Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-07-29

llshed at Woolwich as an artillery
text book. On May 5, 1903 the inven-
tor had the honor Of exhibiting his
new projectile in the presence of the
king and a great number of general
officers, no foreigners being invited to
attend the demonstration; and few
weeks later he was sent to the Carron
iron works in Scotland, there to sup
er1ntend case shot, "for immediate
issue to the army" Consequent upon
the introduction of this project, there
was complete change in the system
OF fuses then in USE Shrapnel class
ed his fuses in boxes for different
ranges. Thereupon the gunner's task
became greatly simplified, for he no
longer had to trouble about degrees or
minutes or rates of burning.
First Use in Surinam,
The first occasion upon which shrap-
mel was employed on active service
was at the bombardment of the Ba-
tavian settlement of Surinam, April
80, 1904. Major Wilson who com
manded the British artillery saws:
Shrapnel had SO excellent an effect
as to cause the garrison of Fort Am
sterdam to surrender after receiving
the second shell. The enemy were so
astonished at these shells as not to he
able to account how they apparently
suffered from musketery at so great
distance as 2,O5O yards.' Here we
may note that although from the out
set men invariably referred to the
new projectile by it's inventors name
1t was not until 1856 that this weapon
was officially designated "shrapnel."
when Henry scrope Shrapnel obtained
authority from the war Office that it
snould pear his fathers name.
Writing of the defeat of 5000
French troops in Calabria by 1000
British in the year 1906, Admiral Sir
Sidney Smith, a spectator says: at
was evident the shells of Colonel
ShrapnePs invention, when burst in
flight and short Of their objects. as
they ought to be, did great execution. 7"
The gallant admiral asked the admir-
atty to introduce thee shell into the
navy and when they refused he pur-
chased quantity at his own expense
and by employing the prjectiles COW
cred the landing of the boats of the
division in the fact of huge Turk
ish force at the Dardanelles in Feb
ruary 1907.
In the Peninsula CAMPAIGN,
In the Peninsula campaign shrapneI
was employed with amazing effect
proving itself to be the greatest ar.
tillery discovery of the age. while
had the enemies possessed 1t
the result Of many of the
battles might have been very differ
ent to what 1t was. After Vimiera
Wellington wrote Shrapnell that his
shell had had the best effect in pro-
curing that victory, and Sir william
Robe, commanding the artillery,
added, lit is admirable to the whole
army and its effects are dreadful"
The French troops were often nan
&c stricken by the English shrapnel
ire. Prisoners asked, ''Mais que di-
able y await il dams vos boulets?" for
The impression was that the latter
we're poisoned. Napoleon sent instruc-
ions after Vineria that nonexploded
shells were to be picked up and ex-
amined. 1t can easily be conceived
low masses Of guns such. as Napole- !
IN used crushed everything before
hem and decided the fate of actions.
But what would have been the re-
suit had they fired shrapnel? Till
he very last the French generals re-
sarded the power of Shrapnels shell
IS phenomenon, inexpicable at that
line, but not likely to endure. In
1872, before Salamanca, Marmont was
bruised by spent ball from shrap-
1el shell and demanded of his staff.
Whether the British lines had not
been reported a mile distant?" To
he answer that such was the case.
he marshal rejoined. "Hew, then,
10 you account for this musket ball?"
After the war Marmont visited Eng.
and, and while at Woolwich the
very man who had laid the gun which
1red the shot in question was intro
luced to him.
Turned Tide at Waterloo.
Lastly, at Waterloo. according to