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■ELECTRIC GUN:
AMAZING CLAIMS FOR LATEST
■■■ ■' "WAR machine:
WILL CARRY 20001b: SHELL 300
MILES.
LONDON, April 5th.
Mr. W. S." Simpson/the noted metal
lurgist, claims to have invented a won
derful war machine, which will throw a
20001b. shell 300 miles. This means that
in the case of a war between Prance and
Germany, Paris could be bombarded
from Berlin and vice-Versa. War would
thus bo revolutionised or made impos
sible.
In an interview Mr. Simpson said his
invention rcpesented the supplanting of
gunpowder as a motive forco by elec
tricity.
'■"What the powers of electricity as a
force in velocity aro it is quite impossible
to tell; but, as compared with powder,
they represent quite as great a differ
ence as that existing betweon tlio elec
tric light and a rushlight.
"It is quite as easy for my weapon
to project 50 shells of 5001b. each per
minute as to throw 50 of 501b. each, and
to drop a shot at 100 miles distance as
at 100 yards. Distance is practically no
object. It will throwvery much further
than 300 miles.'
"Whatever the distance* or projectile
the weapon is quito easy of control—
as easy as any gun at present in use; its
shots will be less expensive. than those
now fired; its cost will be cheaper than
the existing artillery; while its life will
bo at least a hundred times longer than
tlio best weapon now iii use. My wea
pon—-it is not correct to call it a gun
is without recoil, noiso, smoke or smell.
"The .weapon is in existence, and its
powers of velocity .liavo been ascertained
upon the same basis as the .velocities of
other projectiles. . At the present mo
ment a body of distinguished men aro
deciding what is best to bo done in the
matter."
GREAT NATIONAL ECONOMY.
Mr. Simpson, of course, declines to
reveal any detail iii,the working of liis
war machine, but Colonel F. N. Maudo,
a military expert, late of the Royal En
gineers. in an article in tho "Contem
porary Review," states that the .weapon
can impart, by the application of elec
tricity, an initial velocity of 30,000ft. a
second to projectiles, of all dimensions
which can bo practically handled under
war conditions. On board ship, or in
permanent defences, 20001b. weight lies
fairly within these limits.
Tho fact that with this weapon it is
possible to confer upon a projectile a
yolocity of "30,0p0'f.s. (feet per second)
and upwards, and that, too, without
cither flash, smoke or recoil, will ulti
mately compel all navies: to ' abandon
armor and devote their energies to the
attainment of speed as the -prime factor
of succoss, and, because there is ho re
coil, practically any ship will suffice as a
gun platform.
Tho samo weapon' will serv,o the pur
pose of the gun or Howitzer equally well,
aad since a singlo gun can deliver an
almost continuous stream of projectiles,
it will bo at least equal in fire to a whole
battery of modern quick-firers.
The simplicity of construction is
groat that tho resources of any engineer
ing workshop will suffice for its erection,
and there will bo no longer any neces
sity for Governments to sink groat sums
of money in special plant of use only for
the- preparation of war matorial.
Mr. Simpson argues that if we are to
have war then let us havo the best
methods on our side. At the samo time, |
ho claimed that his invention would do j
more to prevent war among tlio nations i
than anything. I
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