Albuquerque citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1907-1909, 1908-05-05
HIGH EXPLOSIVE
SHRAPNEL AND SHELL
Targets We're Riddled When II
Exploded In Air Above Them
Stone Walls a Yard Thick Are
Raced With Five Shots
Garry a Half Mile.

Fort Riley, Kan, May 5.-Tne field
artillery board of the army. which Is
stationed at Fort Riley, has just con-
cluded one of the most interesting
and, at the same time, thorough tests
of ammunition for field artillery that
have taken place in the United States.
For the past two years the army has
been experimenting with a high ex-
plosive shrapnel and shell with a view
of increasing the killing power of the
former 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 were 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.
Surpassed All Their Expectations.
The terrific power of this new am
munition was plainly demonstrated,
and the tests, which were conducted
under the personal supervision of the
members of the board, proved sue
cessful beyond the fondest expecta-
tons.
The first target to be attacked rep
resented 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. Both shrapnel and shell were
used on these targets from a distance
of 5000 yards. The shells were ex-
poded over these targets in order that
the flying pieces would go downward.
After the first shot the targets were
liddled like a sieve, showing what the
chance would be for a column of
troops moving in the open and in the
face of such fire.
Firing at Opposing Batteries.
Another type of target was a
shielded gun and caisson with the
caisson chest loaded with shrapnel
and with five dummy cannoneers at
their posts. The firing was begun
from range of about 400 yards
with the artillery finally moving up
to within about 1000 yards Of the tar
get. The rain of well directed shots
literally tore the target in pieces. 1t
was set on fire and many of the shells
in the caisson chest were exploded.
The cannoneers We're "killed," the
dummies having been hit many times.
The object of this fire was TO ascer-
tain what protection ther'. Was af-
forded by a shielded gun aud caisson.
The third target on the program
was made up of two stone walls, each
six yards long, three yards high and
one yard thick. 1t was assumed that
these targets sheltered troops and the
object was to destroy this shelter as
well as to ourst the shells over them
and reach the troops assumed to be
behind them. These walls we're razed
in short order. The second wall was
destroyed by five shots of the high
eX Xplosive.
Corporal Edward Peterson of Bat
terry c was complimented by the board
for his remarkable Workmanship.
The terrific bursting power of this
high explosive ammunition was shown
on that days firing. Pieces of shell
struck a man working In a stone quar-
ry on the reservation with sufficient
force to cut through his shoe and into
his foot Another piece OF the same
shell struck a dinner pail in this
quarry