El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-08-04

0 pits for the eight mortars. these Wea-
pons being operated in groups OF four
The biggest mortars hitherto built
for our coast defenses have been OF
Henry tI6-inchesl VIII BE nearly
equal in size 10 the famous fort-ds-
str1yinE mortars used by the Ger
mans in the present war
a mortar Of the sort that viii b
mounted AT Cape Henry is short rifled
gun. adjusted for hfEh-angie firing.
To throws its proJectiles carrying
huge charges Of high explosives into
the air at an angle Of forty-five de-
grees, but with such accuracy OF aim
IS 10 be able when helped by range
finding appartusl 20 land a shell Win
a fair degree Of certainty on the deck
OF battleship at a distance OF i've
miles.
The six s-iuch guns for Cape
Henri will cost $4,000. They are
or thinly- war-craft at short
range. Up TO two miles At such
ranges they are reckoned on 20 make
two hits in every five shots. or bet
ter, and. being quick-firers, a Few OF
them can throw veritahle storm OF
explosive projectiles-
Each Of the four 16-inch rifles viii
be 90 feet . inches long. viii weigh
$50 tons and viii be mounted on a
s5o-ton disappearing carriage With
smokless powder. IL viii throw
2400- pound projecule q miles. such
a projecrile containing a bursting
charge OF 10 pounds Of high explosive
is 3 feet. 4 inches high. when stood
on its base. AT a range Of three miles.
IL will strike with force enough TO
lift 45 tons 1000 feet into the air. One
such blow leaviug out OF considera-
ton the destructive effect OF the high
explosive) would be likely 20 put
~ a "a rrn ~ G
Land Batteries Have Advantage
II is an accepted proposition that
urarsrfns have small chance OF success
in attacking forts on shore one sun
on land is fully equal 70 SIX on ship
board. say the military experts. ~
reason OF steady platform nom
which 20 shoot ana the better pro-
lection available
The defeuCes on Cape Henry VIII
be provided with half-s-dozen or pos
sibly a greater number Of anri-sir-
craft guns OF 2-inch caliber and Of an
improved type recently developed by
the War department They viii cost
manifest when 10 IS considered that
enemy warships would undoubtedly
carry airplaues, which. II permitted
to do so. would ny over the gun
euplacements and try to drop bombs
into them This kind OF peril that
could not have been imagined a do1su
years ago. One bomb. il it CHANGED
to hit a 16-iuch gun. would make ths
weapon useless
Ewing machines however. afford
the only really satisfactory means OF
defence against flying machines. The
auti-aircraft gun may hit an airplans
once in a while. but 10 10 rather an
off chance. The only way TO pro-
rect the works at Cape Henry from
aerial attack is to provide an ade-
Quate squadron OF Wsrplsnes. with
well trained flyers TO fly them For
tunately, Congress has been able to
see the light I'm this matter, and
money for the purpose vas approprt-
ated the other day. in the Fortifica-
tons bill
Airplnnes For Scouts
The airpIsnes provided for Cape
Henry will exercise several important
functions. To begin with. IN case OF
war. they VIII operate as scouts,
watching the movements OF the enemy
far out at sea and only reporting them
by wireless Tn fight thev VIII act
as the eyes Of the shore batteries.
correcting by wireless or other signals
the aim Of the gJnTers. This will be
especially necessary ln case Of fog. or
II the foe, 10 conceal his ships. en-
ploys a smoke SCREEN device OF
modern naval warfare OF which more
viii be said presently Finally. as
already said. their business viii be 10
fight of enemy flying machines
At night they viii use new-fan-
gled nyrotechnic contriVances called
flares" 20 give illumination and re-
veal the doings or the enemy---as, FOR
example. 10 he should attempt TO run
By the guns in the dark The picture
offered TO the maEinariou Of a battle
40 the Chesapcake's mouth. IN which
The sea-Sate was kept lighted by the
flares" OF flying machines. supple
nented BY the beams Of slant search
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