THE NEW BULLET-PROOF CLOTH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7978, 6 April 1904, Page 1

THE NEW BULLET-PROOF CLOTH.

* Tbe vrorli is at present intensely interested in a new Italian bullet-proof cloth, ' and since the Italian Government is negotiating for its use it is of importance that we see just what the'i'esults are, although it is necessary to state that the in- j vention remains a secret, and this notwith-, standing attempts to discover its details, i Thus -we shall have to deal with a general description and with the results of experiments. The armour is a sort of felt, the stuff being capable of adaptation to any form whatever, for example, a breast plate \ with a collar or a sort of coat which com- j pletely envelops the wearer and absolutely guarantees him from gunshot wounds. The thickness' of the protector varies from onesixteenth to seven-sixteenths of an inch, according to the arm the effects of which it is desfgned to destroy. Against the armour of seven-sixteenths of an inch the Tegular ordnance revolver with steel covered ball is powerless, and also the gun of the 1891 model charged with smokeless powder. In the numerous experiments which have been made — in firing at a distance of several yards — the ball, whether it be of lead or steel, when it strikes the protector is arrested and deformed, in some cases re-, bounding and in others being almost reduced to a pulp. Thus there is not only an arrest of the bail, but deformation as well, and in this deformation the force of the ball is converted. While there should be a high 'degree of temperature at the point touched, by the ball, it seems that the ball alone feels the effects, for the protector does not seem to (be burnt in the slightest. These results are not limited to ballistic effects, for in the recent experiments it was sought to pierce the armour with a dagger driven with all possible force. The point of the arm, however, could not penetrate the felt and'was bent into a shapekss mass. It is natural to suppose that the force of the ball would be communicated to the armour and that this would be driven violently backwards, resulting in a disagreeable shock and one which at times would be dangerous to the wearer. To demonstrate the incorrectness o£ this view Signor Beneditti attached his protector to a horse and fired upon the animal only six feet away with an ordnance revolver, the ball falling at the feet of the horse, while he, freed from his halter walked away as if nothing had happened It ; s to be noted that with the same revolver a piece of steel had been previously pierced. The same experiment .was made with a chicken covered with a breast piece of the felt, the bird, after being nd of his new- shell, quietly pursuing the even tenor of bis way. Chamberlain's Cough Remedy will soothe and heal the irritation of the mucous membrane lining of your throat, that is caused by continual coughing. 8 CHAMBEKLAIN'S COUGH REMEDY is a cure for severe colds, persistent. coughs, and a preventive of pneumonia. It is tte mother's favourite for whooping cough. 8