The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-10-10
HIGH ExpLosrvEs IN SHELLS.
Beliite, Ecrnsite, HeiloHte, Meltuite, Es-
nen-ite, Roburite, and Iyddite arc
Among Those That Can be Used SAFELY.

.en-ite, Roburite, and Iyddite arc
Among Those That Can be Used SAFELY.
The number Of high explosives now used for
the bursting charges OF projectiles in powder
guns makes It certain that they have already
secured a place In warfare. The pneumatic
tubes will still retain certain value for throw
ing enormous quantities Of such powerful sub
stances as explosive gelatine to q distance OF
mile or two. dropping them in u mortar like
fire. But there are half a dozen or more high
explosives which can safely be used In ordinary
powder gums possessing the great advantages
OF long range and horizontal shell firing.
Ensign Simpson Of the navy has collected
the results Of experiments made in different
countries In this direction. Austria's high ex-
plosive is ecrasite which has now been In
use for two years. In 1880 an s1-inch shell.
weighing over 200 pounds. and containing
nearly sixteen pounds Of ecrasite. perforated
two armor plates. each four inches thick, and
exploded in a third plate. Ten shots complete
ly destroyed an old masonry fort at Olm0tz.
shown only Ave premature explosions in as
many years. and Pill are capable Of explana-
ing III pounds. and containing twonty three
pounds OF melinite haye, been fired from
0neh EunY while as GhaloRs mortar shells
obtained with the 3-inch guns shows that the
pSsy sefh aye bsen red
$sss 1ss Sc ;ss baHs
%elinte Shells oeaI not be sxpiode s without
them were ,arod through both sides Of the
arnorGiad Pr ro,,nn. making o. inches Of
marked mark az also that in the expSslons in Belfort
loaded melinite shells near BY.
i knfsn$ i shs}ls r 1sslS sssll prSylasS
it exploded. In England the constituencies Of
lyddite used to cause It to explode against ar
fss t na It +
explosion. Much OF the value Of q high. explo-
sive, for use against armorclads depends upon
tho hull instead Of Immediately on striking.
TN ase Of hh not as nRps
,,Betiite lss ,sweden's high explosive. It wa.
t ars 3 SSnsn S1 q MIN ss
Cannot be exploded By re. friction. H or Sibra-
dSPsms and T when r Ara iron rom SSfs
a weight Of sixty pounds dropped on a guam
tlty Of, bellite produced an explosion. The
Swedish artillery have found 1t suitable for
Forcite has been fired successfully in charges
Of eleven and twelve pounds from 6-inch gun
struck BY m9skst balls. Explosive selStino
will withstand the shock Of rifle bullets and Is
more powerful tnan dynamite. but its use In
lshed. Blasting gelatine has exploded sew
eral large powder guns. and Is not suitable for
Wet gnn:cotton shells have been used in
snid to have perforated a foot OF wrought iron
with 0-inoh shell before explosion. Ger
many uses II Inch mortar shells containing
Rsrod sew hundred shells saf foadssG
with this material We're fired from guns and
mortars; From Krupp 6-inch guns shells con-
sa.inch guns The English have e0e Used Il to
the extent OF ten or twelve pounds in 9-inch
shells.
Roburite has shown excellent results at
Hellotlts. or Gruson's mixture, has been fred
from 6-inch shells in small quantities. some;
times times mix mixed with GunP9SWd,er. and has proved
sixteen pounds Of hellofte and twenty-five OF
gunpowder have also been fired from IL Inch
guns. SIMULTANEOUS Americanite consists of
Very small Quantities Of il have s seen red IN
shells. but Il is not yet developed for military
uses. Tonite is not exploded BY the impact Of
Emmenste is used In the Sims Edison tor
pcdo In foreign countries. and has yielded
some promising results in the United States.
thn Il Tas e in
large guns Which have not t Yet bees
made in this country. The use OF terrorite in
shells has yet to be made; the subject Of expert
High exposves have aready been found na (which WHICH
are safe to handle. and that can be used in tho
projecttles OF large guns. both in land and
naval warfare