The Washington herald., 1916-09-20
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS
Best Service Column in city.

Out Of a score or more of aerial bombs
which have been experimented with on
the Hampstead Plains aviation Field,
army experts, II is said, have approved
Iof one invented by F. e Barlow, an
employe OF the Frankford Arsenal In
Philadelphia
The torpedo. equipped with propeller
and wings. is said TO be the deadliest
ever invented and can be adjusted with
greater accuracy than any now in use.
The experiments. which were conducted
with the utmost secrecy, terminated last
Saturday morning.
Six feet IN length and with an explosive
radius OF 100 yards, the torpedo, II is
said, can be used either az a projectIle
or as bomb to be dropped by aero
planes
In addition to an explosive charge of
n. N. T, the torpedo contains a gas
chamber In which a new and secret COM
oination OF gas Is used. By means Of
an electric-timing device, the explosion
can be accurately regulated
One OF the chief features OF the bomb,
In which IT differs radically from bombs
which depend for bursting force on con-
tact with the earth or other objects is
that It may be exploded in the air with
full power. This Is said to enhance its
destructive power to a much larger de-
bomb, as It may be exploded over the
heads Of troops and spread gases earth
ward over a larger surface
Another feature of this weapon per-
nits of its use as an aerial torpedo when
| II is not desired 10 use II as a drop
explosive. The bomb may be made with
a new type OF electric motor and pro-
peller, which would enable the aviation
operator to fire 1t horizontally or to d.
| ~ not t,,xKy orA kr
bombs are arranged for attaching 20 the
under side OF aeroplanes.
Interesting results are expected to come
| from the numerous trials and test rides
to which army motor trucks in Texas and
Mexico are being subjected.
| Gen. Funston has utilized the oppor-
tunity furnished by the presence of sc
many of these vehicles in ascertaininE in
! a practical way to what extent and with
what facility the trucks may be employ.
ed in the movement of troops and their
supplies.
/ Recently a regiment Of infantry was
transported from FL Paso to San Antonio
within seventy-two hours which was a
| demonstration of the increased mobility
! OF infantry and an indication in a posi-
tive way Of the direction in which the
value Of that army may be increased.
! Another movement I'm automobiles had
| to do with the transportation Of ? 900 men
for a distance OF nearly 800 miles in less
| than thirty-twO hours OF actual running
time. This trip occurred on September
| !, when lS2 trucks made the journey from
! Eagle Pass to Camp Cecil A Lyon. The
trucks carried the men and the equipment
OF the First and Second Infantry Regi-
ments. Thirty of the trucks were used
in the transportation of troops, each vehi-
Gle accommodating twenty men. The
remaining three trucks Of the motor
truck company carried the field equipment
! and the commissary apparatus II was
found that for shorter distances II was
! possible to place thirty-ive men in each
truck, requiring them to stand. which
would be possible in A short run. 1t is
J intended TO make comparison OF the
cost of this trip with the cost OF trans
portation of a corresponding number OF
troops and equipment by rail.