Bomb-shooter

In 1914, after two great armies had dug themselves in, the bomb, formerly the choice weapon of anarchists, became a military weapon of more importance than ever it had been.

The first bombs were made out of tin cans filled with high explosives and scraps of metal, such as nails. Rapidly more efficient bombs were evolved : the hand bomb, the stick bomb, etc. Methods of throwing them also improved: the catapult succeeded to some extent the hand-throwers, the Mills bomb on a steel rod, fired from a rifle, supplanted the catapult. The range was always measured in yards.

Last week, according to Yokiuri, Tokyo journal, one R. Okamoto perfected an invention of a rifle that will fire bombs two miles. The new gun was said to be as large as a light machine gun.