The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-11-21
A Steam Army-Prospeet or Auxiliary De-
fences for ENGLAND by Steam.

A Steam Army-Prospect OF Auxiliary De-
fences for ENGLAND by Steam.
From the Pail Mall Gazette, Oct. 13l
Mr.. Henry Bessemer, whose name II Identified
with the process VI steel manufacture mas conceived
the Idea OF strengthening our deences by an aux
Hilary steam armv,n which would have ut least this
Recommendation for the econ0m,sts-tiiat It would
comparatively little TO create. could be cheapy
worked in time OF war, and during peace would re-
qure neither rlti0ns clothes nor pay. His Idea Is
to have steam fire engine throwing a shower or
throw 1SIA pounds-representn 2,540 Ended ride
bueIs-lo vert cal height Of one mile everv min
ute with consumpt on or about five pounds OF coal
and three gallons VI water. These bullets would not
require to he made up into cartridges ind stuc-
tble either by rain IN the open aeld damp In Gel
lars and can be easily conveyed without OF ex
pioslon An increase In the we ght or the prolecte
would increase both It's range and force and Two.
propelled ut the rate or loo q minute. I'M chine
with three parallel barrels could throw two-Ounce
shot At long range nom the centre barrel AID
ounce sh0t 1000 mnute) at short range from the
sde barrels. I'VE certainly haven says Mr.. BESSIE
mer, lin the steam fire engine irreiragabe proof
or great proJectle power, with steam OF only l50
pounds pressure. Sucn steam would rush into the
atmosphere nc We ocity exceeding 1900 feet per
second. Now. a twoounce lead bali presents a
transverse area or g OF square inca, and conse-
queltly steam OF $50 pounds pressure would impnge
on II WIN force equal to 90 poun1s. AS the weight
OF the bali Is only two ounces we have g wer
equal 10 10 times the work TO be performed. IL Is
far 70 nier that under proper arrangements the
steam; but suppose that in practice it falls snort u
TINS velocity by some 800 feet per second should
~ nave a it ~. veocy Oh ioo1 ieet per second
from the Armstrong gum
An apparatus OF this kind could be constructed far
less costly and complicated than the ordinary steam
fre engine. Mr.: Bessemer further susges thin
steel mantlct ia front OF the machine to protect it
aud the gunner from the enemy's fire; "uniyer-al
molionn for the delivery tu0e which could be
directed on al sides as easily as the jet OF fire
elglne and the combination OF TINS system with
that Of the EdinDurg traction engine; which II ;ted
rs bullet-tnrowing machine would not only travel
nun xuit
md Its way over very rough ground. would convey
stores OF any KIND TO other machines, and m aldi-
bullets Tor It's own Mr. Bessemer with prudent
patriotism reserves the details OF the apparatus Tor
The consideration OF our military Authorizes
TORPEDO EXPERIMENTS IN ENGLAND.
Some very Important torpedo experiments were
carried out. few days since, at the School OF Mill
tary Engineering. In England under the immediate
supervision of his Royal Highness the Duke or
Cambridge. Field Marshal Commanding-in-Cnef
On the arrival OF his Royal Hghness at Chatham
he was received by q guard OF honor, consisting OF
the hand and men Of the Second Battalion Royal
Welsh Fusliers. sIhe distinguished party at once
proceeded to the dock yard, where tneY were
iniendene Ygey were embarked on board The Mon.
Key, Master Commander w. B.akcy, and the BUSTER,
steam tenders, winch conveyed them down the river
TO the Volta, vessel moored in the river and used
as torpedo school, the visitors gong On board
Immediately they were on board two small
charges OF gun cotton were exploded on shore-one
by means OF decorating fuse and the other by
heat. The object OF these being fired was to SHOW
that gun cotton in Its original state Is perfectly
harmless but that when detonated 1t Is very dcs ruc-
tive. The one exploded by q fuse went OF with a
very sharp report, although only very small charge
was used; but that exploded by heat merely or
In bazs there was no report az al and no danger.
exploded, throwing up large quantity OF water.
But the principal experiment was with q torpedo
containing nas 4'2 pounds Of gun cotton equal 70
about 200 yards away from the vessel,
and was surrounded by seven other TOR,
pedoes, the object being to see whether such large
one exploding would cause the explosion of those
surrounding It, the opinion OF the ohcers being that
1t would not AFFECT the others. The torpedo was
ploded nom the Volta by means OF electricity. The
quantity OF water thrown into the air something
immense, the explosion regularly shaking the yes
sell although moored such distance away. The
explosion bore out the opinion OF the officers. The
remainder VI the tOrpedoes remained intact. not
being injured. The company then embarked IN
some small boats and were conveyed to Dillingham;
bridges, where they were diselnbarked and pro-
ceeded TO the Royal Engineer field works. Here an
experiment was mace with charge OF eighty
pounds Of gun cotton. The stockade was formed or
tmbcrs fourteen inches thick. there being two rows
about two feet apart. On the explosion taking place
a clean breach was made In the first row Of
tImbers ana the tlmbers in the other row
were shattered. but the breach was not SO cleanly
made. With very little trouble passage could have
been made through this for a field gun and men
walking four abreast. This experiment, with the
Others made was considered TO have been very sue
ceSSful.
four FOUNDER weighing 81 cwt.--drawn about the
works. both up ana down hui, by the "Roval Sap
per-" steam traction engine This engine, althougha
small one. draggcl the gun Ia almost all directions
turning almost IN its own length. 1t is thought that
IN future warfare where slege5 take place, engines
similar to this WIN be employed IN placing guns in
operations carried out by some men OF the Royal
Engineers with O new and very small spade, by
means of which mau IS enabled to throw up sum-
Gent earth TO form covering for himself In three
minutes. and 1t Is thought that before long similar
spade VIII be carried 6y all infantry soldiers. The
they witnessed some experiments with miniature
torpedoes IN firing BY observation and Judgment.