Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-12-26

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Lyddits, ths nsw high explosive that
II provlng Of such great services 70 The
British q The military operations Ia
Soush Africa, WIS Grst used In sctual
warfare By Gen. Kitchenes's forces 10
last years. campalen IN the Sudan which
culmluatod IN the battle Of 0mdurman.
The value Of The new agent Of destruc.
ton was demonstrated IL that campaign,
and nov lyddlte ID considered, ct least
By Britain experts, - tho beet explosive
ret discovered for use Ia shells.
Lyddlte ID variety Of picric acid, the
base Of many Of the new high explosives
that appear under different names, among
them being mclinite-the pet explosive
Of French artillerists-emmenslte and
theorite. Picric acid was discovered In
I'LL, and for more than century was
used - . dye without lts explosive
powers being suspected. A dozen years
ago . fire occurred In chemical estAb-
lishment ct Manchester. The dames
spread TO shed containing picric acid,
which melted and flowed until Il came In
contact with quantity Of litharge stored
In the same building. A terrific explo-
sion resulted. Subsequent investiga-
tons showed that under certain condi-
tons picric acid 10 . powerful explosive,
and further experiments made clear the
necessary conditions. In making plcric
acid pure phenol or carbolic acid 10 plsc-
cd In q vessel with an equal amount OF
strong sulphuric acid, and the tempera-
ture 10 raised to the boiling point Of
water. Strong nitric acid Is then allow.
ed to dow Into the mixture, after which
the whole ID cooled, leaving solid mass
Of yellow crystals 10 the weasel. These
are filtered and drained and afterward
are washed with cold water. The resi-
due 10 pure picric acid. These yellow
crystals are frequently used 10 Europe
In the sdulterstion Of beer.
Picric acid, II heated gently, melts
quite tranquility, and may be poured
from one vessel TO another. II strongly
heated Il charges with slight noise. II
hammered on an anvil no detonation oc-
curs-in other words, picric acid Il not a
sensitive explosive like nitrogly cerin.
The shock OF other explosives known -
detouators Is necessary to cause the ex-
plosive breaking down Of plcric acid.
The best detonAtors for this purpose may
be made from picric acid itself by csus-
Ing it to combine with the oxides OF
metals. The discovery OF this fact has
served to explain the Manchester explo-
sion, for there the plcric acid came 10
contact with litharge-iesd oxide-in
the presence Of heat. These decorating
bodies explode on receiving slight blow
- nH haa nA
thus cause the explosion OF the main
charge. In making lyddite shells pi-
eric acid, made according to the process
Indicated, Is melted by gentle heating
aud poured into the shell to the amount
required. On cooling, the substance
becomes solid, compact msss, In which
form IL II known as lyddite, taking its
nsme from Lydd Of the British ordnance
department. The inner lining OF the
shell is made OF tin. II iron were used
rust might form and the combination Of
oxide OF iron and picric scid might pro-
duce premature explosion. The detonst-
ing charge commonly used In discharg-
ing lyddite shells is lead picrate. IL 10
placed In the shell Immediately before
firing, and on impact II produces shock
which brings the main charge into action.
The great advantage OF lyddite for
war purposes IL that II IL not liable TO
discharge until brought Into contact with
n decorating substance. II is safe 10
manufacture, safe to handle and safe 10
transport, which are Important require
ments for the ideal explosive. When
brought into action the destructive
power is enormous, ~ was demonstrated
In the Sudan campaign and rs Is being
demonstrated anew In South Africa.
Numerical comparisons cannot be made
with positiveness, but II 10 said tina,
lyddite In lie explosive effect 10 at least
six times As powerful ~ nitroglycerin,
indeed. 40 destructive are the new shells
that Gen. Joubert ID reported 10 have
protested against their use ~ lnbumsn
TO this protest military men generally
will answer that destruction Il the OBJ.
ject Of war. As Won Moltke once said
"wsr 10 now an applied science" and
the progressive nations do not wish u
deprive themselves OF the advantage
which their greater scientific efficiency
confers upon them. The possibilities Of
destruction In this new agency Of wal
are, however, appalling to contemplate
Chicago Record.