292 Progress in Science. [April, 



Arsenal, from which we have extracted the following particulars. It appears 

 that the controversy of muzzle versus breech-loading guns has been practically 

 determined in favour of the former. Bronze has proved too soft, and steel by 

 itself too brittle, being liable to burst at any moment without warning, whilst 

 wrought-iron alone does not possess the necessary hardness for the interior of 

 the barrel, but a steel barrel strengthened with wrought-iron coils furnishes 

 the very best construction yet discovered. Experience has shown that every 

 campaign from the Peninsula War down to the Crimea has ended in a heavier 

 projectile being adopted than was used at its commencement. -The war on 

 the Continent has proved this to have been true at the present day ; and 

 accordingly a new gun has recently been adopted for our field artillery. It is a 

 16-pounder shell gun, having a bore of 3-6 in., and a powder charge of 3 lbs.; 

 it is built upon the Fraser principle of steel and iron, being rifled with three 

 grooves, and its weight is 13 cwts. At the same time that a new pattern of 

 field gun is being introduced, a new 35 ton gun for the navy has been manu- 

 factured and proved with 130 lbs. of powder. Twelve more of the same 

 calibre have been ordered to be at once put in hand. 



Some months ago experiments were conducted with different patterns of 

 mitrailleurs against field guns with a view to ascertain their efficiency, and as 

 to which was the best adapted for introduction into the British army. The 

 results of these experiments were that the Gatling gun fired 492 lbs. of 

 ammunition and scored 2803 hits ; the Fosberry mitrailleur with 472 lbs. 

 scored 1708 hits ; the 12-pounder gun with 1232-5 lbs. scored 2286 hits ; and 

 the g-pounder gun with 1013 lbs. scored 2207 hits. The whole series of 

 trials form the subject of an elaborate report which has been made by the 

 committee to the War Office. Twelve more of the Gatling guns have since 

 been ordered to be made and issued to the troops for trial, in order to confirm 

 the experiments which have already been carried out at Shoeburyness. 



Torpedoes. — Our military authorities have decided upon forthwith preparing 

 a large number of torpedoes, and Messrs. Spencelayh and Archer, iron- 

 founders and engineers, of Chatham, have received orders from the War 

 Office to prepare the cases for nearly 1500 of such weapons. On 7th December 

 last Mr. Robert Weir, formerly of the United States Navy, read a paper before 

 the New York Societ}' of Practical Engineering on " Submarine Torpedoes." 

 After giving some notice of what has already been accomplished in the way of 

 submarine warfare, Mr. Weir proceeded to explain his device, which is in reality 

 a submarine rocket, a slow burning composition being used as the propelling 

 power; its whole construction and action is plain and simple, being made up 

 of but two parts, the torpedo or exploding shell, and the rocket or propelling 

 shaft. It is proposed to discharge them from guns or guides of simple con- 

 struction secured in the vessel's sides or bows, from 8 to 10 feet, or even more, 

 below the water line. They are made as nearly as possible of the same specific 

 gravity as water, and are discharged by a friction primer. The best torpedo 

 yet introduced into this country is one designed by Captain Harvey, R.N. 

 This torpedo is proposed to be towed against an enemy's vessel, the torpedo 

 ship, from which its movements are controlled, being a small quick-speed 

 craft, from whose line of progression the torpedo has a divergence of 45 , 

 which is due to the vertical plane of the torpedo being thrown at that angle 

 by the manner in which it is slung. The casing of the torpedo is made of 

 stout timber strengthened with iron straps at the ends and sides. The charge 

 is, of course, dependent upon the size of the casing, and it is fitted with top 

 and side firing levers, either of which, when pressed, acts upon another lever 

 which presses down the exploding bolt, and thus fires the charge. It can also 

 be adapted for firing by electricity, a special circuit closing apparatus having 

 been designed for that purpose by Captain Harvey. 



A committee has recently been appointed in this country with Captain 

 Beaumont, R.E., M.P., as president, and Lieutenant Grove, R.E., and Mr. 

 Abel, F.R.S., as members, to carry out experiments on the utilisation of 

 balloons for reconnoitring purposes. 



Tunnels. — On the 24th of last December the boring of the Mont Cenis 



