The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-03-24
Some Interesting Trials Of Dynamite
Guns Soon TO be Made in
England,
The Systems of zalinski, Graydon.
Haskell and Justin will
be Tested.
different Methods for Throwing shells
Containing Heavy Charges Of
Dynamite Explosives.

WASHINGTON. March 23-lniorestmg trials
are soon 10 como OF in England OF i've Ia
nous American inventions for throwing
SHELLS containing heavy charges Of high
explosives. They are not likely to be for
mally put in competition, but tho triale
will he nearly at the same time npd under
conditions SO similar as 10 make them prac-
'lcaly competitive. The Mciiord gun or
torpedo tube. MS improved in effectiveness
10y Capt. r. l.. Zalinski. Fifth artillery and
the Graydon gun ms now modified 10y its
inventor. formerly lieutenant in our
navy. both employ compressed air for cx-
pelling the dynamite shell. The tubes oven
have the same calibrc, fifteen inches.
Lieut.. Grnydon was originally an opponent
of the pneumatic system. relying wholly on
a peculiar construction Of the projectles,
which would enable him. he Thought, TO
slfcly discharge shells filled with high ex-
plosvcs, from ordinary powder guns. hut
Tho recent cable dispatches show that he liz
building "a gun at Birmingham to he tried
under The auspices Of the British govern
mcni IN which lac employ compressed mir
nsicnd of powder 10 drive the shell. II is
claimcd that this gun will have range of
three miles.
Captain Xalinski, however. will not ho
AFRAID 60 rislI his gun IN comparison with
amy other of its tNpo. II, forthcoming trial
ui hhooburYncss will probably he conducted
with ihurOugbncss which the misplaced
notions OF economy OF our government in
such cnses have never vet insured for it
here. and the result WILL il is hoped, be
very useful 10 this country as well as Great
Britain.
Meanwhile the possibilities OF employing
heavy charges of dynamite IN ordinary
powder guns are ngnin attracting attention.
First, There lR the laalll- multi-chargc gun,
which supplies ii- principle of successive
charges IN pnckeia along the tube
oi the cannon 10 the great problem VI
giving the dynamite shell only n
moderate shock Mt first, so as not 20 ox-
plodc n in HE bore. An experimental gun
is under process oi construction, the owners
having received n government order for the
purpose. lhcn there is tho Justin dyna-
mite cartridge. wiu which a successful cx-
pertinent WRs made The uihor day at Canes
4 iutn. nilcirrn pounds of the best dynamite
I hciue tischafpul lu the shell OF a nine-inch
/ lided gun liut in France. Germany and
Italy aigh explosives nre officially estab-
lihhed m the butating charges Of SHELLS fired
from noWdor guns nIj how,tzers ~ dis-
d lance uf nhuut two miles, forty eight pound,
being among the charges thus used
The pueunatic guns cun use far larger
bursting clareos; still the advocates Of
ihe powder guns nrgc that horizontal shell
irlng from vessel Ia n seawny against nn-
other vessel ~ motion under steam may he
snrtr M u distance of two miles Than the
larger moriar-likc discharges of tho pneu-
niltic guns.
The conclusion is irresistible that. taking
together he peeulaf construction Uf guns,
the peculiar contribution Of proiccties. the
employment either Of compressed mir or of
powder specinily prepared ns the motive
force and finally ihe ntcuuy Improvement
IN tn ngn npN.iW themselves, these lat
ter will crrininly hc used IN somo form as
the Charge 0i shells. uur government only
needs b. mukn experiments with such
weapons for this purpose as il now has On
hand or gll have offered Ia IL, watching the
results, also, of the coming experiments in
hurOpt.