The sun., 1896-07-01
MON ExrIos1TB E1rER1nBNrs.
TIE Frovtuion OF Conrrers for TestinG
TheE-Resuits Expected at Indinn Head.

The Pr0vfsion OF Conrrens for Testtng
Ther.-Resuits Expected at Indisn Head.
wAsHIFoToN, June 30.--The now Naval Ap-
propriation act contains an item of $4,000. to
be used In testing methods OF throwing high ex-
plosives from guns on board ship with ordinary
velocities. II was inserted by the Senate after
the bill had been received by the House; and as
the latter body had concurred tho liberal sum
will be available in a few days.
Already, however, preparations are making
for its use. A 12-inch gun is to be specially
mounted at Indian Head in way suitable for
the experiments, and the promptness with which
the matter has been taken up by Capt Sampson
suggests not only that the project originated in
the Ordnance Bureau, but that great Importance
10 attached TO 1t thero.
Perhaps relatively less 10 heard now Of high
explosives rs tho bursting charges of shells
than during the earlier French experiments
with melinite. But various nations are prose-
cutting their tests OF such substances. and they
may play an important part In the neIt great
war. Only few days ago, at Cherbourg. addi-
tionai experiments were made with melinite,
tho target being tho side of an old armorclad
which l. was % there there S anchorsd and fred on 5 from
apparently, In penetrating the arnior and ex-
ploding the shells behind it.
shown to be. a product that could bo safely used,
aud 1t had then been known for several years.
said to be to fll about two-thir Of the shell
with cresilite. coal tar product, and then to
ram the m6linte into tho remaining third with
mallets Such q thing as a melinite shell burst.
ing In o gun would cause great surprise. and
habitually charges are drawn from shells with
out accident In fact, in the well-remembered
Belfort explosion the shock did not explode
meinite shells which were near at hand. The
results obtained the other day In firing at the
armorclad La Galissoniere were practically
much like those that had been seen In firing at
the armorclad Provence years ago In that
former case half a dozen shells were fired
through both sides Of the ship, making 9.4
inches of armor in all. without bursting, be-
| cause the special illuminate or apparatus for
exploding the mellnite was absent
This is only Que instance OF the high explo-
sves used by foreign powers as the bursting
| charges Of shells. Austria has ecrasite, and q
| shell loaded with It has perforated two armor
| plates each four inches thick and exploded in
| the third. Another she'll penetrated q tower or
| cupoa having six inches of armdf on 1t and ex-
| pl0ded inside. England 10 understood to have
fired lydite shells through aeveral inches OF steel
! before explosion. Experiments with Sweden's
| bellite arc spoken OF. and an explosive called
| robusite Is ciassed among those that are ga TO-
| Wet gun cotton shells have been much used by
the Germans and Russians, and their safety is
| well attested. HellOfte has been fired In small
| quantities both from 6-inch and l1-inch guns,
| sometimca mixed with Runpowder.
| 1t would be strange. therefore. II our forth
coming tests. carried on under the recent appro-
| priation OF Congress, should not lead to valu-
| able results.