The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-12-03
HIGH EXPLOSIVES ~ PONDER Guns.


What Finuncnsltc has Done ind IL I.ilsrly 10 DO
WAsHtSuToN. Nov. 3O.-Some gratifying re-
suits have lately been obtained in the use
OF high explosives as the bursting charges of
shells. propelled by ordinary powder. France
has her melinite. England her lyddte. Aus
tria her ecrasite. Sweden her hellte. while
roburite. helloite. and other mixtures can tie
used safely for this purpose: but hitherto no
similar substance has been formally adopted
in our army and navy although American in
veEtions have been tested with various de-
greeS Of success.
The most prominent OF these. emmensite.
has recently yielded some very promising
suits. It's stability has long been known. Tho
official statement is made that samples OF it
both in shells and tin cases have been ex-
amined every month by the naval auth critics
for two and half years. and no change in it
has been noted. Loaded shells Of various cal
ibrcs have been burst in tho explosion cham
her and under water. with n simple ana safe
fuse, containing no illuminate and ignited by
a percussion cap The explosion was probu-.
bly, three or four times rs violent as from an
equal charge Of gunpowder.
10 carry on tho experiments m old pattern.
cast-iron. ll-inch smooth-b bore was rflc and
chambered. fitted with breech nee hanisn,,
and mounted on an ordinary service Ericsson
carriage Two shells. each filled with forty
two pounds OF emmensite. not fused were sue
cessfuly fired down the range with IL charge
OF forty pounds. the pressure being from :}3
to 50 tons. A shell was then filled with forty
two pounds OF the explosive. and fuse COM
posed Of signal stars, such as had been found
efficient at annapolis for bursting the shell.
was n:cd. The estimated pressure was from "a
lotions Upon firing the gun burst its frag-
mcnts flying In all directions. The carris &c was
demolished us we'll as the gun. but no ono was
OF the gun was below the. standard. and the
ssc.nd round. Ensign Dashcl. who was in
charge. found that the pressure OF the powder
It was the powder charge and not the high OK.
nlosive that caused the accident. In Tact. the
fuse and primer must have been entire for
some seconds after the explosion. Emmenste
was found on the gun platform. on the car
and on the walls OF the shell itself: many irag.
ments of which We're, recovered. Had tho
instead of being broken into large fragments.
wonid have gone into very small pieces with
"9 % aroma 9ha the Sasry nowdsr
chargs that had caused this explosion. the con-
clusion was really in favor OF tn, emmensite
fore believed that trials with steel gun will
be conclusive In it's favor.
Meanwhile tho tes. S OF emmcnsite have been
continued with inch wire wound gun and
smells nred Win II nave boen exploited uNon
impact " tn the water nj q range of about
5000 yards. The great point TO lie noted Is
that twenty-five rounds were fred from this
gun at velocties Of about loo feet per Sec
veI f i OF 1000 feel. '::THese cxpsriments,'
says the report Of tho chief Of tho Bnreau OF
abnormal or disadvantages feature OF any
dSese,ption This ss
cess will be attained in rinE tEis explosive
and bursting it de'onatively on impact.
Gun cotton. Of course. remains meanwhile
tho OUTPUT ofthc srnment factory. including
pounds var, moulded in blocks to lie used in
cpurs" mach Of the remainder will be- en-
ploycd for 'orp"docs. IT has been found that
nG MIA" ~ gun cotton and eSpermen f
aI,o be mcntioned that besides the Govern:
"SGF o oSp osT w9 on ths
Delaware. now supply the navy with this
P has Gs sdi at @S
perfect safety. exploded without the use
IurstinG charges Of common shell and
aerial and submarine torrcdoes. With the
4.in,ch rapid fire gun number Of rounds were
exc 'cdinn2.00O feet ,per second. Other expert
mrnts have shown that 4 common shell OF the
sv" be- red thro"eh six W oneineh riaiSs
ard hurst dstonativey at will beyond them.
As bursting charge for the same shell. when
OF fragments was entirely satisfactory" as re-.
w.S tnr tro% all these ises
!; That the problem, Of high explosives for
shells has been practically solved In the navy.