The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1909-04-09
TO DESTROY AERI-
AL WARSHIPS.
Shell From Deadly Nixon Will
Explode Gas in Any
Balloon.

"A gun VIII q 6nCi thot will AOoV-OJ
war airships has been invented by
Lewis Nixon financier. shipbuilder
and international authority on war
engines. He he's worked on the shell
for year ard has 1t sufficiently near
perfection to promise a public demon
stration OF his Staten Island shipyard
Within six weeks.
While re claims nothing new for
his gun carriege, Mr.. Nixon asserts
the composition of the shell rs alb
solutely new and it will positiley de-
stroy and gas balloon as we'll as aero
planes. The shel is made in such a
way 1t can be used with any kind of
gun known in modern warfare. ibis
is feature that the Gerunan inven-
tors, Krupp and Ernardt, have not
yet comprised.
In aerial shooting in Germany 1t is
necessary 10 use guns especially con-
structed for the purpose. In firing
at airships and aeroplanes it is OBJ
viously necessary to tilt the weapon
upward until 1t Is nearly vertical. To
accomplish that the German gunmak-
ers have invented a system of swivel
bearings which permit the operators
to turn their guns around rapidly
while in an upright position.
Nixon will have a carriage almost
similar, but he thinks his invention
is superior because the shell, which
is the most important pant, can be
fired with good effect from any kind
of gun now in use. He declines to
reveal the composition OF his she'll,
because Ge is getting foreign patents
upon it and is egotiating with foreign
Governments as well as with the
United States. But he admits the
shell is composed of well known fac
tors; he has combined them in new
way that is all.
my invention does not depend so
much on the carriage or the gun as
upon the shell ITSELF" said Mr.. Nix
on yesterday. 1T will destrop any
airship. / have devised 1t particular
ly for the destruction of didigible bal
looms. TIE difficulty with ordinary
guns in using them against this type
Of eerial vessel lies in the fact that
even If you perforate tine bag and
make an opening sufficient TO let the
gas escape the ship can still sell on
and come safely to the ground in its
own territory.
"Witn tire shell | have devised the
gas is exploded in TIE envelope througt
ignition, which is caused by the solu-
ton in the shell. This OF course,
destroys the beg almost instantly
But besides being useful in this way
against balloons the sinell will be eff
fective in warfare against the aeroplan'
which is not supported by a gas bag.
1t will cause quick ignition and rapid
destruction.
81 have aimed at Tire perfection OF
such a she'll ever since / began to
experiment l EN- convinced the diri-
gible and the aeroplane will play nigh
ly important parts in future wars.
particularly believe the dirigible bal
loon will loom up importantly. 1t has
been demonstrated that 1t can carry
many men on comparatively long jour
neys. It is obvious such vessel lis
an extreme source of danger TO an en-
my and cit is absolutely necessary tina
some weapon of destruction whicn car
reach it be devised. If there were nc
she'll which could bring it to earth
the enemy could send comparatively
large forces over the Notifications OF
over the armies and easily destroy
them. Zeppelin and others have shown
it is almost child's play for a small
body OF men to rise and drop death
dealing SHELLS upon the places below.
"My shell, with the ordinary gun
can easily travel 5000 feet upward ot
22 feet second. In my public demon
stration | hope TO prove my assertions
by actually destroying balloon in cd
My invention Is open to purchese
by amy nation in the world. II tht
United States wants 1t, 1t can nave
1t. 1t is common experience o.
American inventors. however. hhaf
they find better encouragement abroaI
than in their own country. 1t is stale
to cite the wnights as an instance
We have IN our country the foremors
airship builder OF the world, yet out
side our boundaries 1 hardly thdnl
many persons have heard about MIN
refer to Captain Thomas s. Bald
win"