Communication

Electrical Experimenter publishes an electromagnetic gun, patented by various inventors since 1915. A series of electro-magnetic fields would have pushed the shells out of the barrell with no explosions, smoke or deterioration of the barrell itself (a pressing problem in real WWI artillery). The cannon was supposed to work as a giant machine gun, shooting 50-70 projectiles a minute at a distance of fourty km. The idea of an electromagnetic gun will be devoloped after the war and have lead, in recent years, to many prototypes (railguns), but no widespread use in battle.

Popular Science Sifting imagination focuses on the munitions, proposing a Shower Shell. Like a shrapnel it was supposed to release its load just above the enemies heads. But instead of lead balls the shower shell was meant to release smaller high-velocity explosive shells. Popular Science Monthly suggests instead a mortar shell that releases barbed wire in front of the enemy.