When a shell, even a thirteen-incher, hits a mound of earth it tears up the dirt and spoils the look of the parapet, but it really doesn't do much harm.

To completely ruin an earthwork battery, you must dismantle every gun in it.

And that's pretty hard to do.

Mark my words, those fellows will give us a shot of defiance after we quit." "What's the idea of all this bombarding then ?" asked "Stump." "We'd be much better 'caulking off,' seems to me." "And think what it costs the Government," I suggested.

"The cost of the projectiles and the wear and tear to guns and ships must be something enormous." Tommy's answer was drowned in the thundering roar of the "New York's" battery, which opened fire just then a short distance away, but it was evident he agreed with me.