The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-17

which is brought about by the burning Of
the cordite or powder in the gun at the
moment of propusion; the ignition of the
charge at the base by the agency OF the
fuse and finally, the explosion of this
charge which blows off the head of the
she'll and liberates the inclosed bullets. al
lowing them 20 scatter over an extremely
large area. A shrapnel in this manner pro-
duces result equal TO that of five hun
dred rifle bullets.
1t is obvious from the foregoing that the
most advantageous place for the shell to
burst would be at short distance in front
of the enemy so as to obtain the MAXI
mum effect-a result which scientific gun
merry has rendered possible az all distances
within the range of the gun. By the use
of the Balhstic tables compiled by the Rev.
Il. Bashforth, late professor of mathemat-
les at the Artillery College, Woolwich, the
distance of any given projectile from the
gun after the lapse of every fraction of
second may be accurately determined; and
the results for each class of she'll are re-
corded in the range-table possessed by
every officer in charge. All that is neces-
sary, therefore, Is 60 arrange to burst the
she'll at given moment after firing, which
may be done by adjusting the fuse so that
the flash from IL shall reach the bursting
charge at the desired moment
When the object is TO destroy fortifca-
tons or earthworSs a shell Is used which
contains large charge of powder Or picrlc
acid sometimes called "melinite" or '1yd-
diie'), and which, unlike the shrapnel, has
no bullets in the interior Further such
shells are arranged so as TO explode en-
striking, the fuse previously described be
ing replaced by a percussion cap, which
brings about the explosion of the charge
when the shell strikes in exactly the same
nc fhE HYfD Of ria
In outward appearance this shell rosem-
bles the shrapnel. the pointed end being
followed out for the reception Of a screw
plug containing the cap. which b. inserted
Immediately before placing In the gun.
The action In this case Is comparatively
simple. When the shell strikes an object
the pointed end becomes imbedded to a
greater or less extent owing to the tre-
mendous velocity with which II is pro-
jected. The conclusion produced by the
impact OF the point fires che cap which
IN turn ignites the bursting charge, and
the shell bursts into fragments with terri
BILE violence Such a shell In action. is OK
actly equivalent to a charge OF explosive
placed in position for blasting purposes,
and produces an equal effect; the frag
ments of the shell, In addition, often caus-
ing great loss of life.
The mor-piercing projectile differs
ternal charge. IL is practically solid, and
has cylindrical body and pointed end.
The object of this projectile IL to pierce
the steel armor of a vessel. and d must
therefore be composed of an j extremely
hard and strong material to achieve this
end. A special kind of steel Is used In the
manufacture of this class OF missile, which
white not sufficiently hard to develop brit
tleness, possesses sufficient toughness to
lfHe q
specially hardened, so as to render il ca
pable Of penetrating the best quality of
armor-plates. The destructive capacity of
these projectiIes Is enormous, and the ex-
tent to which they win penetrate the hard
est steel Is truly surprising. Capt. Orde
Brown, r. A.. has published a rule based
on actual experiments, which states that
can armor piercing projectle win pene-
trate distance equal TO Its own diameter
for every thousand feet of striking veloc-
ity." Thus a shot OF this kind fired from
a 10-inch gun, and striking at 1000 feet per
second, would penetrate 20 inches of steel;
at 800 feet per second is inches; and so
on The latter velocity would easily be
obtained at close range, and in the event
of the projectile striking truly, the thick
est armor-plate possessed by any warship
ahoat would be completely penetrated. The
blow struck in this case would be equal to
that produced by a weight of 705 tons fall
ing a distance of ten feet. Recent inn
provements In hardening or "Harveyizing
the surface of armor-plates, however have
greatly diminished the efficacy of armor-
piercing projectiles; and 1t Is probable that
with recently manufactured plates the act
ual penetration would only be one-half as
much as stated in Capt. Browns rule.
The fourth class of shells used by the
armed forces of this country-namely, star
sheils--do not partake of the destructive
character of those previously described.
Their object is merely to furnish a light
by means Of which the movements Of the
enemy may be clearly discerned on dark
night, and surprises thus avoided. In their
mode of action they resemble a shrapnel,
and are arranged so as TO burst in mid
air by the agency of a fuse and bursting
charge They contain a special composition,
consisting Of barium nitrate, chlorate of
potash and powdered magnesium, which Is
innamed by the bursting charge and pro-
duces an intensely brilliant light-a similar
composition being employed for iashlight
photography.