Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-12-05

that It's firing load OF smokcless
powder (666la pounds) is equiva.
lent, in energy developed. to Lea
pounds OF ordinary black powder.
One can easily imagine what
eighteen such guns could do for the
defense OF New York, or ten of
them for that OF San Francisco.
against hostile 1eet-especiallv i'm
view OF the fact that, as reckoued
by experts, one gun on land Is equal
to six on ships. cnlibre for calbre,
owing to better protection and
steadiness OF platform.
This wonderful siXteen-inch rifle
emplaced at tho Battery. on the
south end OF Manhattan Island.
could throw shells far beyond New
Rochelle on the Sound. Tuckahoo
and Observation-Disclosures would
be within easy range. Its shells
would pass far above Staten Island
and fall half mile beyond Atlantic
Highlands. Perth Amboy could
easily be wiped off the map, and
residents OF Montclair might hear
the huge projectiies roaring over
head. to fall three miles distant in
the valley beyond. Paterson would
be within easy reach, with four
miles TO spare.
win range of twenty-One miles
projectile from this gun would
mount nearly six miles into the
air. reaching height Of 30.5i6 feet
an altitude AT which no human
being can get enough oxygen for
his lungs 10 keep him alive.
IL Pixies Peak (l4,0S3 feen were
placed on top Of Mont Blanc u5.179
feeO, midway between the Battery
and Hastings -on-the-l hudson. the
projectile fired from the Battery
would land at Hastings after pass
ing clear over them both with sd
feet to spare!
The giant gun is 10 be mounted
at the Pacific end of the canal, be-
cause that entrance is deemed
more onen 10 attack by hostile
fleet than the Atlantic entrance.
The forts there located have been
built on four islands, most con
veniently situated for the delen.
sive purpose, which we're pur-
chased by the War Department
from the Pacific Mail Steamship
Company.
On each Of these islands is a
fort, and each fort will be provided
with one siXteen-inch gun OF the
type here described. The islands
have been connected with each
other. and also with the mainland.
by causewars nf solid concrete. In
fact, as designed, the four forts
are integrated into II single sys-
tenn, and even il an enemy were TO
capture one OF them he could be
driven out by concentrating the
guns OF the others upon it.
On the sca-frontagG OF each isl
and an inclined plane OF concrete
rises from the shore with long
and low slant toward the mainland.
This is covered with several feet
OF earth, turied so as to present
The appearance Of 4 greensward.
No casual observer would suspecf
that beyond there are concrete
lined pits concealing- formidable
guns. Each fort consists of severa!
such gun-pits. Il is a series OF
holes in the ground, with the land
scape for a roof; there is nothing
Tor an enemy to shoot at.
There will be in each fort several
tourteen-inch guns very formid,
able weapons, corresponding in
size and power TO the largest rifles
carried by our battleships. In The
rear OF the ordinary sun.pits. fur
thermore, will be, on each Of the
four islands, battery of four NOR
tars, similarly emplaced, They are
short rifed guns OF twelve.inch
calibre meant for high.angle firing,
and to see them an enemy would
have to be In a balloon. Such q