The Works Of Messrs. Schneider And Co.

 MESSRS. SCHNEIDER AND CO.’S WORKS. with the cradle and eontain two pistons, the rods of which are jointed to the shoulder-piece of the gun. During recoil, the liquid flows from the rear to the front of each piston through a vent, the opening of which is regulated by a central counter-rod ; the section of this rod is designeel so as to obtain a constant résistance during the whole time recoil lasts. The distance between the wheels, on the tread, is 1,300 millimétrés (51.180 in.). The wheels are 1,270 milli- métrés (50 in.) in diameter ; the bosses are of brass, the rims of bent wood in three parts, the spokes being joined to the rim by means of steel sockets. For sighting the gun, an alhidade scale is provided; it is placed on the cradle, and therefore does not recoil with the gun. It is arranged in such a way as to enable tlie laying of the gun, with rectification of the firing angle up to an angle of + 35 deg. The scale and sight are mounted on a horizontal spindle, which allows of maintaining the sight-line in a vertical plane, parallel with the axis of the gun, whatever be the incline the carriage may take, owing to the unevenness of the grouncl or an unequal settling of the wheels. From + 35 to 45 deg., the required elevation is given with tlie help of an ordinary dial-plate level or of the alhidade scale. The fore-limber carries a ehest to hold five rounds. TRANSPORTABLE BATTERIES. The transportable batteries, Peigné-Schneider-Canet system, have been designed and built to meet the special requirenient of transporting large calibre guns by rail, in order to concentrate rapidly at a given spot a large number of pièces of ordnance ; the guns are fired from the platform on which they are transportée!. Even with artillery dépôts of limited area, the solution of this problem facilitâtes the establishment of a very powerful and practically invulnérable means of defence for all centres and garrisons which are served by a system of railroads. Another advantage lies in the faet that it renders possible the doing away with a certain number of ramparts and fixed forts, the maintenance of which is costly, as such works require to be modified periodically, in order to keep them always well in advanee of the progress made in the means of attack. The transportable batteries meet the case perfeetly in every respect; they are armed with 155 and 120 millimétrés (6.102 in. and 4.724 in.) guns, and the platforms are adapted both for the usual gauge and for that of 60 centimetres (23.622 in.). They can fire on extempore lines, rapidly laid down in times of emergency ; and this, of course, increases to a marked degree the range of their usefulness. Such platforms can be made to suit ail classes of guns. The object followed in the design of the carriage is the réduction to a mimimum of the traction and percussion strains, developed on the platform during the recoil of the powerful guns which eonstitute the batteries. The carriage is fitted with an oscillating slide and two hydraulic recoil cylinders, combinée! with a spring recuperator, which runs out the gun again after each round. A description of this type of carriage is given in a preceding section, which deals with disappearing carriages. The system has in vari- ably given satisfaction, even after the batteries had remained for a time in the open, where no means were available to protect them from bad weather ; and this con- stitutes a further great advantage in favour of this dass of matériel. For tlie normal gauge lines, the platform is made as low as possible above the rails, to which the system is clipped, to prevent transverse displacement; the wheels are of normal diameter, and the buffers are placed at the usual height. The distance between the axles is calculated so as not to interfère with any of the manœuvres ; the width of the platform is such that the battery can travel on all lines without interfering with, or being in the way of, other rolling-stock which it may cross in transit. On both sides of the platform are two flaps that can be brought clown when the gun is placed in battery, to give sufficient area for serving the gun in all positions. Above the wheels are placed seats for the gunners. Long wooden beams are laid on the truck, and are raised when tlie latter is ready for transport. When the guns are placed in battery, the beams are placed along the line to deaden the effeets of firing. When the batteries are for service on a 60-centimetre (23.622-in.) gauge line, the line itself offers but a limited résistance, and the pressure of the wheels on the rails has to be sufficiently counterbalanced to prevent all lateral displacements of the line. To this effect, the platform, whicli is carried by the pivot-bolts of two bogies when the matériel is in travelling order, rests on the grouncl through lateral brackets, when the gun is placed in battery. Figs. 1002 and 1003 show such batteries carrying guns on disappearing carriages.