The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-26
A NEW ENGINE OF WAR.
The Dynamite-Guns of the Cruiser
'VeSuVius" Create a Sensation at
Santiago.
From Leslie's Weekly.


From Leslie's Weekly.
On Monday, June 49, the United States
dynamite cruiser Vesuvius for the first
time was brought into active operation to
the entrance of Santiago harbor. 1t fired
three shells, each containing 200 pounds
of gun cotton, on the western headland. at
the entrance 10 Santiago, each missile
starting silently on its destructive flight
and creating a tremendous explosion when
it fell.
No small amount Of satisfaction is evinc-
ed by the people in the fact that the gov
eminent is in possession of several heavy
dynamite guns to be used also in coast de-
Tense. AT Sandy Hook there are two 10
inch guns and one of S-inch caliber These
first named are fifteen inches in diameter
of bore, the very largest cannon which the
army has ready for action At San Fran
cisco there are three guns of the same cal
ibre, which are so placed about three miles
from the city as to assist materially in de-
Tending that harbor Dynamite guns are
operated upon an entirely different princi-
pie from the ordinary powder guns They
have engines and boilers and air compress
sors and coolers, and all sorts of intricate
machinery in house not far away, by
which the projectiles are fired The dyna-
or whatever the explosive material NAV
be, is contained in the proiectlle only
This projectile is called an aerial torpedo"
by the manufacturers and Is exploded by
means of fuse, similar to any powder
guns.
Dynamite. or any other high explosive
cannot be Used in an ordinary cannon be-
cause the powder would explode the dvn-
amlte before 1t left the gun, therefore the
system of using compressed air came into
vogue as the only method of throwing
dynamite to any distance The system Is
popularity known as ZalnskFs, although
that navl officer Is not connected with the
manufacture of the projectlles or the guns
The air is compressed and passed along
through various tubes before reaching the
gun, and is used at about 900 pounds
pressure to the square inch, which is much
less than the power of powder Dynamite
will be exploded at about 5000 pounds pres
sure to the square inch These guns are
enormous affairs, smooth bore. fiftv feet
in length, made Of the best iron, in three
sections, Hanged and boted together. and
supported on a steel carriage. The car
rlage is mounted upon a steel racing ring
so called, and the system Of handling is bv
means OF an electric motor As these
guns are covered by a large number of
patents, they are very expensive. costing
the government many thousands OF dollars
each Fifteen men, In relays, are reauir-
ed to work them.
The gunner stands upon a platform on
the left side of the carriage, uses a fine tel
oscopic sight, and when all is ready he
pulls lever which allows the compressed
air 10 enter the gun, and the discharge
takes place. These guns are all loaded
at the breech, and the projectile is handled
by separate carriage The protectile Is
about ten feet in length for the 15-inch
gun, and when charged with 500 pounds Of
dynamite, or gun cotton, weighs fully 1000
pounds. II Is a steel tube composed Of
walsl three-sixteenths Of an inch thick