The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-04
American Machines Whr
in Great British Arsenal
Visit to Woolwich Reveals Huge Strides Being Made
in Munitions Output-Production Increased 900
Per Cent.-Boy Workers Big Aid.
EXPLOSIVES WEIGHED BY JEWELRY SCALES

of gravity as far back az possible the
little cone OF aluminium does that. ana
so makes the bullet fly more s%;raightly."
From shop to shop we wandered. We
saw every sort of shells In their n aking,
from the infants to the monster 10 Inch
typo for the guns of the superdread-
nougiits.
Tho 10 FOUNDERS we're however. the
aplarent joy az our conducting officers.
I'VE have rad wonderful success with
these" they said, so we fingered over
their making.
Ingois Of brass were chopped like
cheese into thick disks shaped very
much llkc qJoits. Another machine with
:, cruel pluiser deliberately and cruelty
elongated the disk uto IA short cylindrical
cup. Various other machines continued
tho elongatine process until tn" shell
was Of tie right length. Then another
machine gently tapered the ends. while
u most mysterious. fascinating operation
was performed by "A machine some thirty
feet In length that took two OF these
cylinders. pressed them together and
somehow evolved u dainty rim.
Giant Guns in Embryo.
IT, tine foundries We were permitted 20
&c the giant tift.cn-iuch guns IN their
making. our trip ranged from foundry
40 shrinking room. where the various
tubes are slfrunk on. and nnally I" the
delicate finishing operation. where a
method machine accurately and silently
rifles these monsters.
That Engllnd's battleships In uild
Ing need fear no shortage Of monster
guns was evident from the number
which We're shown us In that huge room
at Woolwich. finished or on the poin;
Of being finished.
Perhaps one Of :he most interesting
and mentally thrilling experiences was
the visit TO the dangerous houses. as
they are called. where the shells are filled
with either ly,ldite or cordite. our mo-
tor tthe distances are 80 great In Woo
wich that tyavel either by motor or the
light railways that net the plant Is 4
necessity tool us - Il cate behind whicH
were a row q? n.' stored bungalows
set we'll above the ground on piles.
Here we d~ismoun,cd. The gateman
| politely hut firmly made ms give up ou'
cigars. cigarettes. matches and knives
The officers themselves were obliged to
do likewise. We were old that this
Vas "A necessary preciut,on and that No
workman was permitted To enter ths
DANGEROUS houses without bcing thor
oughly searched. "Famiiiar'ty breeds
contempt and these men workiug with
the highest explosives IN the world might
u~nthinkingly light a match or IA cigarette
and the result would ne chaos.
Jntnhammab BILE Clothes Worn.
The formalities Were NOT over Yet. NJ
the Office We were led along q passage
way across which ran n wooden ohstruc-
ton about a foot high. Here a white coat
ell attendant standing on tn" farther sid.
Of the obs,ru"tio- made u turn dow
| n,,t. ,~neIs.r- r nal r.-.FullN ,lt-f .lgtt
Left foot first. please polnt!ne 10 .
brass rest on our side ri III" low wooden
wall. Then he placed a bulky lcat.,cr
sandal. fel; soled. and carefully directc,
the left foot 10 his side of the barrie.
Now lhe right" ard 'he process was
repeated.
II Is vcry mach III" the saudallina
process with which every American who
vis = the mosque in Fey N Is familiar.
"You see explained the onicers. 1--WE
are obliged 20 take extreme pr"caI'i"' :
I'm the dangerous houses. \ nail In your
boot might strike against "A piec" OF
grit on the 'iOor and cause "A sparl
that might De fatal. So We have tC
guard against grit or dirt OF any sort
you notice that all the workers here
are wearing white coats. They are made
IF un.ntiammahl" material and whit.
Shove M the dit ~ well that We kno.
when the coat needs to he washed. As'
notice that In addition 10 the houses
beg'- placed well above the ground the,
ar" contested viii wooden pathways
also similarly raised. 50 throughout III,
trip from one house 10 another you
feet never touch the ground"
Inside the first house we visited men VIII,
aere We CHING. cutting or binding cord,
tie with the acme Of Indifference 10 IT,
deadly nature. I, arrives on huge reel,
and LOOKS like mO'ASseS or brown Spu,