Rock Island Argus., 1908-05-23
EXPLOSIVE TESTED
Terrific Power OF New Shell
Shown by Experiments at
Fort Riley, Kan.
Observation-Disclosures
Ammunition Made by German Would
AnnihiIate Infantry and Silence
Batteries of Enemy.

= The field artillery board of the Unit
ed States army. which is stationed at
Fort Riley. Kan, has recently conciud-
ed one of the most interesting and at
the same time thorough tests of ammu-
milton for field artillery that have tax
en- place in the United States. For the
past two years the army has been ex
perimenting with. high explosive
shrapnel and shell with view of in
creasing the killing power of the for
mer and the destructive qualities of
the latter. The ammunition used in
this test. which occupied a week, was
the product of a German firm.
There We're many features of the
firing which were spectacular and of
great interest to the layman. From
vantage points on the reservation and
safe beyond the danger zone the flights
of the shells could be plainly heard
and the bursting of the many shells
could be seen as they hit about the
targets or, striking them, tore them to
pieces.
The terrific power of this new ammu-
milton was plainly demonstrated. says
a Fort Riley correspondent of the Kan
sas City Star. and the tests. which
were conducted under the personal SUI
pervision of the members of the board.
proved successful beyond the fOndest
expectations.
The first target to be attacked repre-
sented infantry in column on the
march. Eight board targets, each forty
yards long. two yards high and of inch
planking, were arranged one after the
other and twenty-five yards apart
Roth shrapnel and shell were used on
these targets from distance of 5000
yards. The shells We're exploded over
these targets in order that the flying
pieces would go downward. After the
first shot the targets were riddled like
a sieve. showing what the chance
would be for column of troops NOV
ing In the open in the face of such q
fire.
Tried u Shielded Gun.
Another type of target was Il shielded
gun ard caisson. with a caissou chesi
loaded with shrapnel and shell and
with FIVE. dummy cannoneers at theii
posts. The firing was begun from. a
range of about 1000 yards. with the
artillery finally moving up to within
about 2.o90i yards of the target The
rain of we'll directed shots literally tore
the target in pieces. 1t was set on fire
and many of the shells in the caissoI
chest We're exploded. The cannoneers
were killed" the dummies havin:
been hit many times. The object o
this fire was to ascertain what protec
tion there was afforded by shielded
gun and caisson.
The third target on the programme
was made up of two stone walls, eacl
six yards long. three yards high aDt
one yard thick. 1t was assumed tha
these targets sheltered troops. and th
object was to destroy this shelter a
we'll as to burst the shells over then
and reach the troops assumed to b
Behind them. These walls were raZe'
in short order. The second wall wa
destroyed by five shots of the high ez
plosive.
\ Corporal Edward Peterson of Bat
tery C was complimented by the boar
for his remarkable craftsmanship. TIL
terrific bursting power of this high e2
plosive ammunition was shown on tina
days firing. Pieces of shell wcr
thrown half q mile. One piece struc
man working in a stone quarry o
the reservation with sufficient force
cut. threuol his s.oe and into his foo