The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-10-21
KRUPPS TURNING
OUT BIG GUNS
RuMoR HAS 1T THEY ARE BUILD
ING Sc cENTIMETER GUNS
AND SAME SIZE PIECES.
These Large Guns Would Doubtless
Find Their Uses in Protecting
Some Naval 6ase-46, 900
Men Engaged.
Correspondence of Associated Press.)

Correspondence OF Associated Press)
THE HAGUE. Oct, 20-To the ru-
mors that the Krupps' works at Es-
sen are building 56-centimeter guns.
has now been added another-the
claim that the same plant is turning
out 56-centimeter pieces. While IL is
hard TO believe this. IL must be borne
in mind that a siege piece OF AZ cen
timeters. the existence of which was
doubted before the war has become a
convincing reality. as has also the
Austrian 30.5-centimeter piece. which
even after the outbreak of the war
was looked upon as the object OF a
very interesting fable.
To be sure 300 centimeter (about
= tnch) gun was not in itself a novel
~. But that the Austrians would be
able 10 make such a piece mobile for
field purposes was thought out OF the
question. The same process OF rea-
sontng was applied to the German AZ
centimeter or 1914 -inch gun. A math-
ematical relation OF cause and effect,
IN this instance, the ability OF steel
10 Withstand the shock of the pro-
pelling explosion. and the weight
which such a machine of destruction
would have. led to the conclusion that
loteinch gun while possible could
not be transported easily enough TO
permit its use in the field. Neverthe-
less, II was shown that, though the
German 42-centimeter gun weighs
about 20 tons, transportation difficult
ties had been overcome largely WIN
the aid OF motor traction and other
devices.
Is Entirely Possible.
Since the Increase in weight of a
56-cehtimeter. or 22-inch, gun over a
42-centimeter gun would not be very
great. and since the increase in a 60
centimeter. or 23Izinch, gun over n
22-incher would be an almost negli-
gible quantity. the existence of such
pieces need not be doubted in this re
spect. IL IL is possible 10 move over
ordinary roads and across soft fields a
2o-ton piece. IL Is not unreasonable to
expect that a gun weighing 30 tons
would offer no new transportation
problems. The case is one of increase
in motive power instead Of new as
poets in transportation.
No attention need be paid TO popular
rumors making the rounds in Ger.
many that the new pieces are designed
TO lombard the English coast from .hC
coast OF France. The extreme flight
OF the i6jkinch shell has recently been
given as about IL kilometers for the
krumbahn." or hig trajectory pieces.
and is kilometers for those having a
fiatter course. Since the increase in
calibre from 1914 TO 23is does not
necessarily mean a prOportionate
lengthening Of range. IL IL not at all
likely that the English coast cities op-
posite Calais and other channel points
will make the acquaintance OF the
"brummers"-as the Germans have
come to call their large siege pieces.
Would Find Uses.
The 56-cm and Seem pieces
should they actually exist would find
their uses and these as more or less
well Informed circles here assert.
would consist OF arming some naval
base on the channel which the Ger
mans hope 10 establish during the
course OF this war II is maintained
that Calais has been decided upon a.
the best locality for such a base and
that the great activity In the Krupp
works u In a measure due 10 this
There Is an authentic report that
In this establishment over $4,000 men
are busy day and night turning out