Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-29

son with the giants that are pounding away
at butts and sections of armor plate prop
ped up at the base of the hills. One of
these little automatic guns is found to
send 10 projecties from it's muzzle every
minute. each projectile weighing three
pounds and travelling SO fast that the first
81 reach a target two miles distant before
the SEVENTEEN leaves the gun barrel.
When velocity trials are being conducted
the projectfles are fired at targets at
known distance. or through the screens al
ready referred to. in which case the mis-
siles find a lodging place in a bank of dirt
technically designated butt" Some
of the Indian Head hills carry In their
lacerated bosoms hundreds of tons of metal
that has been fired into these butts.
All armor used for the protection Of the
battleships and other vessels of the navy
Is tested at Indian Head before accept
ance. A full section of the plate is mounted
upright on -buttress at the foot of hill.
The hardened steel armor is backed with
several feet of substantially built beam
structure. Shells and projectiles of various
Sizes and at various velocites are hurled
against the plate by the big guns. and
every human device is employed to pene
trate. crack, split or otherwise demolish this
target. The plate is marked off in sections
and each of these is attacked in turn. and
minute record made of the effect on each
Of the missiles. At the comparatively
short range at which the guns are fired
the ultimate fate Of the plate Is certain,
but in its demolition ample evidence is
given of the quality Of the metal of which
1t was sample and of its value as pro-
tective agency at such distances as obtain
In naval engagement.
The test of projectiles is with the view of
determining the range at which they may
best be used to advantage. and of their pow
er of penetration or explosive destructive
ness The Indian Head tests show peculiar
pranks of the different styles of projectiles.
hard-face steel Others penetrate the metal
and the intense heat they generate in doing
so fuses projectile and plate together as
firmly as if they had been joined in foun-
dry. Others so through, leaving a clean.
round hole IS a token OF their achievement.
The damaging missiles those that crack
shatter the armor- Explosive charges
In the projectiles sometimes regulated
to go off upon contact with the plates. and
at others to burst when they have pene-
ira ted the metal
On either side of the vale at Indian Head,
and in proximity 10 the batteries of big
guns are large bomb proofs" built OF
masonry. in the side of the hills Under
the direction of the inspector in charge
these places are the Ravens OF refuge for
the gun crews and firing squads during
tests which. through any flaw in manu-
facture might result disastrousiy to a gun
under its first trial. or for other reasons
might endanger limb upon the occasion OF
the test of the bursting force OF an untrfed
explosive. Such happenings are rare. how
ever and but for the insistence of the OF
ficers upon strict discipline many of the
seasoned men would prefer TO stay In the
open and listen to the popping OF the guns.
The unintiated welcomes the bits of cotton
that are proffered him to stun In his ears
to deaden the noise made by the big rifles.
To one who dares lie prone on his stomach
at the top of a cliff 800 feet back of a H.
inch gun when ii fires the experience Is
novel one and creates peculiar impressions.
Having taken the position he watches curl