The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-08-24
WITH MODERN ARTILLERY
Lessons in Japan'S Victories on
Land and Sea
THE NEWEST EXPLOSIVE
Day of the Gun About Reached the
Limit of Power-Wm In Man
churia First Conflict In Which
Sciences --latest Means OF Dcstruc-
ton have been Tested.

compiled It will probably be found
that the most interesting chapters
will be those relating to the use and
effect of the new artillery and the
high explosives employed.
The effects OF field fire In past
wars have been much less destruc-
tive to life in battle than is popu-
larly supposed The killed and
wounded In the Franco-German war,
for Instance, from artillery fire
formed only some 10 per cent. of the
total casualties.
This was owing in great part to
mechanical deficiencies in the weap-
ons compared with modern guns. to
the uncertainty of the fuses used in
the shells and to the want of accu-
rate rangefinders. The black pow
der also then in use had limitations
both as a propelling force and as an
explosive In shells, though 1t was
less liable under ordinary conditions
to the rapid decomposition to which
modern compounds are subject.
But It would appear from the ex-
perience gained during the present
war that the shimose explosive, so
called after the celebrated Japanese
chemist who invented 1t, possesses
the highest qualities of any known
as regards stability, force and sub
mission to control. Evidence Of these
qualities Is to be found in the results
| wherever it has been used, from the
| first action at Chemulpo, when the
W. tIo hntfarnI oil %
shape as regarded her upper works,
through the siege of Port Arthur,
down to the last and most disastrous
defeat of the Russians in the Sea of
Japan.
Not only was the Japanese fire re-
markable for It's accuracy but 1t was
| still more SO for it's terrible effect,
| which, moreover, was not entirely
mechanical. The sitting and poison
GUS character of the gases evolved on
the bursting of shimose charged
shells on board the Russian ships
| simply paralyzed the crews, choking
them and rendering them incapable
OF action. Those in the immediate
vicinity of the explosion who were
not killed by pieces of shell were de-
| stroyed by the force OF the detona-
ton. while those further away suf-
| fered from concussion OF the brain
The great column of water thrown
up by the bursting of shell that
missed its mark and dropped into
the bay was Il colossal, If only mo-
mentary, monument to the terrific
uplifting force of the japanese COM
| pound, while the cash made in the
side of the unfortunate Bayan tes-
titled to the driving force Of the ex-
| plosive that sent the projectlle from
! the gun.
They are simply reduced to a
shapeless heap, untenable by the de-
tenders, who must either surrender
or abandon their positions, as the
Russians were obliged to at Port
Arthur. The bombardments OF the
works defending Sebastopol were
child's play compared with the fire
from the japanese batteries after
Gen. Nogi had got down to his work
at Port Arthur. but the forces were
more equal. hence the duration OF the
siege, eleven months.
At Port Arthur the Russians were
deficient in most OF the scientific ap-
pliances for their guns with which
the Japanese were amply supplied.
and lacked the explosive that made
the Japanese shells terror to the
garrison and feet. The consequence
was that, with all chance OF relief cut
on, the surrender was only matter
Of time and expediency.
AS regards guns, 1t Is a question
whether we have not about reached
the limit OF power. chiefly because
there is no known metal or process
of hardening those employed in max
Ing cannon that can resist the wear
and tear OF use, which also becomes
greater with the increased caliber of
the piece and weight of the projec-
tile. Between the modern gun and
that OF this year In the last century
there is as great difference as be-
tween the explosives used in them.
The best of the old guns that were
cast with a smooth core to form the
bore were never more than approx
mately accurate in their fire, for the
reason that the axis of the bore had
almost invariably anything from one
or two to as much as five degrees
variation in some guns from the axis
OF sighting and the line of elevation.
In those days the best gunner was
the one who had become familiar |
with the vagaries of his weapon at |
all ranges, and knew where to plant |
his shot in spite of them.
In the modern piece mechanical
perfection and the use of mathemati-
cal and optical appliances for range |
finding and sighting have diminished
the value Of the human factor in
some ways, while they demand a
more cultivated intelligence in the
manipulation Of the gun.
Strategy and tactics even are be-
Ing modified in application by the
rapid changes that are taking place