"BIG BERTHA"

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 191, 2 May 1918, Page 7

"BIG BERTHA"

1 THE GUN THAT BOMBARDS PARIS i KAISER'S PRICE FOR PARIS "MAY DEMORALISE BUT CAN- . NOT WIN BATTLES " The most definite statement we have let ii,id on tho subject of (he suporBiins with tfliioh the Germans, are bombarding Paris is taken from a German newspaper. The information imparted is, as might be expected, of tho mougrcst description. AVe are told tlut Iho gu.li is the invention of iho director of artillery at Krupps, that it looks like an enormous crane, tlai it has a range of 81 miles, and (hat the projectile it hurls forth takes ilmins. 3s«\ to reach its present objective—tho French capital. Hitherto there has been no lack of guesses and theories regaidmg the new weapon and its capabilities. The length of the gun is given ns 711 ft.—one opinion is that it might be 250 ft.; G2 miles and 75 miles have, been indicated as its range; 55deg. jnd (iodeg. as its elevation. Regarding the shell, its make, shape, and weight, the muzzle velocity, and (lie life of the gun itself, the guesses are as numerous as they are conflicting. Though Ihe invention is credited to a German, the probability is that it was stolen. In 191(1 a Portuguese engineer invented a gun to throw a Gin. shell a distance of between SO and 90 .miles. A French commission reported • favourably on the invention, and tho plans and descriptive memoranda wore subsequently stolen from the Portuguese Ministry of War. AVe know too much of the activity of German agents to suppose that this theft wouild lie hiyond (hem. Ono of the more feasible theorie* advanced regarding "Big Berlhn" is that lis shell is fitted with a false cap or elongated nnse, giving it an extreme length of nearly aft., and placing the centre of gravity in such a position as to give steadiness in its flight and cnab p it to travel a long distance. Tho muzzle velocif v is thought to be 5000 ft. per second, aiid -'n order to register a hit at 81 miles the shell would,have to traverse a distnnco of over 10(1 miles. The life of such a gun would he about 150 rounds. Tho fact that military experts are debarred from publicly airing their views on gunnery questions at the present juncture, may account for the divergent opinions transmitted over tho cables. It has been indicated, however, that British artillerists seo nothing surprising in the now long-rango guns, unless it bo the circumstance that tho Germans should have considered it worth while to make them. According to the artillery expert there is really no secrst in donding a spinning through space to a target 75 or more miles away. Nor would it bo dilhcult for Britain and the Allies to equal and even to excel the freak ?uns turned out by Krupps. Thcoietically theno is no limit to tho sizo of guns—it is a mnttor of mathematics. The bigger the gun tho moro unwieldy it is, and the sooner is reached tho stage when the cost exceeds its usefulness. i . Tho military importance of the "Big Berthas" trained on Paris is practically nil. Tho shells are said to be inaccurate in their direction and less harmful than aeroplane bombs. AVhcre they fall upon a crowded building they may be destructive enough of life, as was_ the case in a Paris church on Good Friday, and hero indeed wo have tho sole reason for their existence. They represent the Kaiser's latest attempt to overawe mankind in which he bkes such pride that ho personally fired one shell on its mission of killing civilians. Germany is at war not merely with the world's armies, but tho world's peojiles. Unablo to forco a decision on tho battlefield, she necks by the indiscriminate and cruel slaughter of non-combatant men, women, and children far removed from tho scone of action, to shako the moralo of tho gallant soldiers whose resistance she cannot overcome in fair lighting. In dropping bombs upon London the Germans could at least claim to havo a military objective—howover wido of the docks, railway stations, and military (.-spots their explosives fell. Tho bombardment of Paris by gurs situated GO odd miles iiirny lias no such excuse.

Coercivs Peace Barkers, From their hidden emplacements in tho Gobain forest it is impossible that tho "Big Berthas" could havo a definite target other than the immense area, ovet which the French capital is spread. Tho object of tne bombardment therefore is to inspire terror, to deal out death and destruction locklessly and wantonly, to coe'reu a bravo people into accepting a dishonourable peace. Th& builder* of tho Tower <>f Babel had i.s much chance nf reaching the heavens as have the Germans of securing this end by tho shelling of Paris or the bombing of London. Cunningly concealed as these mammoth guns are, J.-'rench airmen have discovered their location, and n'ensures are being token to destroy them. Their Gargantuan bark betrayed tliem. One of,, the guns is reported to have burst, with fatal consequences to its crew. Tho lifo of "Big Bertha" is variously estimated at from 100 to 300 rounds. It does not follow, howsver, that tho E'J« "ill discharge that number of shells, c-r having done so, that it may not be good fur ipany more. Defects may develop early or la(e, according to tho quality of iho metal and tho effect of wear and tear.

It is considered probublo (hat (he "Big Berthas" aro mounted in c-newted tunnels, with a comparatively small opening, corresponding to the angle of the. muzzle, which would bs camouflaged to deceive aerial observers. In this way <dicir detection would bo rendered exceedingly difficult. A suggestion has been made that tho guns are cmicaaled in pito and raised to the surface for tiring. This method would, rf .course, add greatly to the risk of discovery. As demoralizers tlio "Big Berthas" havo faildo to realise the hopes centered in. them. Possibly the Germans may think there are not enough of them, und r-ioro mabo brought into action. Like the Huge»iot King who thought Paris well worth * Mass, t'ro Kui?er may conclude that the destruction of tho French capital would he an adequate sot-off against tho opprobrium of all civilised peoples.