Bisbee daily review., 1914-10-25
MYSTERY SURROUNDS BUILDING OF HUGE
 GUNS FOR GERMANY
Krupp Works Are RumOred To Be Manufacturing New Artillery Of Great Size But It's Use Is Limited To Naval Bases

THE HAGUE. Oct. 24-( (Corres- pondence of the Associated Press) )-l TO the rumors that the Kruppe works at Essen are building 56-centimeter guns. has now been added another the claim that the same plan is turning Gut 56-centmeter pieces. Vile it is ard to believe this, it must be born in mind that siege piece of 42 centimeters. the existence of which was doubted before the war. has become a convincing real ity. 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 interest ing fable.
 TO be sure a 30.5-centimeter (bout 12inch) gun was not in itself a nov city. But that the Austrians would be able to make such a piece mobile for field purposes was thought out of the aestion The same process Of reasoning was applied to the German 42-centimeter or 16 1-2-inch gun. A mathematical relation of cause and effect, in this instance the ability of steel to withstand the shock of the propelling explosion, and the weight which such a machine of destruction would have, led to the conclusion that 16 1-2-inch gun while possible could not be transported easily enough to permit it's use in the field. Neverthe- less. it was shown that, though the ! German 42-centfmeter gun weighe about 26 tons. transportation difficult ties had been overcome largely with the aid of motor traction and other devices
 Since the increase in weight of a 56-centimeter, or 22-inch gun over a 42-centimeter gun would not be very great, and since the increase in a 60- centimeter or 23 1-2-inch gun over a 1 22-incher would be an almost negli- gible quantity. the existence of such pieces need not be doubted in this respect. If it is possible to move over ordinary roads and across soft fields a 26-ton piece, it is not un- ! reasonable to expect that a gun weighing 35 tons would offer no new transportation problems The case is one of increase in motive power instead of new aspects in transporta- ton.
 No attention need be paid to pop ular rumors making the rounds in Germany that the new pieces are de- signed to Lombard the English coast from the coast of France. The ex- treme flight of the 161b inch shell has recently been given as about 12 kilometers for the "krumbahn" or high trajectory pieces, and 16 kilo- meters for those having a fatter course Since the increase in calibre from 161h to 23lk does not necessari- ly mean a proportionate lengthening of range, it is not at all likely that the English coast cities opposite Ca. lais and other channel points will make the acquaintance of the "Brum. mers''-as the Germans have come to call their large siege pieces.
 The 56-om and 6O-om 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 Germans hope to establish during the course of the war It is maintained that Calais has been decided upon as the best To. cality for such a base, and that the ,, great activity in the Krupp works is in a measure due to this.
 There is an authentic report that in this establishment over 46.OOO men are busy day and night turning out war material While a large percent. age of this force must be employed in supplying current demands of ammunition for the field pieces and replacing losses in this arm. it is only reasonable to assume that this huge force should in part be em. ployed in the making of new and larger "Brummers" That the works are turning out new additions to the 42-om equipment is known, for only a few days ago six new pieces of this , class were taken to the vicinity of Antwerp,