The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1854-04-14
THE IMPROVED ART OF WAR.

Among the many arts which the concep
tons of genius are constantly combining t,
perfect and developc, is the art of war. Ev
cry succeeding generation seems to intro
duce among us still more powerful and eff
Ccnt agencies for accomplishing the destruc
ton Of our fellow men. A correspondent OF
the Cincinnati Gazette writing from England
gives an interesting description of few OF
the warlikc engines which it is supposed will
contribute materially to the successful termin.
alton of hosti!itics in the great Europeau
struggle which is probably about to occur
One OF the most terrible Of these machines
he says, is Wagners floating gun-whch is
simply long congreve gun, designed to be
propelled along the surface Of the water in a
straight line, on the principle of the rocket.
until it strikes the vcssc! which it was direct.
cd, whan it thursts into its sides its iron head.
containing two pounds Of Illuminating pow
der Of mercury. When the fire reaches this
reservoir, the powder cXplodcs, blowing n
hole in the vessel ten or twelve feet in diam.
ctcr--so large that it cannot be closed M by
any ordinary method This machine. Saws
the writer, has been long time maturing in
the Woolwicl arscnals, and is now complct-
cd, and ready to 90 forth on its mission of
destruction. 1t can be made available at a
distance far beyond the reach of any other
gun, and it is thought will be Of service in
attacking the Russian fleets when anchored
under the unapproachablc fortrcsscs of Sc.
bastopol and Cronstandt.
The correspondent of the Gazette also says
that submarine boats have been so perfected
that they can attach burner to an encmy's
ship without mourning the least danger to
those who manage them. Large numbers of
explosive balls have been embarked on board
the English fleets, of such nature as inya.
riably to explode whenever they strike the
side of an encmys ship, scattering on every
side devastation, death and flames. Expert
ments are also being made with an asphvxia-
ting ball which does not kill, but paraiv.es an
entire crew for sercral hours, or until tiev are
made prisoners.
Two small steamboats, are building. DESIGN.
cd to carry each two enormous paixlan runs.
These vessels arc built on the strongest man.
ncr, with oaken walls near six feet thick coy.
cred with Il mattras of cotton and Il half feet
in thickness, and this again covered with 4
sheeting of iron and lead. The roof or up-
per deck is covered in the same way. so as to
allow the bombs of the enemy to glance into
the sea without any damage. They are dc.
signed to be bullet proof, ball proof, and bomb
proof These ships arc to be sent at the
proper time in the midst of the enemy's fleet,
where they will attack the vessel around them
fore and aft, with bombs thrown between
wind and water, ut the same sprinkliny them
with showers Of Greek fire. II is believed
that one Of these little vessels, operated by
the labOrs of a few determined men, mirht
under favorable circumstances, destroy IN en-.
tire fleet of ships.
The English fleet is also largely provided
with balloons, intended to carry inll;lmmablc
materials, to scatter over towns, villages and
fleets, when the wind favors such operations:
and it is said that another invention, whose
results will be still more terrible than any of
the above, but of which the construction has
not yet been made known, is also about to bc
sent out to destroy the Russians.