Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1900-07-06

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
irifiing. The mass of metal Is forced by
this method to revolve 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 lathe until they are sufficiently
smooth for painting, when they have
the copper band applied.
The projecti,es 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 ton, stands 4 feet
& inches high, and is propelled by
charge of $40 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 SHE'LL shrapnel, and case.
The first named is made of cast steel,
with an exceedingly hard point. Its OBJ
ject, as Its name implies, is to penetrate
the armor-plate of an ironclad and
then to burst; hence it can always be
recognized in pictures by its having a
sharp point instead of n flattened nose.
The bursting charge is comparatively
small, and these shot are provided with
n fuse in the base.
Common shell are merely travelling
mines, fired 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 filed with either cordite powder
or lyddite. They are fat-nosed, and
have two varieties of fuses, either time
or percussion; that is, 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 ut the base, to-
gether with the fuse, while the head
and nose of the projectile are strength
ened to make 1t capable of being rough
ly handled. 1t is especially mani kill
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
few common shell and fewer cases.
all European horse and field artillery
corps are mainly provided with shrap-
mel. Modern tactics lay down as an
axiom that sooner or later troops must
advance in the open, and hence a pro-
, jectile like shrapnel is most useful.
,, Against shelter trenches it is, however,
of little use, and artillery firing it are
outranged by an enemy firing common
she'll, for the reason that it breaks up
at 1000 yards. while common shell does
not. To sum up, against an snemy who
plays the game shrapnel Is "facile