Recent numbers of the "Scientific American" give an interesting account of the new Morton-Hale aeroplane bomb which has been tested in England. The great merit of this invention is that it can be carried without danger of an accidental explosion. Should a bomb be hit while the aeroplane is in flight, or in case the aeroplane descended violently to the ground, by accident or otherwise, it is impossible for an explosion' to take place. The bomb can explode only upon making a certain fall through the air and then striking the ground or other obstacle. This is contrived by means of a tailpiece rotatable by air vanes, the detonator within being attached, by a spindle, to the tail-piece. As the latter revolves in the air, the detonator is released, to fall on the charge when the bomb hits the ground. A drop through at least 200 ft. in the air is needed in order to cause the rotation of the tail end sufficient to give the release and arm the bomb. As the firing me: dianism is very sensitive, it gives an explosion upon the least impact. even on water, mud, snow or the envelope of an airship.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.