The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-06-02
a TERRIBLE WEAPON.
The ZalInski Dynamite Gun Intended fol
the Italian Government.

IN
the Italian Government.
Captain E. L. Zalinski, the inventor
of that terrible engine of war, the pneu-
matte dynamite torpedo gun, has been
experimenting with the gun recently
completed for the Italian Government
which will cost $40, 900.
This gun, in the language of Captain
Zalinski, is an serial torpedo projecting
machine, possessing many advantages
over the appliances for projecting the
torpedo through the water. 1t is of
15-inch caliber, and its range will be
at least one mile. The full caliber
shell will carry 600 pounds of explosive
gelatine, equivalent to $50 pounds of
dynamite No. l or 943 pounds of gun
cotton. Shells con tanning smaller
charges can also be thrown. The gun
barrel is light tube, having a smooth
bore. The loading is done at the
breech. Air at 1000 pounds pressure
is admitted through balanced valve,
made SO as to open and close by a
single move of the operator The time
ofopening and closing can be varied so
that the range can be changed without
altering either the elevation or pres
sVe;
{ Arder to maintain the pressure as
! sk.srly -'aniform as possible, wrought
non reservoirs of from twelve to six
teen inches in diameter and about
twenty feet long are used, the air be-
ing supplied to them by any type of
high pressure compressor. The power
of this ffteen,inch gun is great. 1t is
clear that the value of a weapon which
can project huge mass of powerful
explosive equal TO three-quarters of the
entire bulk of the projectile to dis
lance of one and half miles with per-
feet accuracy, can not be disputed. In
Captain Zalins6i's office is one of the
shells to be used in the big gun. 1t is
made of brass tubings and castings, as
light as possible.
A tail tube with spiral vanes attached
is annexed to the shell in order to re-
tain it in its proper trajectory. Non
metallic pins in the head keep it CEN
tral at this point and free from metallic
contact, while leather gas-check and
vulcanized fiber projections keep it
central at the tail. The charge thus
far used has been uncamphorized ex-
plosive gelatjne, having core of dy-
Mantle. This core is for the purpose of
! producing complete defamation of the
less sensitive explosive gelatine. In
the cruiser Yorktown are three of the
new ffteen-inch dynamite guns, placed
abreast and parallel to one another at
fixed angle Of sixteen degrees.
The training of the gun is accom-
plished by steering the vessel. which is
done by steam, and the running of the
engines which drive the twin screws.
The range can be varied by means of
valves The guns are required to be
loaded twice per minute. The shells will
be handled by hydraulic machinery and
lproFision is to be made for the storage
9tUfirty full-caliber shells. The gun
for Italy, now completed, is to be trained,
elevated and loaded by hydraulic ma
chinery. It's mounted on an iron base,
which when in place will rest upon a
heavy masonry foundation. The York
town when completed will cost $780,,
00O This includes the guns. The
speed of this vessel will be at least
twenty knots. The speed is exceeded
by the small and light torpedo-boats
built abroad, but the Yorktown's hull
will be sufficiently strong to be service
able in rough water. which is not the
case with the more lightly built tor
pedo-boats.
The torpedo shell has double field
of action, the over-water and under
water hull. 1t is estimated that the
decks of the most heavily armed ships
will be vulnerable to even the eight
inch torpedo shells charged with 100
pounds of explosive gelatine and very
large portion of the more heavily
armored parts of the shell charged with
600 pounds. -Pktladelphia Times.