The Sun.
London, England, 1871-02-03 00:00:00

SHELLS AND FUZES.

Captain C. Orde-Brown, R.A., Captain Instructor,
Royal Laboratory, gave an interesting lecture on Tues-
day afternoon in the Theatre of the Royal Artillery
Institution, on the Projectiles and Fuzes of the service.
The lecture was in continuance of one on the
same subject which Captain Orde-Browne lead
last year :—The lecturer enumerated the principal
changes which had been effected during the last
twelve months. He discussed the merits of the fiat-
headed and pointed shot, and chewed •by diagrams that
the popular notion of the pointed shot glancing off on
striking an armour-plate at an angle was incorrect, the
fact being, as General Mayefski pointed out some time
ago, that if the point of the shot touched at all, the
shot would immediately assume a position almost at
right angles to the plate. Our heavy guns and pro-
jectiles, Captain Browne considers, are in a very
satisfactory condition. Our siege artillery 40-
pounders and 64-pounder guns —he remarked, was
in " rather a peculiar state "—in other words, not
satisfactory. The field artillery equipment, which is
undergoing extensive reorganization, will shortly leave
little to be desired. Even the vexed controversy of
shrapnel versus segment seems to be approaching settle-
ment. Captain Orde-Browne pointed out that the
question between the two shells is now pretty
well narrowed down to this : Is the segment
so much better when burst on graze than the
shrapnel as to justify its retention as an extra pro'
jectile in the limbers ? That the shrapnel is far superior
as a time shell—and that time shells will have to be used—.
is not disputed ; but is there any considerable difference
between the shrapnel and segment as percussion shell ?
The difference consists in this, that the seffment spreads
more and the shrapnel shoots closer. The effect of this is
that the shrapnel is apt to kill a man too much--
so to speak the segment wounds more men.
But the difference in this respect is not reallY
very considerable. Captain Orde-Brawne pointed
out that the shrapnel might be made to spread more when
used as a percussion shell by the introduction of an easily'
removeable bursting charge in the socket. Captain °vie'
Browne condemned the exclusive use by the Prussians of
common shell. He considered that to reduce
a human being to a pulp—as some of the unfor-
tunates who were killed at Sedan were stated to have
been—is unnecessary, and, to a certain extent, un-
scientific. Each victim represents a waste, because
an excess of destructive power. Would it not be more
practical to kill or badly wound half a dozen men than to
blow two or three men to atoms? The former is the
system of the English artillery with its shrapnel and seg"
ment, the latter the system of the Prussians and Belgians
with their commit:ln shell. The lecture was followed by
discussion, and Colonel Smythe, R.A., the chairman,
• proposed a vote of thanks to the lecturer.
)r

STREET TRAMWAYS AT BRISTOL.—The Bristol
Town Council was engaged for several hours on Tuesday
in discussing the question of street tramways and Chanhe
dock accommodation. There was a very large atteudac.e,
of members, and the proceedings at times became ver/
animated. The matter first discussed was that relating
the proposed construction of street tramways. The schehl
is promoted by a private company,which seeks the approva
of the corporation to a bill now before Parliament.
Council, by a very large majority, approved the
prin
pie of tramways, but an amendment was moved and Ora
rind that it was desirable they. should be in the hands he
under the control of the Corporation. Notice
having to be given before the Corporation can earg
out any such scheme, the matter is virtually shelved for
a twelvemonth. The Council then proceeded wirt
the discussion of the docks question. The rerei,
from the Parliamentary Bills Committee was rent
and, with reference to the bills before Parliweev
promoted by the Channel Docks and Portishead Pottle
Companies, in each of which are clauses empowering tee
Corporation to guarantee the sum of £lOO,OOO out of "t
surplus dock revenue, the committee recommended
it
before the Council formed a decision on either subjc',4
was desirable to have independent professional advileetile
to the sufficiency of the estimates and contracts: 3,,
financial position of the companies, and their ab11.'„:07,1
with the assistance of the amount asked to be subscri; r,
by the Corporation, to complete the respective hhsop
takings. Mr. Alderman Baker proposed the adhP„'cil
of the report, and also that the sanction of the Ceeloo
3
should be given to the insertion in the , o'
of the two companies of clauses enabling the u°rfot
ration to subscribe to each of the undertaings a silhle rel
exceeding £lOO,OOO, subject to the investigation L'aF,tee,
to in the resolution of the Parliamentary Bills Cornhelot
Mr. H. J. Miles proposed an amendment to the effect, 01
it was expedient the Council should be in possession o',lo.
information as to the financial condition of the two he:oo'
takings and the sufficiency of the estimates, before 1",
mitting itself to an opinion on the principle involve ",tea
either Bill, and that the law officers should be instill;te,
tc lodge petitions against the Bills. After a long do
the resolution was carried by a large majority.
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Holloway's ointment presents a ready and easy ree°p9e'
cure which never disappoints the most favourable .xig
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Whilst the ointment thus acts locally, the pills are co
remarkable for their power in improvitr, the
dition and habit of the body, which renders the cur flies
plete and permanent. Under the general influence 01,0
potent remedies the puny infant becomes the roVq_t,,
the pale and emaciated regain colour and rotunalw
the dyspeptic eats freely without fear.
generroei.
cooe,

130YCY' at
London : Printed by GIDEON ACLAND
No.. 112, Strand, Printer, and fublished
1)1_4. of
THE SUN Office, No. 112, Strand, in the Precinc.
Savoy, in the County of Middlesex.
Friday, February 3, 1871.

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