Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-30
TYPES OF BIG GUNS
THAT DEAL DEATH
IN WARS OF TODAY
Heavy Artillery Demon
strates Effectiveness in Bat
ties of European War.
Destruction by Shrapnel.
DESTROYING THE SAoG-
RoN L-OtA cHES on THE
PICNIC BENCHES

All reports of battles in Europe indicate
that this is essentially war of artillery,
! and while the rifle of the infantry and the
| bayonet with which 1t is equipped plays
an important part, the main work is
| done by the big guns, of which there are
many types.
| The modern field gun in all of the
| armies is a weapon Of about three inches
| calibre-that is to say, it fires d pro-
! jectile about three inches in diameter
and is so constructed that it does not
! jump back or require to be relaid each
| time that it is fired. To hold the gun
steady it is fitted with a cradle on which
it slides when it recoils, and the force
OF the reCoil Is checked by buffer. The
carriage is prevented from shifting by
strong brakes on the wheels and a
spade on the trail of the gun, which is
buried III the ground.
The Sunners are protected, while work.
ing the gun. by n steel shield which Is
proof to rifle or shrapnel bullets.
Close beside the gun when it goes into
action is the ammunition wagon, some
| times called the caisson. This Is steel
! plated in front so as to shelter the men
behind it. 1t contains large mum
| her of rounds, so placed as TO be easily
! handled. In the French ammunition
| wagon there are seventy-two rounds, and
! when these have been fired the wagon
! is replaced by another or sent to, the rear
! to be retilIed.
The weight Of the shell fired from the
British field gun is eightcn and one-half
| pounds; from the French and German
| guns about fifteen pounds
The projectiles fired by field guns are
two, shell and shrapnel. Shell are cases
| of steel containing a charge of high eX-
! plosve, usually lyddite, which is a
| preparation Of picric acid. The charge
| is detonated by fuse, which may he
| either time set to go off a certain num-
| Der of seconds or fractions of second
after leaving the gum or percussion
which eNplodes on striking some object
| such as the ground or a gun shield
| ShTapnel, so called after their inventor
| the British General Shrapne are thin
| cases Of tough steel containing a large
number OF bullets-in the British artillery
2fS and In the French and German coo
with n small bursting charge at the base
, of the DrojcctIle. The bursting charge
! break the thin steel case. when the bull
/ lots sweep forward with the velocity inn
| parted 10 the protcctile by the gun.
Shrapnel are regarded as good "man-kil-
! ers they are quite ineffective against
buildings, where shells are deadly.
For the attack Of field guns and build
| inss and for action against troOps in
| trenches most armies employ hOwitzers
which are short, squat guns that toss
| their projectilcs high in the air Migh-
/ angle hre). In the British army every
! division has 1fty-four field guns and eign-
! teen howitzcrs. These howitzers are of
i-5-inch calibre, iirlng n shell f5 inches
In diameter and Weighing thirty-fve
pounds. They have "A range of 7260 wards
which is 1000 yards greater than tho range
Of the British field gun,
The defect Of tho howitzer Is that It's
shell Is very heavy and consequently
much fewer rounds can be carried than
with the field gun There IS no security
that a single howitzer she'll will do twice