DETAILS OF JULES VERNE GUN

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 1 April 1918, Page 5

DETAILS OF JULES VERNE GUN

Australian Cable Association. I PARIS, March 30. Following are details of the gun that is bombarding Paris: It is 79 feet long, the shell being between eight and nine inches, but it is fitted with a false cap, or elongated nose, giving an extreme length «f nearly five feet. The secret appoans to be the distribution of the shell's weight, giving it steadiness and enabling it to travel a long distance. The muzzle veolcity is 5000 feet per second, and the gun is fired at an elevation of 55 degrees. It is believed that six or seven of these guns are in existence, each Being able to fire 250 rounds.

A German shell struck a Paris church on Good Friday during the Tenebrae service, and killed 75, bersides injuring 90, including many women and children. The church was crowded, and just as the service was starting a shell pierced the roof and shook the edifice to its foundations. A large pillar collapsed, bringing down the arch on the congregation. Portions of the shell were scattered in all directions.

Many willing helpers searched' the debris and removed the wounded. M. Poincare (the President) and -ffie Archbishop of Paris were early on the scene. Weeping, the Archbishop cried: /'Wretches! They have chosen the day and hour of Christ'© death, on the Cross to commit this crime."

Among the killed was M. Stroetliing, Counsellor to the Swiss Legation. The shell came from a long range gun. The church had previously been struck during High Mass on Sunday, several being injured.