The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-11-21
SHELL THAT 50 Nk THE PURITAN
william y. Isham. the inventor, wants the
Navy Department Co Adopt II.

WARRINGTON, Nov. ?0.-Nilliam =.
Isham, civilian ordnance expert, at
whose request tho experiments on the
monitor Puritan were made last week
at the Newport Newp middle ground.
has returned to Washington. The tests
IN his opinion demonstrated that shell
exploded against n ship at any range and
even without velocity will destroy YES
sci. Mr. Isham has invented a shell carry
ing "A charge Of nitroalycerine and gun
cotton an explosive used IN the expert
ments last week which he has urged the
Navy Depart ment to adopt. The Depart
ment. however. il opposed TO the use of the
lsham shell on the ground that the ex-
plosive is Of such a delicate character
that 1t might explode in the gun. Mr.
Isham contends that the air chambers
with which his shell IL fitted will prevent
the explosion VI the charge within the gun
The enactment OF Congress under
which the Puritan tests were made said
MIR l-ham to-day. called for one test
10 determine whether the service armor
, piercing shell can penetrate the thick
armor protecting the viIals Of battle
ship at the minimumHbattle range Of Zoo
wards and Gauss. damage behind IL ne
other test WAS 10 determine whether
| the same armor protection could I've down
into TIA" ship and damage done p"hihu
II ~ the maximum range ~ The sun say
IS 40 yards by the LSc of shells exploding
| on the, outside Of such plate. This latter
test has just been completed ana mas
| demOllSt rated ConCllIslvely Ia me ulAt oh
outside explosive. shell exploding aSalhst
tn. ship at any range. and even without
| velocity. Will destroy II.
Now AS 1t would b- absurd To- present
the effect of "a shotgun on a man az an ar :
/ xumeut for armInx our troops Win such
! weapons in the place Of long range rines.
! so also II II absurd to oppose the effect
! II arrnor piercing shells which have only
a limited range IL efficiency Ia IN" en"ct
| If "A shell which - efficient at the extreme
range pf the gun.
The practical result Mr.. Ishnm CON
! tinu..d. of Ihe Pun tan tests - the knowI-
edge that a single snip Of. say twenty
/ eight knots. armed with guns capable oil
being elevated TO give a range of. say.
-. VD yiIr.us and supplied with an album
!AuC,. II ammunition, which "a thinner
armOr would permit could -"lect ana
maintain such a position Of attack on the
high seas that even our whole navy. II
hrough, into the tight. would toe destroyed
without this v,-ss'l being brought even
/ into tn. range of our ships guns.
Gen, Miles and Major |. y. Lewis
urged m. advantages ~ such tactics
when advocating the adoption OF my
: she'll before Congress more than ten years
ago. Other progr.ssIv" officers nav"
continued to do since then. i ne
Rt1-n--Ia pan"S.. War emphasized the value
nf the. claims made and the present test
IA. further Corruboratei them IN this
country and II would seem that 10 IL about
time. that III" facts We're brought clearly
t. th. attention Of IN. public. especially
since. ". AT" spending millions Of dollars
annually upon d.fenslv" construction
along lines that lr" known and have been
/ proved by TESTS and actual wariar" To be
as anuquated -, the tiintlocs nusk"t.