The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-08-29
Explosive Mines.

As In 50 many other matters, the CnIneSe
nrecedcd Euroneans in the use OF explosive
mines in war. The celebrated kunS-Mins
j. said to have employed them about 200
wears before the Christian era. Ana as
even then-in China 1t least-there was no.
thing new under the sun, he Is declared 10
have owed the idea TO Ills pea usal OF Writings
q, an age anterior to his own. lnthe west
the practice OF undermining besieged works
was not unknown 10 the Romans, whose
method was TO dig beneath the threat
encd bulwark, and prop up the super
incumbent earth and building WIN
wooden supports. When the excavation was
completed the Supports-previoIslys smeared
with some highly -con'bustible compound
were set on fire, and on being destroyed the
cortl, fell in. and with it the rampant at
tacbed. thereby making breach which
c,uld be assaulted. These mines, known
20 French writers on the art Of war rs mines
n ,.uine, were followed, on the invention OF
gunpowder BY explosive mines, in which
quantity OF powder was inserted in an en-
cayation and ignited from distance by
means OF a train or match. The use or
mines in siegeS soon became SO common that
not only did besegers have recourse 10
them in their attacks on strong places,
but the defenders also made use OF them
rs aids to defence against the assault
ing columns OF the enemy. \ KIND
OF suoterranean warfare came into eX-
istcncc, and rs the besiegcrS mined,
so the garrison counte:-nined TO get De-
meath them and blow both work and work
men into the air. A somewhat elaborate
system of tactics was devised to guide the
combatants in these curious engagements.
Galleries in which to listen for the workmen
OF the enemy were constructed, and ap-
proaches toward them were cautiously made
until near enough 10 burst in the dividing
partition OF Garth, then rush upon them and
defeat them, and put an end TO their work.
In the revived cbivalry OF the sixteenth
and seventeenth centuries the candl.
dates for knighthood conferred du-
ring sleees were, accustomed to keep
their nocturnal vigil in the mines construct
cd by their own side. From subterranean
TO submarine warfare the step was not very
rapid. Various methods of destroying an
encmy's ships. by sending against them eX-
plosive or combustible car@ocs, were devised,
and were employed by the Dutch in their
wars OF liberation against the Spaninrds. and
by ourselves and other nations. With
plans OF the kind we have become tolerably
familiar, from the frequency with which
they were made Use Of by the Chinese in
our wars with them. With their peculiar
hllmor. which tends so much to turn into
ridiculc what mankind in general con-
sent to consider rs most serious, they
have been known TO make The explo-
sion OF tire-ship, crammed with gunpow-
der, ghastly practical joke. In the war Of
the Arrow' loreha, one Of her Majesty's
ships, lying in river Of China, was fouled
by vessel which had been sent floating
do, In Ct In 81 vi IN aN
ploded against her and destroying her.
When the explosion took place there was
no loss of life, and little damage was done
to the structure OF the ship; but above the
gunpowder to be exploded had been piled
immense quantities Of the exceptionally
disgusting manure with which the Chinese
are in the habit OF dressing their vegetable
gardens, and the result OF the blow-up was
to cover the ship, rigging, and crew who
were on deck witu the nauseous compound.
Tile WeStmiRSter Revie,o.