The Penn's Grove record., 1900-05-11
WONDERFUL new SHELL,
No Armor in the World Able to With
stand It.
WILL REvOLUTl0NIZE WARSHIPS.

Facts Concerning the Invention OF an
American Naval Onicer Laid Before
the Senate In Secret Session-Projectile
Fired Through Fourteen Inches OF
H~arveyixed P~late-Secret Well Guarded
WARRINGTON, D.. G.. SpeciaD.-Some facts
almost startling in their Importance have
been laid before the Senate In secret legis.
lative session at the close of the regular
open session. They related, 1t is under
stood, to the invention by a prominent on
Ger OF the United States Navy OF q shell
superior in every essential quality to any
now In use by this or any other Govern
ment. The quality of penetration possessed
by the she'll is said to be so great that no
armor now manufactured In the United
States or abroad has suficien resistance
to withstand 1t.
With one of these shells, developed by
the Naval Ordnance Bureau, q six-inch
naval rife plugged q clean hole through q
plate OF HaTveyized armor fourteen Inches
thick. This marvellous achievement was
Witnessed by Assistant Secretary Hackett,
for whom the trial was made at Indian
Head. The gun was charged with smoke
less powder enough to give the shell a ve-
locity of 1850 feet per second. or twenty
five per cent. above ordinary proof veloc-
lty.
The facts, which we're In possession Of
only q few Senators, were deemed SO inn
portant that the Senate decided to con-
slider them In secret session. Mr.. Tillman
asked Tor q secret session in order that he
might explain to the Senate why he de-
sired the armor plate matter to be dis
cussed In secret.
Ut.4r Al @r~a ~-~V--I
that several days g he la offered a res
olution calling upon the Secretary OF the
Navy to send to the Senate for it's informa-
ton the details of tests, made by the De-
partment's officials, OF armor plate at In
dian Head. No answer to that inquiry has
been received, and in all human probable
lily none will be received.
It seems that Mr.. Tillman called at the
Navy Department, and was informed that
1t would be unwise at this time to make
public the details Of the tests he had asked
for, as it would place In the hands, not
only of the Senate, but OF Representatives OF
foreign Governments, information that
properly belonged exclusively to the United
States.
Appointment official Of the Navy Depart
ment said 1t is understood that the tests OF
all sorts OF armor, including the Krupp
armor, had been made, with Il view OF as
pertaining their effectiveness against a new
she'll that had been invented by an officer
OF the navy. No piece of armor submitted
to the test. It Is understood, was able to
withstand the test. The shell, fred from
high-poWer guns. penetrated the armor al
most as bullets fred from q Krag-Jorgen-
sen rife would penetrate green wood, tho
difference being that the armor plates split
from the point Of impact. It Is said this
was true of the Krupp armor, as we'll as Of
the other armor tested.
Feeling that more or less OF the matter
concerning the tests recently made by the
Government would be used In the debate
upon the armor question, Mr.. Tilman sug-
gested that it would be desirable to con-
slider the subject In secret. The Senate
agreed with him, n the armor-plate mat
ter was discussed behind closed doors.