Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-04-15
TERRIBLE ENGINES OF wAR.-STIRT.
LING INVENTIONS

PARIS, March 9th.
The new inventions for the more rapid destruc-
ton Of human beings which the war is bringing to
light especially in England will surpass all expec-
tations. The arsenals of England have fer
long time been closed TO visitors, even to members
OF Parliament, while these new and terrible ma
chimes were being made and experimental upon,
and no knowledge Of their existence was ever
permitted until now called forth by actual service
Many years ago, the English government had n
proposition before them to adopt Wagner's floating
gun, and hesitatcd. A member of Parliament ex-
claimed: "lle demands but f300, 900, and vet YOU
hesitate Hasten to buy this machine declare
war against France, and you will destroy her ma
rlne in few days time y No attention was paid
to this apOstrophe Mt the time in France and
apparently none in England. But this terrible
invention OF which the public had ceased to talk,
and which was even ridculed at the time has been
maturing in eoncealment in che arsenals of
Woolwieh and is now nearly ready TO go out on its
work of destruction.
The Count Lavalette captain of military marine
in France, who knew the construction of this gun,
it is said, made endeavors to have il adopted by
the Minister Of Marine under Louis Philippe. 1t
is simply long, congreve gun, which gdcs along
on the water in straight line, till it strikes the
vessel at which 1t is directed when it thruss into
its sides its iron head, containing two pounds of
Illuminating powder Of mercury. When the fire
attains this reservoir, it cxplodes blowing II hole
in the vessel ten or twelve feet in diameter, which
It rs impossible to close up as they do the round
holes made by cannon balls.
In admitting that the Russian fleets shall retire
under the inapproachabc fortresses of Cronstadt
ana Sebastopol, ihey cannot he in safety from this
terrible cOngreye gun, which carries to almost any
distance within reach Of the aim, and far beyond
the reach of any other gun. 1t cannot be prevent
ed from passing through the most contracted straits
where ships pass.
The submarine boats are so perfected at this
moment that they can reach and attach a burner to
an enemys ship without running the least danger
Experiments are also being made with an asphyx-
latinS ball, which does not kill but which para
Yves an entire crew for several hours or until they
are made prisoners. They are embarking also Il
large number OF burning explosive balls which
explode invariably when they strike even in the
body OF horse, for they infame ut the moment of
discharge from the gun, and fly burning like small
congreves until the moment of the explosion, when
they may apply fire to the ammunition chests and
other lniammable material, rs easily and as surely
as II they were to fall in stubble field.
They are furnishing also two small steamboats,
oi singular appearance, which will carry only
two enormous Paxhan guns, placed on the fore
part Of the vessel The walls Of these little vessels
have thickness Of six feet, made of oak, standing
upright, and this covered with matrass of cotton
substance II foot and half thick, which is impen-
etiable 10 bullet, and this again covered with
sheeting OF iron and lead Its prov has the angu-
lar form OF cuirass intended to turn bullets the
roof or deck is covered in the same way, SO as 10
allow the bombs to glide into the sea without doing
damage
This fre-ship, very heavy, and a very bad sailer,
Will be toWed, and let loose at the proper moment,
/ 10 approach near the enemy's vessels, either when
at anchor or layngto which it will attack fore and
ait with bombs thrown between wind and water.
and sprinkling the ship with shower of Greeian
fire. One of these burners taking by surprise a
neet OF vessels in calm, could with ease DESTROY
IN tae whole heet and yet it only requires the labor
/ OF ten men TO operate il.
The English fleet is largely provided with bal
looms, intended to carry inAammable materials to
scatter over towns, villages and fleets when the
wind tavors such operations.
Inc English land force will be largely provided
with rifles carrying the MIME ball which has at
last been adopted in England; while the French
wll Gend Il still larger proportion of troops carry
ing the Bdtie-dtige, which is used in the French
service in place of the Mimic ball The Russian
vessels viii have one advantage, in being more
largely supplied with Colts Reyolyers than either
the English or French which will be used with an
oyerpowering advantage in boarding contests.
Altogether, the contest will be quito n different
affair, as regards its killing power, from those
which were seen as late even as fifty years ago.
Already the reader must have observed, that in the
contest on the Danube the numbers killed in COM
parlson to the numbers engaged is enormous, when
compared even with the last general war between
those two nations.
4 American PENNY PosrAdE. -Ellihu Rnr;tt ,vr;,o.
to the Tribune:
SiR All the friends of Cheap Ocean POSTAGE will,
be gratihed TO learn, from official announeement in
the Washington journal Of this morning, that the
cardinal principle Of the great postal reform. which
has been agitatcd both sides of .he Atlantic for
several years, has just been fully adopted and es
an'isneu Dy our Government, in direction inyoly-
Ihg almost the longest ocean mail route on the
globe. An arrangement has lust been Concluded
with sailing packet company for conyeying letters