Semi-weekly herald., 1915-05-03

q
gle is given once for ALL 1t is main
tanned invariably by lever which re-
mains between the points of which
accurate ranges have been taken.
The Angle of Fire.
The angle of fire, or the height re-
quired by the distance, is given by
means of crank which modifies the
position of the cannon with reference
to the cradle, without deranging the
plan of sighting. This crank move-
ment is given mechanically to the
screw by means of graduation es-
tablished on the raising cylinder.
The aiming system is complete and
is all a matter of science and ma
chinery. 1t is possible with this gun
to aim at target which is conceal
ed from the gunner. The captain
from his observatory can direct the
angle of the aim. Sometimes the
captain choose what is called an aux
iliary target visible to the gunner.
Thus the direction is secured and the
movement to the left or the right to
the real target is matter of mathe-
matics and signals. The ammunition
wagon is kept near and the projectile
or cartridge is introduced into the
chamber without hindering the gum
ner who is arranging his aim for the
next shot.
How Shrapnel is Made.
The "75" gun uses two kinds of
ammunition. Of course both kinds
must be in shells of the same size.
The shrapnel shell contains 300 bull
lets of hardened lead; each measures
32 centimeters in height; the outer
walls of the shell are little less than
quarter of an inch thick, and are
composed of the finest steel The
bullets in the shrapnel shell are plac-
ed in layers and mixed with COM
pressed powder. A layer of saltpeter
covers the charge which is pierced by
a copper tube containing a wick and
pierced at its lower extremity by
holes which enable the fire to reach
the base of the charge. This wick
is lighted by fuse which produces
the explosion of the projectile in the
air at distance regulated by the
gunner IN advance.
In all shrapnel cartridges there is
a double acting fuse, that is to say,
fuse that will explode on a time
limit or cap that will explode by
striking the earth or some other OBJ
ject, in other words some of the
shrapnel charges explode and scatter
their bullets while in the air, and
others take eject when they strike
the ground.
The shrapnel cartridge, as de-
seribed in a former letter, is about
the size of quart bottle formerly
used in Iowa for wine or beer, and
it contains nearly as much machin-
cry as clock. The materials are
steel and brass.
The Other Killer
This same gun shoots another
charge which is made dangerous only
by the bursting of the inner and outer
steel shells. These broken shells
scatter through the air, and having
sharp edges create havoc among the
soldiers. This is called the melinite
shell. 1t is the same length as the
shrapnel, but weighs only about 12
pounds. 1t is made of steel and pew
ter plated on the inside, for the rea-
son that melinite eats every other
metal excepting pewter. Every known
combustible is inside this melinite
shell. The total weight Of the charge
is about one pound. This second shell
hoc ~, - IL
every known device for making an
explosion. The explosion usually re-
suits in 200 different pieces of suffi-
cient size to cause vital injury, and
in addition to these 200 pieces a part
of the shell is absolutely pulverized
and experiments have shown that in
one case a shell was broken into more
than 1000 pieces.
The shrapnel cartridge is filled
with bullets and does its deadly work
by an explosion and the scattering of
these bullets. The melinite shell does
its work with the fine particles Of it
self. These are the differences and
unless your observation is close you
cannot tell one shell from the other.
Will Carry Eight Miles.
These "75" guns, as. have said,
are really 3-inch guns, what would be
called light artillery. They carry a
distance of s miles and the gun is
easily removed from place to place
and set up for action. The "75" gun
is also used in firing at Zeppelins
and aeroplanes and in the grounds in
this city enclosing the tomb of the
great Napoleon some of these "75"
ready to be fired at Zeppelins.
Supposing that my readers might
be interested in this famous gun,
have devoted sufficient attention to
an understanding of it and have no
doubt thousands of them are being
made every week, and that they will
be put into use all along the line a
little later