Hurling Barbed Wire at the Enemy 



A projectile is used from which barbed wire is 

 uncoiled after it is shot at the onrushing troops 



When the projectile explodes, the caps containing the barbed wire shoot out 

 like bullets in all directions distributing the wire in great tangled masses 



/%FTER a murderous ar- 



r\ tillery fire has swept away 

 the ordinary barbed wire 

 entanglements in front of a 

 trench, there is nothing to 

 impede the onrush of 

 troops except machine-gun 

 and infantry fire, accom- 

 panied, at certain times, 

 by well-placed barrage fire 

 from the rear. Under 

 most conditions this re- 

 sistance is sufficient to 

 deplete the ranks of an in- 

 vading force but the fact 

 that the first, second and 

 third line of trenches may be captured in a 

 single charge is proof that gun fire alone 

 cannot dissipate a body of troops. There 

 have been numerous occasions in this war 

 where troops of both sides have deliberately 

 plunged through a heavy barrage fire to 

 carry a line of trenches. 



Accordingly, Enid S. Wales, of Detroit, 

 Michigan, has invented a novel projectile 

 which shoots barbed wire instead of bullets. 



barbed 

 wire 



Stern) 



Four hollow caps con- 

 tain the barbed wire coils 



His idea is to first impede 

 the progress of an onrushing 

 body of troops by spreading 

 coils of barbed wire in front 

 of them and then to attack 

 them with infantry and 

 machine-gun fire. The in- 

 ventor claims that his 

 projectile will distribute 

 masses of barbed wire 

 over a large area, en- 

 meshing a whole com- 

 pany of troops. 



Briefly, the projec- 

 tile consists of a stem 

 which fits the barrel of 

 a trench mortar; a central chamber con- 

 taining the explosive charge, into which 

 chamber the stem fits; and several hollow 

 caps which carry the coils of barbed wire, 

 the inner ends of which are secured to the 

 body of the shell. When the projectile 

 explodes, the caps containing the barbed 

 wire shoot out like bullets, distributing the 

 wire in tangled masses. A time fuse is pro- 

 vided so that the distance can be gagod. 



355 



