The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1917-03-14

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ed with powder or dynamite and pro-
vided with a fuse, could accomplish
about the same damage.
Nevertheless, the effect Of these
hand grenades, especially in an en-
closed space, was very great. For
example, on one occasion guard of
seventeen men in the guard room
were killed by the explosion of an
improvised grenade of this type,
which consisted of piece of guncot-
ton provided with fuse, and which
was thrown into the room through
q window.
GAS the effect Of the grenades is
great especially when they are used
either under favorable conditions, for
example, in the hands of an assault
ing column or a sortie detachment,
the japanese employed special protec-
tive nets, which consisted of wooden
frames covered with strong wire net
ting from 120 to 21O centimeters high,
when working on Notifications at
close range from the enemy.
"If hand grenades attained So sat
isfactory an effect in an improvised
form it is not surprising that the in
ventors' mind occupied itself with this
means of combat, and has endeavored
co adapt it to the requirements of
modern warfare.
"First of all, it was very Important
to invent projectile that would unite
deadly effectiveness with complete
safety to the thrower. Mr.. Aasen,
the Danish inventor, constructed a
number of hand, rifle and mine gre
nades, which are said to fulfill these
requirements.
"The hand grenades are carried by
the man until required and then
thrown by hand. The rifle or how
itzer' grenades are fired from firm
rest, suchh as wooden stand made
from a rifle placed on the ground
and directed at various angles Of ele-
waiting by means of stakes. The mine
grenade is anchored in the ground
and discharged by electricity upon ap-
proach of the enemy.
"The following report is made of
the tests which the inventor held with
his grenades on his private proving
ground in Copenhagen:
"Seven men behind cover fired vol
leys.at group of eighty wooden dou-
bic silhouettes, disturbed over space
of 900 square meters under cover.
| From the first volley ninety-three
hits were made on forty-three sill
houettes. After the third volley sew
enty-two targets showed 168 hits
The distance was between 800 and
400 meters.
Weight of Rifle Grenade.
"The rifle grenade weighs about $50
grams. 1t contains seventy-two bull
lets weighing 2.5 grams and seventy
two grams Of explosives. The SEN
enty-two bullets cover space of at
least forty to fifty square meters.
The rifle grenade may be fired from
an ordinary army rifle at any range
up to about 400 meters. The great
destructive effect of the grenade is
due to the fact that the explosion
takes place Immediately after the
grenade strikes the ground before it
has had time to bury itself in the
soil.
"The 'howitzer' grenade weighs one
kilogram and contains 215 bullets and
bursting charge weighing 2OC
grams. 1t can be thrown with the
hand forty meters or with a 'howit.
zer' 200 meters. The 'howitzer' is
contrivance made of a cylinder and
weighs twelve Kilograms. 1t may be
carried like rifle. The bullets of
this grenade cover semi-circulal
space of at least eighty square met.
ers and spread only to the front and
!aterally, but not to the rear toward
the thrower. They are, therefore, OF
especial value for fighting at close
quarters. They are constructed SC
that they may be exploded only after
they have travelled eight meters to-
ward the target.
"Tests with this kind Of grenades
| had the following results.