface ; it is large, and, doubling its value, of exquisite 
 flavor. 
 
— 193 — 
 
 We conclude with, these words to Mr. Malengreau : 
 If, dear comrade, you believe that your writings help to 
 "push" manufactures along the shores of progress, 
 and to "enrich'"' literature with new masterpieces, at- 
 tach no value to these illusions ! Abandon the part you 
 cannot play, give up the fight for which you are not 
 fitted, or else, some day, some very, very distant day, 
 — for we do not pray for the death of the sinner — there 
 vrill be found somewhere this epitaph, sadly yet strik- 
 ingly suggestive : 
 
 ]\Iuch did he write 
 All of a comic kind. 
 
 j\Iany delight 
 His pen no more to find. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 The Patriotism involved in the Gun Question. 
 
 Those who favor Krupp guns expose themselves, as 
 has happened and will unfortunately continue to happen, 
 to the charge of want of patriotism, while by extolling 
 the merits of the Cockerill or even of the De Bange 
 ordnance, — for according to the views of some we should 
 have a high regard for the French guns — one becomes, 
 without opposition, a great man. 
 
 It is indeed an easy task to flourish before the 
 public gaze, the image, so flattering to the national 
 pride, of a model gun foundry, supported by national 
 arts and manufactures, and supplying not only national 
 wants, but as formerly, the wants of the whole world, 
 even China not excepted. Just look at this enchanting 
 picture. China, thanks to Belgian guns, a factor in the 
 world's "balance of power!" Alas! this is but bun- 
 combe and illusion ; all this might have been possible, 
 fifty years ago, but instead of at that time changing by 
 radical, fearless measures our gun foundry and adapting 
 it to the new demands of steel making, we have allowed 
 it to fall away, to die a slow death. Its patrons have 
 abandoned it for those, who, like Krupp, have frankly 
 admitted the possibility of progress, and who have had 
 time to strengthen their position and render it unassail- 
 
— 195 — 
 
 able. Even Colonel De Bange has come too late upon 
 the scene, and while he has been so fortunate as to see 
 his system adopted by his native land, he must plainly 
 see also, that it is difficult, if not impossible, for him to 
 contend against the competition of Krupp, of Arm- 
 strong, and of Whitworth, in supplying other countries. 
 
 Where Colonel De Bange has not succeeded, where 
 occasionally and only with great difficulty, Armstrong 
 and "Whitworth have gained partial laurels, we cannot 
 entertain any reasonable hope of triumphing. 
 
 Now, if we cannot expect to supply foreign ordnance 
 needs, it would indeed be a useless waste of money to at- 
 tempt to start a new Industry ; it would, once or twice, 
 supply our own needs, exceedingly limited ones, and it 
 would then perish for want of customers. 
 
 If the State undertakes to supply the capital for a nat- 
 ional Gun Foundry, if the State keeps up such an estab- 
 lisment, run by private industry, the State will soon come 
 out behindhand. And take it all in all, why such sacri- 
 fice ? Simply to foster steel making, one industry among 
 many, an unjust procedure and against the interests of 
 the mass of taxpayers, entrusted to the pradent and 
 economical guardianship of the State. 
 
 We propose to amplify somewhat upon this matter. 
 
 * 
 * * 
 
 It is evident, no one can deny, that it is for the in- 
 terest of the army and therefore of the country, to 
 possess an armament of the highest ballistic efficiency, 
 an armament of the greatest endurance, a most im- 
 portant consideration, from the standpoint of wise 
 
— 196 — 
 
 economy, an armament whose construction has had the 
 sanction of long experience. Two points are to be con- 
 sidered, the metal and the system. 
 
 We will not again go into the theory of the advocates 
 of crucible and open-hearth steel, we will not undertake 
 to say who bears ofE the palm, Krupp or De Bange ; we 
 merely assert that the vast majority of Ordnance ex- 
 perts, the only competent judges of metal and method of 
 construction, have declared in favOr of the Krupp metal 
 and the Krupp system. This is an incontrovertible 
 fact, as well deny the existence of the sun. 
 
 Belgium has no plant where crucible steel is made 
 especially for guns; she has' no system of construction 
 of her own. As a result, if we are desirous of having 
 good guns, we are compelled either to go abroad, or to 
 start a new industry in the manufacture of Krupp or De 
 Bange guns of all kinds. Frankly speaking, can we 
 hope to work under better technical conditions than the 
 Germ-an and French constructors, the very inventors 
 themselves ? 
 
 It is self-evident that if, notwithstanding all this, 
 the home manufacture of war material is insisted 
 upon, we must first submit to the execution of a very 
 lengthy and very costly series of experiments. Of 
 course the reply may be made that this is not necessary, 
 as we have the opportunity of adopting models of 
 established reputation ; in very fact, we profit thus by 
 the experience of others. 
 
 This argument is specious, but it is a truth, old as 
 the world, that practice alone makes perfect ; fit fabri- 
 
— 197 — 
 
 cando fdber, said the ancients. Therefore, like others, 
 we must begin at the beginning. 
 
 Who will guarantee that after essays without number, 
 we shall not some day find ourselves stocked with guns 
 fit only to be at once replaced by others i Kruj)p, 
 Armstrong, in fact all gun makers, succeeded in estab- 
 lishing a satisfactory system only after trying many 
 models, one after the other. Without claiming that 
 an army should change its armament with every im- 
 provement, impossible as well as absurd, yet change 
 must be made periodically ; and the authorities will 
 have a better opportunity of choosing the most perfect 
 system, will have more assured guarantees of being well 
 and promptly supplied, by treating with specialists, than 
 if they made it a rule, themselves to undertake the manu- 
 facture of their guns. Finally, admitting for the moment 
 that without any previous experience, private industry 
 is invited to manufacture the war material required upon 
 given and well-known systems, would it not be the 
 height of folly to assume, that even with equal excel- 
 lence of workmanship, our steel plants could at once 
 produce an output as finished and as perfect, as that 
 turned out under the eyes of already expert super- 
 intendents, by mechanics trained in this specialty for 
 more than fifty years ? " Jack of all trades, master of 
 none," is an old saw; if one attempt to turn out the 
 best locomotives, steam-engines, ships and guns, one 
 runs great risk of generally producing only mediocre 
 results. 
 
 We are then justified in asserting that, all gun manu- 
 facture should be preceded by extended experiment 
 
— 198 — 
 
 and by long apprenticeship ; tlie time required might 
 be a menace to the State left unarmed during the 
 interval, and the expense, at any rate, would be ex- 
 ceedingly burdensome. 
 
 It has lately been stated that of the eighteen millions 
 appropriated since 1868 for the purchase of war mat- 
 erials, only two millions went out of the country. We 
 do not hesitate to affirm that such a sum at least would 
 be expended in trials and experiments of all kinds, if 
 under the pretext of patriotism we abandoned the wise, 
 economical course heretofore pursued. 
 
 On the other hand, in procuring our guns abroad, we 
 gain the benefit of all the experiments, indispensable, 
 of wide range and great cost, undertaken previous to 
 the adoption of a particular type, without cost to our- 
 selves. Surely, this is invaluable, yet as the cost is 
 spread over the great number of guns, (21,000 for Krupp,) 
 supplied by the maker, the tax is hardly felt. Further, 
 we have the good fortune to obtain an armament, such 
 at least is the case with Krupp guns, which has been 
 thoroughly tried in wars of long duration, a crucial 
 test which we as a neutral State, would hardly be per- 
 mitted to apply. In other words, we purchase guns 
 which have kept their promises in the field, yet without 
 having had to pass ourselves, through the exacting and 
 sanguinary experiences of this school. These advan- 
 tages must appeal to all. 
 
 * 
 
 There is constant progress, ordnance of excellent 
 reputation to-day, may be distanced by the creation of 
 
 ; 
 
— 199 — 
 
 to-morrow. It is an unavoidable necessity for a country 
 desirous of maintaining its independence to keep up 
 in armament to th.e utmost extent of its means, with 
 its possible adversaries. Heavy indeed would be the 
 responsibility of an Administration which should fail in 
 this essential duty of providing for the national defense. 
 
 Of course, to attain this end, painful sacrifices must 
 be made, but we must learn to bear them ; the history 
 of the magazine rifle, successively adopted by all 
 European armies, furnishes a striking example. 
 
 Admitting the force of the demands of progress, how 
 does it affect those countries who undertake to make 
 their own war material in Government establishments ? 
 
 They are compelled to reorganize, with each change 
 of armament, the major portion of their plant, or at 
 least to undertake most expensive reformations, while 
 the State which purchases directly from the best gun 
 maker, economizes both money and time, and puts 
 itself at once, so far as regards ordnance, on a level with 
 the most favored nation. Those whose battle cry is, 
 "the home manufacture of the country's guns", seek 
 to impose their policy upon the authorities under pre- 
 text of keeping their steel "Works going, which, to 
 believe them, require Government contracts. 
 
 To begin with, this demand for indirect protection 
 cannot be granted with any show of impartial, fairly 
 dispensed justice ; for all other manufacturing interests, 
 wJiicTi have precisely the same claims as the steel 
 interest, would have a right to make the same demand, 
 and would insist, the occasion offering, upon the same 
 treatment. 
 
— 200 — 
 
 Tlie State posing as the guardian of all national pro- 
 ductive interests makes a most alluring picture, but, as 
 lias been often shown, of a fool's Paradise, especially 
 when it concerns a country which, like ours, is glutted 
 with production, and which must therefore insist upon 
 Free Trade. Do they argue abroad as do our manufac- 
 turers ? By no means. Germany buys our machines 
 and other products, apparently, we surmise, because she 
 finds them better made and more economically finished 
 than at home. In acting thus, does she dream of decry- 
 ing her own arts and manufactures, does she think of 
 branding them ineflacacious 1 Who dare so charge? 
 Yet this is the language of the Belgian steel makers, in 
 reproaching the Administration with discriminating 
 against home industry, because, responsible as it is to 
 the country for the good condition of its armament, it 
 purchases abroad guns of metal and ballistic qualities, 
 not procurable in Belgium. 
 
 And yet the authorities who do use home-made steel 
 for suitable purposes, such as small arms, gun-carriages, 
 etc., act precisely as they do in Germany, and every- 
 where else; they purchase Krupp crucible steel guns, 
 from Krupp, because no where else can they receive the 
 assurances of that degree of perfection which the science 
 of war demands so imperatively for these engines of 
 destruction. Our machine builders, to be as consistent 
 as our steel makers, should be dissatisfied with the 
 German method ; we wager they are not. 
 
 A further thought in concluding this line of argu- 
 ment ; it is strange to listen to the oratorical demand in 
 the name of national interest, that Government contracts 
 
— 201 — 
 
 be given the steel makers and that an embargo be put 
 upon the foreign product — fairly and squarely a sample 
 of indirect Protection — while from the same source 
 comes an indignant opposition to all State intervention 
 in behalf of suffering agriculture, the chief industry of 
 the Belgian people and this, they say, in the name of 
 Free Trade principles. 
 
 When it is a question of purchasing guns in Germany, 
 for the sake of the foremost interest, that of national 
 defense, which is that of national prosperity, these 
 seeming saints cry aloud : "The interests of our steel 
 makers are shamefully sacrificed ! The State owes them 
 its protection." 
 
 When it is a question of imposing a light duty upon 
 grain and cattle, they have scruples ; uninfluenced by the 
 suffering of agricultural laborers, whose interests are 
 not theirs, in the name of this same great national in- 
 terest, to which they sometimes seem blind, they pose 
 as stem advocates of Free Trade, and in strong terms 
 hold up for public condemnation such governmental 
 partiality. 
 
 This would be an amusing instance of moral color- 
 blindness, were it not so painful an exhibition of self- 
 interest. 
 
 We will for the moment admit that the State, under 
 the pressure of protection for steel making, undertakes 
 the manufacture of guns. 
 
 Large sums will have to be disbursed for plant as 
 required by "modern science," ( not that of the Journal 
 
— 202 — 
 
 de Liege ' doctors ' ), thus giving the right and imposing 
 the duty, in behalf of the taxpayers, of exacting a slight 
 profit, be it ever so little. Can we hope for such a 
 result? The experience of France shows its futility. 
 Here the Administration, in order to protect in an 
 analogous fashion national industry, has seriously in- 
 volved itself financially. 
 
 Gun making has too restricted a market, especially 
 in a country of such limited wants as Belgium ; it can 
 only flourish by aid of incessant Government subsidies. 
 The State will soon find itself burdened with a losing 
 speculation, which can be carried on only by further 
 demands upon the taxpayers — who are not all steel 
 makers — a policy injuriously interfering with more im- 
 portant works. 
 
 And the steel makers themselves, blinded by the de- 
 mand of the moment, having extended their facilities, 
 and possibly having made costly alterations for the sake 
 of producing a special brand of gun steel, will some day 
 find themselves heavily stocked with unsalable mer- 
 chandise ! 
 
 It may be asserted that as formerly we shall have 
 customers from abroad ; this hope we cannot entertain. 
 
 No matter how capable and scientific our engineers 
 may be, no matter what we may do, we have little pros- 
 pect of ever equalling the compass or even the perfection 
 of output of the Krupp Works, whose great specialty is 
 gun making. 
 
 Sharing the foreign market with the German manu- 
 facturer, stand the Armstrong, Whitworth, Saint- 
 Chamond, Creuzot and other Works. 
 
— 203 — 
 
 Will the prospect of receiving orders from the 
 republics of Hayti or San Domingo or other Moroccos 
 keep in activity (is actimty the proper word ?) a great 
 plant with its extensive personnel? Evidently, No. 
 
 As the strongest argument it is asserted that in pur- 
 chasing guns abroad, we risk finding ourselves unpro- 
 vided therewith, in time of war, should the contractor be- 
 long to a Power with whom we may have disputesto settle. 
 
 First, as a general proposition. " In time of peace, 
 prepare for war." Yet, a State may be surprised, such 
 a thing has occurred. In such circumstances, the guns 
 ordered would be wanting, and at the critical moment 
 too. But it would be worse to have our gun foundry, 
 established at or about Li%e, fall, perhaps fully 
 equipped, into the hands of the enemy ! Not only 
 would he take possession of our material under con- 
 struction, but also of our tools, and these, as well as our 
 native steel, would be used in making guns to be direct- 
 ed against Belgian breasts ! 
 
 * * 
 
 A page of contemporary history is here in place 
 After the Prussian success of 1866, Napoleon IIT— a 
 far-seeing potentate, to whom justice will one day be 
 rendered — was anxious to introduce into the French 
 army such features as had brought about the over- 
 whelming victory of the Prussians. But under the 
 plea that the National spirit, the National honor etc., 
 imperatively forbade France's availing herself of the 
 measures of a Power with whom she might some day 
 do battle, bronze instead of steel guns continued to be 
 
— 204 — 
 
 made, breech-loading was adopted only in name, official 
 service yielded to a coalition of private interests, and as 
 a reward for this good turn which would not accept im- 
 provements of foreign origin, the country some years 
 later was vanquished. 
 
 The very people who then bitterly reproached the 
 fallen Sovereign with not having the army prepared for 
 the struggle, even if Krupp guns were required, were 
 the self-same make-believe patriots of old ! 
 
 * * 
 
 We conclude by appealing to our readers to weigh 
 carefully the arguments we have adduced in support of 
 our position. 
 
 We are not attempting to proselytize, yet we are 
 thoroughly and honestly convinced that it is better to 
 have superior guns, even of foreign make, than inferior 
 Belgian. 
 
 This is the conclusion, not of a Mustering patriot, 
 but of a true lover of his country. We cannot win 
 laurels in this line, but we enjoy our self-approval in 
 the satisfaction of having done our duty. 
 
 This is sufficient praise. Belgian arts and manufac- 
 tures have no need to claim the lead in everything ; they 
 have achieved such great victories over foreign rivals, 
 the field in which their conquering activity is displayed 
 is so great, that they suffer no injury by being out- 
 stripped, in a single instance, by a man who is virtually 
 the founder of modern gun making. 
 
 Pertinas. 
 Brussels, August 30th, 1887. 
 
THE DE BANGE AKTILLERT IN SEETIA.* 
 
 Our correspondent writes as follows from Belgrade 
 under date of January 5, 1888. 
 
 During the summer of 1885, the Servian Authorities 
 contracted with De Bange (Cail Works) for guns, gun- 
 carriages, limbers, caissons and ammunition for the 
 armament of the field and mountain batteries. 
 
 At the outbreak of the war with Bulgaria, the de- 
 livery of this material had not yet begun, so that the 
 Servian Artillery was compelled to enter the campaign 
 with its old model guns. 
 
 The opinion advanced by many, that the Servian 
 defeat might be ascribed to these very guns, though 
 supported by the native press of that day, is not founded 
 on fact, as every one knows who may have had even 
 a slight knowledge of the actual course of events. N'ow 
 over eighteen months have elapsed since the Servian 
 Artillery has been supplied with its new outfit, and we 
 may assume that it has become thoroughly acquainted 
 with its new weapon and its management. 
 
 The time has come then, to investigate and to see if 
 expectations have been realized, if the newspaper 
 laments regarding delayed delivery were well founded. 
 
 At the time the order was placed in France, about 
 three years ago, the French press harped upon the mat- 
 ter in a series of self- laudatory pufts, which aroused a 
 war of words, in which the Servian authorities were 
 handled without gloves. 
 
 (♦Translated from the Deutsche Heeres Zeitung of January 28th, 188».) 
 
— 206 — 
 
 It seems natural that these officials would have 
 made some attempt to justify their action by the public- 
 ation of reports regarding the behavior of the new guns; 
 but up to the present time nothing has appeared ; on 
 the contrary, no effort has been spared to keep from the 
 public all knowledge of the results of tests. The little 
 that has leaked out, fully explains the silence of the 
 authorities. For, if report speak truly regarding these 
 guns, the officials would certainly be overwhelmed with 
 ridicule. 
 
 Here is a summary of what it has been possible to 
 learn concerning the results of trials with the new 
 material. 
 
 1. — Guns. 
 
 About thirty pieces have already been injured by 
 the breaking and bursting of shell and shrapnel in the 
 bore. 
 
 In blank practice, great difficulty is experienced in 
 opening and closing the breech. 
 
 The breech sights are too weak. The friction prim- 
 ers, ejected to the rear, wound the cannoneers. 
 
 2. — GrUN-CAKEIAGES. 
 
 The wheels are not strong enough. The springs and 
 bolts of the gunners' seats, the brake shoes and brake 
 shoe hooks, the eye bolts and other parts for fastening 
 on the implements are broken ; the drag chains have 
 parted ; the oilers are too light. 
 
 3. — LiMBEES. 
 
 The limber is not properly protected against rain and 
 dust. 
 
— 207 — 
 
 Single-trees and splinter-bars are out of shape ; 
 poles, prolonge-hooks and pole- irons are broken. 
 , The fastenings for grease-boxes and buckets are not 
 strong enough. 
 
 The sheet iron steps bend ; the foot boards break 
 or bend. 
 
 The pole load is too heavy. 
 
 The intrenching tools are of inferior quality. 
 
 The limber chests are badly arranged. 
 4. — Caissons, 
 
 The brake shoe is inconveniently fastened ; so also 
 the spare wheel, which is underneath, so that on uneven 
 ground the carrier breaks. 
 
 5. — Ammunition. 
 
 Shell and shrapnel break or burst in the bore, or 
 during flight. 
 
 The percussion fuze often flashes at a touch. 
 
 The time fuzes work badly ; of ten sharpnel, for 
 instance, two burst in the gun, three near the muzzle, 
 three, at intervals up to 350 metres, one on striking, and 
 one failed. 
 
 The scaling of the time fuzes is incorrect. The 
 sharpnel range table is not accurate. 
 
 Even if all the defects enumerated are not of a grave 
 nature, there are enough to justify fully the fact that 
 the Servians are now congratulating themselves that 
 these guns were not in service during the last war. 
 
— 208 — 
 KEUPP'S LETTER TO " ENGINEERING." 
 
 On page 135, reference is made to Krupp's letter to 
 Engineering as confirmatory of the statement that two 
 hundred guns had become unserviceable during the 
 Franco-German war. As a matter of interest the text 
 of this letter is subjoined. It will be found in the issue 
 of June 18th, 1875. 
 
 " With regard to the 200 guns stated to be disabled 
 in the Franco-Grerman war, I would offer the following 
 remarks. I was naturally interested in a twofold man- 
 ner in reference to the guns used in this war. 
 
 First, as regards the metal, and 
 
 Second, with respect to those of the guns that were 
 made entirely upon my system of breech-loading guns, 
 but fitted with the Broadwell form of ring. There were 
 three systems of breech-loading used in the war with 
 France on the German side, viz , my system, which was 
 confined entirely to the 4 pounder guns supplied to 
 Saxony, while all the other 4-pounders were upon 
 Kreiner's double-wedge system, and the 6- pounders 
 were constructed upon the "Wahrendorf plan . 
 
 The 24- pounders had all the double Kreiner wedge. 
 These all were, however, with the exception of some 
 other guns supplied by another firm, made of steel 
 taken from my Works. 
 
 In the material of which the guns were made I was 
 of course interested, and not one of the guns from here 
 burst, as it was asserted in the English Parliament had 
 taken place, and also that not one of the guns fitted on 
 my system of breech-loading was disabled, and in this 
 construction alone was I interested or responsible. 
 
— 209 — 
 
 That a large number of guns on the Kreiner and 
 Wahrendorf system were disabled (not burst), is quite 
 true, and the diflEerence in the quality of the construc- 
 tion of my system, over all the others, was so marked 
 that since the war the whole of the German field 
 artillery has been replaced by new guns of my steel, 
 constructed, both with regard to the gun, as well as to 
 the breech, upon my system, but fitted with the Broad- 
 well form of ring. , The 24-pounders have also been 
 altered from the Kreiner double wedge to my single 
 prismatic system." 
 
Tlie Failure of the 14-in. De Bange Grun. 
 
 From " The Army »nd Navy Journal," Dec. 17th, 1887. 
 
 Failure of a De Bange G-un. 
 
 We give here an interesting extract from the 
 Brussels Journal about a matter which somehow or 
 other has failed to attract the attention it deserves. 
 The largest De Bange gun yet constructed — of the well 
 known built-up type — interior tube and exterior hoops, 
 so highly esteemed by our own millitary authorities — 
 has failed, and failed in a manner that even the non- 
 expert can understand. Colonel De Bange' s representa- 
 tive enunciates the false theory of construction that 
 underlies his system, '■'''but as this part of the gun is- 
 little strained.'" It seems to us a chain is no stronger 
 than its weakest link, and that, therefore, nearly the- 
 whole length • of the gun should be strong enough ta 
 resist longitudinal stress. In our judgment, in this 
 lies the weak point of the French system of construction, 
 the banding principle, too much longitudinal strain is 
 thrown either upon the tube, or upon the somewhat 
 delicate screw breech mechanism. This accounts for 
 the failures of the system in England and in France : 
 (From the 'Journal de Bruxelles.") 
 
 We announced yesterday that the beautiful De 
 Bange gun, which excited so much admiration at the 
 Antwerp Exhibition, had burst at Calais. Mr. I. de 
 Macar, the Belgian agent of the Gail Company (of which 
 Col. De Bange is Superintendent), conceives himself 
 
— 211 — 
 
 injured by this simple announcement. He has written 
 us a letter in regard to the matter, and threatens a libel 
 suit. We reply to our correspondent that we have 
 mentioned neither him, nor his Company, nor his method 
 of construction, nor his Superintendent ; we have merely 
 given an item of news, and have said nothing wounding 
 to Col. De Bange, (a burst gun usually wounds only its 
 cannoneers). The De Bange gun is a product of in- 
 dustry — not a person. However, to oblige Mr. de Macar, 
 who is a nice gentleman, we will give "literally," as he 
 demands, the essential portion of his letter. We omit 
 only so much of his letter as refers to the press ; this, 
 on its part, can also invoke the law. Here, then, are 
 Mr. de Macar' s explanations : 
 
 " The 14- inch De Bange gun was subjected at Calais 
 in August, to a series of experiments to determine its 
 qualities. This model was intended to fire a 925 lbs. 
 projectile, with a velocity of 2,030 feet without straining 
 the gun, or giving greater pressures than 35,000 lbs. 
 The carriage stood the test without the slightest injury, 
 although its strength was doubted, considering the 
 small weight of the gun. The primers worked well, 
 completely closing the vent, and being easily extracted 
 by hand. It must be noted that these results have been 
 obtained with a gun weighing only about 41 tons, that 
 is only about 88 times more than its projectile, while 
 similar French marine and foreign guns weigh twice as 
 much, and, further, in these guns, the pressures exceed 
 35,000 lbs. On the 4th of August the experiments were 
 about ended, and there remained only five rounds 
 to be fired, when a regrettable accident happened to the 
 
— 212 — 
 
 gun, without, however, invalidating any of the conclu- 
 sions just mentioned. Here are the facts. During the 
 hammering and assembling. Col. De Bange noticed a 
 weak spot at about the middle of the tube ; but as this 
 part of the gun is little strained, and as he was pressed 
 for time on account of the approaching opening of the 
 Antwerp Exposition — where the gun was to be exhibited 
 — Col. De Bange gave the order to finish the gun. 
 
 ' ' The tube parted at this very point — on the third 
 round of Aug. 4; there were no bursts. The metal, of 
 the tube, held by the frets, did not fly — a proof of the 
 excellence of the hooping method used. The firing was 
 under an angle of 10 deg. ; th^ first two rounds gave a 
 range of 9,300 yards, and the third, at which the gun 
 ruptured, only 200 yards less. 
 
 " This accident is of no moment as regards the qual- 
 ities of th^ system. A new gun of the same type is 
 now under construction, and will soon appear on the 
 proving ground." 
 
 Mr. de Macar admits the " regrettable accident," but 
 seeks to explain it away as advantageously as possible 
 for his employers. The public will appreciate. 
 
— 21(3 — 
 ACCIDENTS TO FRENCH STEEL GUNS. 
 
 Colonel De la Rocque cites ten instances of mishaps 
 to French guns, as compared with, thirteen to Krupp. 
 These latter have been examined in the text, and to 
 complete the tale it may be well to enter into some de- 
 tails as regards the former. 
 
 The ten instances referred to by Col. De la Rocque 
 relate only to the Marine Artillery, and this small num- 
 ber of accidents to all-steel guns is not surprising, as 
 this model was but recently adopted. 
 
 Col. De la Eoeque does not say much regarding this 
 latest method of construction adopted for heavy guns, 
 and since the publication of his book, at least two other 
 accidents to these guns have come to public notice. We 
 refer to the first two 42 cent, steel guns, which burst 
 in the chase during proof at Ruelle in October, 1885. 
 {France militaire, Oct. 11th, 1885.) Not a single 
 accident to guns made by the War Department, or at 
 private shops, is included in Col. De la Rocque' s list. 
 It is difficult to glean particulars concerning these other 
 mishaps, as lately, the French press, inspired by a very 
 laudable patriotism, has mantained a discreet silence 
 on these matters. As an example, we need only cite 
 the fact that the De Bange 14 cent, gun failed at Calais, 
 August 4th, 1887, and the first notice of the failure 
 appeared in the newspapers, October 11th. 
 
 We are however, enabled to cite, based upon state- 
 ments in trustworthy papers, some mishaps to French 
 field-guns. 
 
— 214 — 
 
 In irance militaire of July 5th, 1885. we read; 
 ' ' Cercottes, June SOtli. A serious accident, which might 
 have had lamentable consequences, occurred yesterday 
 on the practice ground. 
 
 Several batteries were practising, when a piece burst. 
 A soldier, whose name we did not learn, was seriously 
 wounded in the face, and three horses were killed by 
 fragments of the breech. Now if our memory serves 
 us, a similar mishap occurred at Castres, hardly six 
 weeks ago, and if our information be correct, these 
 accidents were ascribed to the fact that practise guns 
 
 were used These practise guns were used for 
 
 the first time during the exercises of 1884, and gave 
 satisfaction ; though in the 18th Brigade, a case of un- 
 hreecMng occurred due to the tearing out of the tube of 
 a 9 cent, gun." 
 
 In France militaire of Sept. 6th, 1885, the following 
 is found : " Hardly a week ago, France militaire, after 
 having spoken of the bursts of practise guns, bursts 
 which happen oftener than is generally supposed, an- 
 nounced the unbreeching in blank firing of an 8 cent. 
 De Bange gun during cavalry exercises at Chalons, 
 Lieutenant L. Gastineau was struck in the breast by the 
 breech, and died within a few minutes. This most 
 deplorable casualty was undoubtedly due to the great 
 hurry with which the fire was delivered to repel a 
 charge of General Espeuiljes', Cavalry. To-day, we learn 
 of as unfortunate an accident, for it too, involved a 
 human life, which occurred in the camp at Auvours. 
 not far from Mans." 
 
-215 — 
 
 BVance militaire^ of December 10th, 1885, reports 
 another accident. ' ' On Thursday an accident happened 
 on the Phillippeville practise ground. During firing 
 drill, a piece burst, and the flying fragments killed a 
 horse. Very fortunately, the gunners about the piece 
 escaped injury." 
 
 For quite an interval we find nothing further in 
 Fiance Militaire, but Gil Bias of Sept. 14th, 1886, 
 contains this item : 
 
 "Avignon, Sept. 12th. The manoeuvres of the 15th 
 Army Corps were marked by a terrible accident. The 
 breech of a gun burst yesterday, and a fragment griev- 
 iously wounded a cannoneer, who was immeditaely 
 carried to the hospital, where he died some hours after- 
 wards in excruciating agony. Another cannoneer was 
 also badly wounded." 
 
 France Militaire, June 5th, 1887, reports as follows: 
 
 "On the morning of the 1st inst. a terrible accident 
 occurred during the firing drill of the 5th Battalion 
 Heavy Artillery. The breech of a 7 cent, gun, probably 
 imperfectly locked — as has so often happened — was 
 Wown to the rear on firing the piece. Three cannon- 
 eers were shockingly mutilated. 
 
 These Reffye 7 cent, guns are provided with a safety 
 vent- cap, "which prevents the introduction of the 
 primer unless the breech is perfectly closed." {Cows 
 special a V usage des sous-offiicers, § 195.) To this list 
 must be added the failure of the 34 cent. De Bange gun, 
 last August, a total of eleven accidents to French guns 
 which have come to public notice in three years. This 
 list teaches some simple lessons': 
 
— 216 — 
 
 1st. — It is not so easy after all to make even good, 
 field-guns. 
 
 2d. — The test of one or two guns does not afford 
 proof of satisfactory model or material. 
 
 3d. — French open-hearth steel, notwithstanding ac- 
 ceptable preliminary physical tests, does not appear to 
 be a satisfactory gun-metal. The reasons must lie in 
 treatment, in construction, or in both. 
 
— 217 — 
 ACCIDENTS TO ENGLISH STEEL GUNS 
 
 The casualties to th.e 6 in. gun of the Active, Nov. 
 13th, 1884, and to the 12 in. gun of the Colossus, May 
 4th, 1886, are well known. On January 28th, 1888 a 38- 
 ton gun, of latest model, failed in proof at "Woolwich. 
 It must be borne in mind that steel guns in England 
 date only from 1883-1884, and that experience with 
 them has not been very extended. 
 
— 218 
 
 KRUPP ANP PE BilN&E. 
 
 MULTIPLIERS 
 
 roE 
 
 Conyertinf Frencli into Britisli Measures. 
 
 
 Metres 
 
 Metres 
 
 Millimetres 
 
 Kilograms 
 
 Tonneaux 
 
 
 into 
 
 into 
 
 into 
 
 into 
 
 into 
 
 
 Feet. 
 
 Tards. 
 
 Indies. 
 
 Pounds. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 1- 
 
 - 3.2809 
 
 1.0936 
 
 0.03937 
 
 2.2046 
 
 0.9842 
 
 2- 
 
 - 6.5617 
 
 2.1872 
 
 .07874 
 
 4.4092 
 
 1.9684 
 
 3- 
 
 - 9.8426 
 
 3.2809 
 
 .11811 
 
 6.6139 
 
 2.9526 
 
 4- 
 
 -13.1235 
 
 4.3745 
 
 .15748 
 
 8.8185 
 
 3.9368 
 
 5- 
 
 -16.4043 
 
 5.4681 
 
 .19685 
 
 11.0231 
 
 4.9210 
 
 6- 
 
 -19.6852 
 
 6.5617 
 
 .23622 
 
 13.2277 ■ 
 
 5.9052 
 
 7- 
 
 -22.9661 
 
 7.6554 
 
 .27559 
 
 15.4323 
 
 6.8894 
 
 8- 
 
 -26.2470 
 
 8.7490 
 
 .31496 
 
 17.6370 
 
 7.8736 
 
 9- 
 
 -29.5278 
 
 9.8426 
 
 .35433 
 
 19.8416 
 
 8.8579 
 
 10- 
 
 -32.8087 
 
 10.9362 
 
 .39370 
 
 22.0462 
 
 9.8421 
 
 1 Oentimetre^lO Millimetres^O.3937 m.=^ of an in. nearly. 
 
 1 Tonneaux =1000 Kilogr's=0.9842 tou=l gross ton " 
 
 1 Kilogram =3.2046 lbs. =2-|- lbs. 
 
 1 Metre =3.2809 feet =1.0936 yds.= j 3i feet 
 
 (l-jijy yards ■• 
 
Cast-Steel Works of Fried, Krupp, 
 
 ESSEN, GERMANY. 
 
 SHAFTS FOR STEAM VESSELS, Etc. 
 
 CRANK PINS. PISTON RODS. 
 
 CONNECTING RODS. 
 
 LOCOMOTIVE TIRES AND AXLES. 
 
 STEEL-TIRED RAILWAY WHEELS. 
 
 RAILS AND BAR STEEL OF ALL KINDS. 
 
 STEEL BOILER PLATES. 
 
 STEEL FORCINGS of every description, 
 
 up to SEVENTY TONS WEIGHT. 
 
 REPRESENTED BY 
 
 THOS. PROSSER & SON, 
 
 15 GOLD STREET, 
 
 N E W^ YORK. 
 
LAP-WELDED 
 
 STEEL BOILER TUBES 
 
 AND 
 
 IRON BOILER TUBES, 
 
 Op Either Foreign or Domestic Manufacture. 
 
 PATENT WELDLESS COLD-DRAWN 
 
 STEEL BOILER TUBES. 
 
 These Tubes are made from SOLID BLOCKS of specially prepared 
 and tested Steel, PUNCHED AND DRAWN COLD, without weld ob 
 
 SEAM and PEKEECTLY SMOOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE. 
 
 UNIFORM, LIGHT, STRONG, DURABLE. 
 
 Superior to all other Tubes for generating steam. 
 
 OF AT-T. THE DIPFBRENT KINDB OF 
 
 STEEL BOILER TUBES, 
 
 can be seen at this Office. Also samples of the sime welded together, 
 showing that Steel Tubes can have new ends welded on them, as perfectly 
 as on Iron Tubes. 
 
 THOS. PROSSER & SON, 
 
 16 Gold Street, New York. 
 
BOILER MAKERS' 
 TOOLS. 
 
 TUBE EXPANDERS. 
 TUBE CUTTERS. 
 
 TUBE BRUSHES. 
 
 TUBE FERRULES. 
 
 SCREW PUNCHES. 
 
 THOS, PROSSER & SON, 
 
 15 GOLD STREET, 
 
 N E VS^ YORK.