Punch,  47 (1864), 99.

Heavy Charge

Anon

Genre:

Poetry

Subjects:

Military Technology, Experiment, War, Steamships, Commerce


    Ponders the results of the trials of William G Armstrong's 'monster gun' at Shoeburyness. Stresses that all there is to show for the expenditure of 'forty pounds' per shot is a 'Hole in a shield, the model fence / Of Ironsides [...] Save proof that if, with skilful aim, / The gun were levelled true, / And Ironsides invading came, / 'Twould riddle her sides too'. Acknowledges the need to fight 'Imaginary foes' to prepare for war, but notes how much further 'the money goes' when the foe is a real enemy. Draws attention to the waste of money caused by inaccurately aiming the gun during firing practice, and concludes that 'the bolt, so pitched aright' will cause much damage to 'foreign Ironsides'. Concludes by maintaining support for 'dog-cheap' ordnance instead of 'firing off the sum / Of forty pounds in vain'.



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