mous
destructive effect, while the English, who afterward bought it,
conducted similar experiments against the Resistance, and obtained no
better results than with powder. The proof that the Bellequense
experiments were deemed of great value by the French lies in the fact
that they immediately laid down a frigate--Dupuy de Lome--in which
four-inch armor is used, not only on the side, but about the gun
stations, to protect the men; this thickness having been found
sufficient to keep out melenite shell. In most armorclads, the armor
is very heavy about the vitals, but the guns are frequently much
exposed.

The best authenticated composition for melenite consists of picric
acid, gun cotton and gum arabic, and lately it is stated that the
French have added cresilite to it. Cresilite is another product of
coal tar. Melenite is normally only three times as strong as
gunpowder; but it is said to owe its destructive qualities in shells
to the powerful character of the exploder which ignites it. It has
been known for some years that all explosives (including gunpowder)
are capable of two orders of explosion according as they are merely
ignited or excited by a weak fuse or as they are powerfully shocked by
a more vigorous excitant. Fulminate of mercury has been found most
serviceable for the latter purpose. With melenite the French have
reproduced all the results that the Germans have effected with
gun-cotton and have found that a shell containing 119 pounds of it
will penetrate nearly ten feet of solid cement, but will not penetrate
armored turrets six to eight inches thick. The French claim that
melenite has an advantage over gun-cotton in not being so dangerous to
handle and being insensible to shock or friction, and they have
obtained a velocity of 1,300 f.s. with the 88 inch mortar and claim to
have obtained 2,000 f.s. in long guns up to 62 inch caliber. However
this may be, they are known to have had severe accidents at the
manufactory at Belfort and at least one 56 inch gun was burst at the
Bellequense experiments in firing a sixty-six pound shell containing
twenty-eight pounds of melenite. The French are said to have large
quantities of melenite shells in store, but they are not issued to
service.

Probably one reason why we have so many conflicting yet positive
accounts of great successes in Europe with torpedo shells is because
each nation wishes its neighbors to think that it is prepared for all
eventualities, and