Evening star., 1919-04-20
BIG GUNS TODAY
BOOM FOR LOAN
Everything But the Shooting
to Be Shown by Artillery
Parked Here.
BIG MEETINGS TOMORROW

|
| Two huge guns, mounted on rail-
way cars, just as they were used ir
France, will "bombard" Alexandria
Mount Vernon and other places with
| in a radius of sixteen and a half miles
this afternoon from their siding east
of the bureau of engraving and print
ing, in the interests of the victory
liberty loan.
The guns hurl 700-pound projectiles
but fortunately for Alexandria, Mount
Vernon and other nearby places the
bonn bardment will be shown only in
loading and firing drills from this
end of the range. The drills will be-
gin at / o'clock, and will be held at
intervals during the afternoon.
The guns are in charge of Maj. Ben
jamin N. Booth, of the coast artillery
who commands the train of six cars
carrying the guns and equipment
which will tour the country during
the victory loan drive to stir up in
terest in the campaign. crew OF
sixty-seven officers and men accom-
panies the train. The enlisted per-
sonnel formed part of the famous Bat
France, which was decorated by the
French government with the croix de
guerre.
Planes to Signal Range.
During the drills this afternoon, the
full complement of men will be in
their proper places, and at the word OF
command will set the machinery in
motion which carries the 700-pound
projectile from the ammunition car
Immediately in the rear, into the
breach of the great guns. In the
meantime. airplanes from Boiling Field
will be signaling the proper ranges
to the officers in charge. and the guns
will be elevated to the angle necessary
to reach the target.
| One of the guns is a 12-fnch L. S
r. r. gun. model 1918. platform type
1t is 35 feet long, weighs sixty tons
and hurls a projectile weighing zoe
pounds. Six sections of ground plat
| form are laid and the weight Of the
gun is transferred to these ground
sections by means of lifting edges and
| the strain of firing is thus taken off
the wheels.
The other gun is a 12-inch U. S
r. r. mortar, model 1918. 1t is 10 feet
long. weighs fifteen tons. hurls pro-
jectile weighing 700 pounds and has
a maximum range OF 81 miles. The
car is raised by four built-in screw
| acks. Longitudinal IT beams and
wood cross ties are placed, and the
car is lowered on the platform and
the outriggers are set when firing.
Camouflage Is Heavy.
Both of the guns, as we'll as the cars
on which they are mounted. are heavi-
ily camoufiaged with splotches OF
ooE ov,1 xrall
giving them the appearance of a
shapeless mass when viewed from a
lslight distance.
Spectators will be able to get an
excellent view Of the demonstration
from D street. between 18th and 14th
streets. This space has been re-
served for pedestrians and no auto
mobiles will be permitted to park
there.
Two Meetings Tomorrow.
Two big meetings will be held here
tomorrow as incidents Of the opening
of the big drive to win the District s
quota of the victory loan. The first
meeting will be held at noon on the
south steps of the Treasury, when
Rear Admiral Sims will speak, and
sell bonds. This meeting has been ar
ranged by Frank r. Wilson, national
director Of publicity for the victory
loan.
All employees of the department
whose services can be spared will be
excused in time to be at the south
steps at IL O'Clock. After the close
of the exercises, they will be given
half-hour luncheon period and time
to return to their respective bureaus
and divisions.
Liberty Hut in Evening.
The second meeting is to be held
at Liberty Hut at o'clock tomorrow
evening; The speakers at this meet
ing will include Admiral Sims and
Capt. Hugh Birkhead, rector of EN-
manuel Episcopal Church, New York
Capt. Birkhead went to France for
| the Red Cross, and has made ad-
dresses in practically every large city
| in the United States in connection
with liberty loan and Red Cross cam
paigns. He is recognised as one OF
| the most eloquent speakers in the
country. There also will be music
and entertainment features, and a
spirited bond-selling campaign.
Special reservations have beer
made for members of the Board OF
Trade, the Chamber of Commerce and
| the Merchants and Manufacturers
| Association. The rest of the hall will
/ be thrown open to the general pub
| lie. The meeting Will be opened
promptly at o'clock.