Papurau Newydd Cymru

Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru

Cuddio Rhestr Erthyglau

35 erthygl ar y dudalen hon

OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT.…

[No title]

NEWS NOTES.

A KHAKI KILT.

[No title]

1 A WEST OF ENGLAND WORTHY.

OLLVifiK'S STATUE.

A NEW CYPHER.

[No title]

PIRACY ON THE CANTON RIVER,

CHARITABLE BEQUESTS.

THE CENTRAL BRITISH RED .CROSS…

THE ROYAL SOCIETY.

WHAT LYDDITE IS.

Newyddion
Dyfynnu
Rhannu

WHAT LYDDITE IS. There has been some talk of protest against the use of lyddite shells by the British in South Africa. All the great Powers (writes Mr. Charles Williams, the veteran war correspondent, in the Daily Chronicle) have now for some time adop.ad high explosives as bursting charges in their shells, and it is impossible that England should lag behind in the dreadful com- petition. The composition of lyddite is not definitely known, or rather, its exact proportions as now used in the British Army are an official secret, and, as everyone knows who has dealt with the high ex- plosives, a very slight and scarcely perceptible varia- tion of ingredients means a considerable difference of strength, but it is understood that lyddite, like melinite, is a picrate, and that it has given the highest result in the way of destruction yet attained by any powder or preparation chemical ingenuity has yet invented. At Ou.durman its effects were pul- verising, and, contrary to the belief of many people, it proved so safe in the gun and in transit that no accidents occurred to our men in using or handling it, which is more, it is understood, than can be said of the bursting charges in use by some Continental Powers. As to the ques- tion of humanity, one can scarcely see where it arises. Whistling Dick, in the Crimea, sent huge round bombs which burst, and when they did burst proved destructive over a certain area of our works, sometimes blowing sailors in the naval brigade batteries to atoms. The modern high-explosive shell charges are more destructive over a like area, and incidental destruction extends farther. But it may be c questioned whether there is any difference in principle between shells charged with black powder or cordite or melinite or lyddite. In so far as the use of these high explosives tends to end a war, they may be regardea as actually humane, for the shorter a cam- paign is the more humane it is, since the most severe sufferings are not due to wounds which cause death, Universal experience has shown that a sudden de-ith instead of a lingering death from wounds or disease is the most merciful. Lyddite, according to the latest information accessible, gives very even results on the practice-ground, and is now handled without fear by artillerists, and the corresponding powders in use by Continental Powers have also im- proved in the direction of safety. But slight modifi- cations involving their effect upon the individuals and the works of an enemy can scarcely be yet completely gauged. Everything, however, goes to show that a shell charged with melinite or lyddite will effect from three to four times aa much destruc- tion in a given area as a shell filled with black or brown powder. 4

LORD CHARLES BERESFORD AT;1…

* '——! FASHIONABLE WEDDINGS,…

A MARVEL OF THRIFT.

.SARTI'S WILL.

Advertising

LADIES DEFEND THEIR FLAG.

[No title]

Advertising

- ROMAN COINS UNEARTHED IN…

[No title]

[No title]

THREE YEARS ON DRY BREAD.

BENSON MEMORIAL AT WELLINGTON.

GLADSTONE STATUE.

HUNTING ACCIDENTS.

1 HOW TO PRONOUNCE SOUTH AFRICAN…

THE LANDLORD AND TENANTS OF…

- CHINA AND THE GREAT POWERS.

ONE OF THE MAKERS OF MODERN…

[No title]

Advertising