involved in the Construction of Artillery. 347 



The fragments of 13-incli shells are stated sometimes to range nearly 2500 feet 

 (Piobert). 



The number of fragments with similar proportioned shells would probably be the same 

 from both, about twelve or fourteen ; but if the 36-inch shells were somewhat thinner in 

 proportion, the greater energy of the included bursting-charge, would produce a greater 

 number of fragments. A few large fragments will, however, be generally most advan- 

 tageous with these large shells. And here again, for the same reason that one heavy shot 

 may batter down an object upon which any number of much lighter shot would produce 

 no impression, so the heavy fragments of the 36-inch shell will go through, or batter down 

 walls, &c., upon which those of 13-inch shells would have no effect whatever; besides 

 which, the largest of the fragments of the 36-inch shells will often be flung to distances 

 vastly greater than the average here assumed. 



Upon the moral effects likely to follow the use of these powerful shells it is not neces- 

 sary much to enlarge. No splinter proof, no ordinary vaulting, 'perhaps no casemate, 

 exists, capable of withstanding the fall and explosion of such masses, one of which would, 

 no doubt, sink the largest ship of war or floating battery, upon which it descended. A 

 single shell, which fell upon " Le Terrible," in 1690, pierced through her upper decks, 

 and exploding between decks, in its descent, clearing away much of the upper works of her 

 sides, blowing away all the poop, and killing or wounding one hundred of her men. At 

 the siege of Namur, in 1746, a single shell, exploding after it had buried itself (in 

 probably, stony ground), killed or wounded thirty men. Sir Howard Douglass (" Naval 

 Gunnery") has given many remarkable examples, also, of the tremendous effects of shells. 



No precaution, therefore, could save either town or garrison, from such shells; the 

 " rayon" of demolition of each of which would be so appalling, that it might rather be 

 viewed as a suddenly transferred mine, than a mere shell. Wlierever such a shell happened 

 to alight in a fortified place, its effects would be formidable : if even on plain open ground, 

 at some distance from buildings, it would bury itself, and its explosion dig out a formidable 

 crater, driving the excavated contents far and wide, and rending the earth around for 

 at least double the diameter of the crater. The shock of each explosion would extend 

 so far, destroying windows, doors, and roofs, that the place would rapidly become wholly 

 exposed to the weather. The undulation of the ground itself, produced by such explosions, 

 would often be sufficient to throw down lofty buildings with narrow bases, such as columns, 

 chimneys, obelisks, &c., beyond the actual radius of demolition. 



The fuzes of such shells, may best be timed abundantly long, to insure the shells fallino- 

 before they shall burst. The huge weight of the shell, defies any attempt to remove it; 

 and the fuze-tube should be made of a size to give a volume of fire, that should defy any 

 attempt to extinguish it, and to prevent extinction by the shell burying itself in the 

 ground. 



