Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-03
DYNAMITE AND WAR.
WE ARE TENDING TOWARDS THE
USE OF THIS HIGH EXPLOSIVE.
WHAT GOVERNMENT TRIALS SHOW.
The vesuvius May lead the Way in
RevOlutionixing of Naval War
Battles.
Battles.
fcorrespondence Of the Dispatch,


WASHINGTON. d. c., July Alt is
exasperating that the Spanish reserve
feet persists IN remaining phantom
one, while there are so many problems
OF naval warfare awaiting solution. True,
We have sent the Philippine squadron to
the bottom Of Manila bay, but the de-
struction OF that collection OF marine
targets has done little to help the naval
designers by practically testing the value
OF their numerous theories. We want
Spanish ships capable of hitting back
in fairly effective manner to come on
and give the world chance to witness
a real naval fight. There are SO many
points regarding modern fighting ships
on which naval men are at odds. The
idea In naval construction that looks
forceful to-day may be weakened by an
event that takes place tomorrow. There
are mighty engines Of destruction in use
in the modern nayies whose effectiveness
iG practically INFESTED.
Theorzing on the effect OF the dynamite
guns OF our Vesuvius, the naval men
are brought face to face with the ques-
ton: "Of what use Is It 10 spend mil
lions on battleship that may be blown
TO pieces by single explosive from this
new demon OF the sea?" For 1t Is a
fact that one shot from the Vesuvius
landing fairly on the deck of the most
strongly protected vessel afoat would
sink her as surely as though her thick
steel sides were mere match-boardng.
Even If the dynamite proiectile from
the Vesuyius failed TO land nearer than
thirty feet OF an armored vessel, the
81 h.. ~ lufn MI ma
vessel out OF action, dislocating her ma
chlnery. and rending her gun-gear apart.
The Vesuvius has had an opportunity
OF testing her dynamite guns on sta
tionary forts during the recent lombard
ments by Admiral SIMPSONS ships, and
the result has been sufficiently appalling
10 show that the dynamite gun is a factor
in naval warfare that seems likely 10
revolutionize warship construction in a
way that has not been done since the
wooden vessels became obsolete.
And again the theorists, delving deeper
into the question, ask: why should not
dynamite guns be extensively used on
land as well as scar? Such a charge as
one of the three guns OF the Vesuyius
throws would annihilate regiment OF
men. These being theories needing only
opportunity 10 be capable OF practical
means Of killing men are turning conf
IDENTIFY 10 the high explosive as the war
projectile of the future.
Important experiments have been made
by the Board OF Ordnance 10 test the pos
sibility of using high explosives in bat
tie. In a recent report 1t is stated: Eek
periments are now in progress under the
auspices OF this board with a view to
discharging high explosives from powder
guns. The batteries Of these guns that
have been erected at Fort Hancock and
Fort Scott, San Francisco, have shown
that these guns are capable of throwing
100 pounds of nitro-gelatine distance OF
$3.50 yards. 200 pounds $500 yards, and 800
pounds 1900 yards, with great accuracy.
1.-The board, however, has not abandon
ed the expectation of some time being
able TO discharge aerial torpedoes OF
great capacity from powder guns. and
experiments with that end In viaw will
be continued"
In a government report Of experiments
with shells loaded with guncotton, 1t Is
stated: Believing that the action or
these substances fired from Finch steel
mortars, with a 1.0c0-pound torpedo
shell, holding large charges. would be
even more conclusive than results OBJ
tanned from the s-inch shell. II was pro-
uosed 10 fire three rounds each from this
mortar. The charge OF wet guncotton
was III pounds. and the propelling
charge forty-nine pounds OF smokeless
powder. the resulting pressure being a.
o0o mounds per square inch and estimated
velocity l2,o0o foot seconds The awful
eject Of these projecti!es can be ina
giped.
Another problem with which the naval
authorities are wrestling 10 that wicked
explosive, the torpedo. which has proved
such a miserable disappointment TO those
who expected so much from IT, Writing
on this important subject, weil-Snown
naval officer says: "At present we are
IN sacs of that tremendous problem as