Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1900-05-17

SHELLs READY FOR USE.
made larger than the remainder of the
barrel, thus admitting the shot, pro
yided with a gas-check This latter con-
sists of fiat band Of copper, forced by
tremendous hydraulic pressure on to
groove in the base of the projectile.
When the explosion occurs the shot is
forced into the bore, which it accurate
ly fits, while the slightly larger copper
band is nodded under the stress of the
exploding cordite to the shape of the
rifiing. The mass of metal Is forced by
this method to revolye as it leaves the
barrel, which it continues to do
throughout it's course in mid-air.
The greater number of projectiles are
Of cast steel, and the process of casting
is one of great interest. Masses Of
molten metal are poured from huge re-
ceivers into molds from which emerge,
when cool, rough castings very differ
ent from the smooth shell with which
every one is familiar. These are turned
in a lathe until they are sufficiently
smooth for painting, when they have
the copper band applied.
The projectiles vary considerable in
size, from that required by the tiny
seven-pounder to that necessary for the
service of the monster 1926 gun, the
110-tonner. This mass of metal weighs
three-quarters of a ton, stands 4 feet
inches high, and is propelled by a
charge of 800 pounds of powder, cor
dite not being used for these guns.
Roughly speaking, shot of all kinds
fall into four groups, viz: armor-pierc-
ing, common shell, shrapnel, and case.
The first named is made of cast steel,
with an exceedingly hard point. Its OBJ
ject, as it's name implies, is to penetrate
the armor-plate of an ironclad and
then to burst; hence it can always be
recognized In pictures by it's having
SHARP point instead of a fiattened nose.
The bursting charge is comparatively
small, and these shot are provided with
fuse in the base.
Common shell are merely travelling
mines, fred from gun and made to
contain as large bursting charge as
possible consistent with sufficient
strength to avoid breaking up in the
bore of the gun after firing. They are
therefore merely hollow skins Of cast
steel filled with either cordite, powder
or lyddite. They are fiat-nosed, and
have two varieties of fuses, either time
or percussion; that Is, a shell can be
timed to explode practically when de-
sired, the velocity being known or it
may be made to explode against shelter
trenches, etc, by impact.
Shrapnel, invented by Gen. Shrapnel,
and first used at the battle of Vimiero,
consists of thin iron case filled with
bullets set in resin. The bursting charge
| is contained in tin at the base, to-
gether with the fuse. while the head
,, and nose of the projectile are strength
ened to make it capable of being rough
| " handled. 1t is especially mankill-
ing missile, the case flying off at a
range of 1000 yards, while the bullets
search out an area of about 100 yards
at that range With the exception of
| a few common shell and fewer cases,
all European horse and field artillery
corps are mainly provided with shrap-
nell Modern tactics lay down as an
axiom that sooner or later troops must
advance in the open, and hence a pro-
| iectile like shrapnel is most useful.
Against shelter trenches 1t is, however,
Of little use, and artillery firing it are
outranged by an enemy firing common
shell. for the reason that 1t breaks up
at 4. 900 yards, while common shell does
not. TO sum up, against an enemy who
..plays the game" shrapnel is 'facile
| princeps,' but against one who does
mot 1t Is distinctly at disadvantage
Case shot are simply f1at-headed cyl
| inders OF thin iron, filed with bullets.
/ and this missile is never used save in
i the direct emergencies. The horses Of
| the battery are all down, and the per-
sonnet, with orders to delay the enemy
at all costs, see that they must die
where they stand. They load with case,
and at few hundred yards range dis
charge their stream OF bullets into the
midst OF the advancing savages- eThe
word savage is used avisedly, as
/ against modern troops armed with the