Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-12-05

that its firing load of smokeless
powder 1854 pounds) is equiva-
lent in energy developed, to 1,22h
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 fieet-especially in
view Of the fact that, as reckoned
by experts, one gun on land is equal
to six on ships, calibre for calibre,
owing to better protection and
steadiness of platform.
This wonderful sixteen-inch rifle,
emplaced at the Battery, on the
south end OF Manhattan Island,
could throw shells far beyond New
Rochelle on the Sound. Tuckahoe
and Hastings-on-the-Hudso would
be within easy range. It's shells
would pass far above Staten Island
and fall half mile beyond Atlantic
Highlands. Perth Amboy could
easily be wiped of the map. and
residents of Montclair might hear
the huge projectiles roaring over
head. to fall three miles distant in
the valley beyond. Paterson would
be within easy reach, with four
miles to spare.
With range of twenty-one miles
a projectile from this gun would
mount nearly six miles into the
air, reaching a height of 30,516 feet
AN altitude at which no human
being can get enough oxygen for
his lungs to keep him alive.
If Pixies Peak (14,0s3 feet) were
placed on top of Mont Blanc (15,779
feet, midway between the Battery
and Hastings-on-the-Hudson. the
projectile fired from the Battery
would land at Hastings after pass
ing clear over them both with 654
feet to sparei
The giant gun is to be mounted
at the Pacific end of the canal, be-
cause that entrance is deemed
more open to attack by a hostile
fleet than the Atlantic entrance.
The forts there located have been
built on four islands, most con-
veniently situated for the defen-
sive purpose, which were DUR
chased by the War Department
from the Pacific Mail Steamship
Company.
On each of these islands is
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 causeways OF solid concrete. In
fact, as designed. the four forts
are integrated into a single sys-
tenn. and even II an enemy were to
capture one OF them he could be
driven out by concentrating the
guns Of the others upon 1t.
On the sea-frontage of each ISL
and an inclined plane of concrete
rises from the shore with a long
and low slant toward the mainland
This is covered with several feet
OF earth, turfed so as to present
the appearance of a greensward.
No casual observer would suspect
that beyond there are concrete
lined pits concealing formidable
guns. Each fort consists Of several
such gun-pits. II is a series Of
holes IN the ground, with the land
scape for q roof: there is nothing
for an enemy to shoot at.
There will be in each fort several
fourteeninch guns-very formid-
able weapons, corresponding In
size and power 10 the largest rifles
carried by our battleshtps. In the
rear of the ordinary gun-pits, fur
thermore, will be. on each OF the
four islands. a battery OF four NOR
tars, similarly emplaced. They are
short riied guns OF twelye-inch
calibre meant for high-angle firing.
and TO see them an enemy would
have to be In q balloon. Such .