Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1915-04-29
fumes, which should give ample warning
of the threatened danger.

lullCSr wind otlOAAN SANN
of the threatened danger.
When nitric acid acts on cotton, it con-
verts il thereby into guncotton, which, as
everyone knows, is "high explosive"
of tremendous power. The process OF
making guncotton consists in soaking the
cotton in a mixture ofnitric and sulphuric
acids. After undergoing that treatment,
the cotton is wrung by wringers and
thoroughly washed, in order TO remove
the free acid. II is then reduced to pulp
in a pulping machine, and finally, when
wanted for use in torpedoes, il is care
fully moulded into blocks.
Guncotton is many times as powerful
as gunpowder. When "set OFF, il is in
simultaneously resolved into large volume
of highly heated gas that produces an
overwhelming destructive effect. In or
der that the effect shall be forthcoming il
is not even necessary that the gas shall
be confined, for its particles move with
such surprising velocity that the explosive
never fails 10 work havoc even in the
open.
II, instead OF using cotton, we mix or
dinay glycerin-a harmless, sweet, and
colorless Iiquid-wiih nitric acid. We get
uitroglycerin, ,.anolher high explosive OF
enormous power. II is very dangerous,
and for that reason is commonly mixed
with other materials when put 10 indus
trial uses. Thus, 10 make dynamite, rot
tenstone, substance that by itselfiS inert
and harmless, is saturated with il. But
there are many kinds of dynamite. The
material used as an abSorber is called the
dope" II may be in itself explosive.
like gunpowder, and in that case is known
as an "active DOPE"
The essential difference between such
high explosives as guncotton and nitro
glycerin and ordinary explosive, like gun
gowder, lies in the fact that each mole
cule OF the high explosive contains both
the things that burns and The oxygen that
supports the burning. When the stuff is
"set off, therefore, there is no delay,
and the whole mass is instantly convert
ed into gas. In the case OF gunpowder,
on the other hand, there is not chemical.
but mechanical mixture OF the essential
ingredients, and accordingly the fire pro-
duced by ignition has TO be communicated
with relative slowness from grain TO grain.
Furthermore, chemical compound OF the
high explosive kind is so unstable that a
mere mechanical shock will explode II.
In order to set It off. therefore, "det-
onator, corresponding TO cap,-com-
posed of some such substance as fulmi-
nate of mercury. is commonly used. The
illuminate is made by treating alcohol
with nitric acid in the presence OF mer-
curry.
For generations past, on land and sea,
there has been a keen rivalry between
armor and pTojectlle-beiween defense
and oftense. This rivalry, which can be
loi OdNh III AliN VI hoNo
warfare, at last has been decided. The
offense has definitely and decisively won.
II is admitted to-day that no battleship
can Withstand the impact OF the twelve
inch or fouheen-inch explosive proiec
tiles. Similarly, no fortress on land is
proof against modern guns.
have spoken ofthe new "insensitive"
high explosives derived from coal tar,
striking characteristic OF which is the safe
ty with which they can be handled. They
have proved so powerful against hostile
forts that they have rendered permanent
Notifications obsolete for all time 10 come.
How, indeed, is il 10 be imagined that
any structure erected by man could resist
ihem2 Even the pyramids OF Egypt,
the most enduring OF all works created
by human hands, could not for any length
OF time Withstand an assault by modern
howitZerS.