New-York tribune., 1880-01-11

fence was General Richard Dcafied. After the War OK
the Rebellion he had prepared compilation OF the re-
ports of officers in the field on Union ana Con
federate torpedoes and this was supplement
ted by Information from Major King. who
conducted some experiments at Wetts Point IN 1862
the first ones which proved that the Rolman gauge
could be used in such researches In lsoO the sys.e"
of sea-coast defence was in state Of transition After
prelimnaries had determined harbos were Sudied
aud projects for their defence submitted and approved
The school OF Ap olicaton at Wetps Point lnciudes
branch devoted to defensive submarine mining where
officers and soldiers receive training required 10 quay
them for the service.
The torpedo is regarded only "a an auxiliary eSsehu
the successful service of water batteries IHe hhe
is always under close hanking fire OF the and witho"
which it could defended. It's Use is to close the
channel AGAINST rapid passage OF the enemy so mat
while he is slowly attempting to get in he may become
the target OF the artillery In defending harbors the
cooperation o! the Navy will he OF IN important chdr
acter, but special in All offensive operations
re e1uring mobility will devolye upon IT, Small gunboas
aud steam launches picket approaches, drive OIL
boats which TO injure the mines, and give lnlord
ton Of the advance OF the enemy.
Many important investigations have been conducted
In the school OF submarine mining at Willetts Point
Tie first subject OF study the best exp0-
sves submarine warfare and types OF all explosives
known science used with the result OF hnding
service to be dynamite consisting OF 70
The element of time proved be of extraordinary
importance with explosive compounds. NitrOgycerne
under water develops bur about eighenths the nten-
sity OF No dynamite. The nterpositiOn of a wooden
between the charge ana the wafer WIS
found to greatly reduce the knematic energy
available. In order to discover the laws
Of transmission Of a shock horizontally through water
wrought iron frame used and the charge secured al
the central part and gauges placed symmesrcaly win
respect 20 horizontal plane raseing through II we're
secured at angles tween the transverse fraInes Tue
results proved That me same fornu can ne useu Ioi m
modern explosives by substituting the right nunFflcal
value for constant BG this the relative yaue ofex
postye compounds can be hHei ana lhe IIH'hsIly Vi
action computed To learu completely tue destructive
learn the intensity oi 9elioh heeu,'i 20 - :,
hrst-cldss ship-Ofwar For this purpose an iron
pe and a numerical value for the intensity Of action
previously mentioned IOrlnuln secohu Naue OF Ihls
element reached, and some trials on very strong
wooden rafi gave third value The three were - ae-
cordant that the value adopted 10y me Board OF EnSl
necrs II satisfactory, aud The sz' ana range oi the
charge have been accordingly fixed.
the three essential conditions oi torpedo are endur-
in sca-water power 10 resist shocks OF
frIondy vessels Ia passing. Experiments to secure
these objects have been carried on Tor SIX
years and 0TpcdO has been adopted finally which Is
bell we'd 10 oe super .or 10 ny abroad Ground toipe-
does sphere. resting on Ire DO tom on urr
of sz suited % the strength OF the current. For FIR
mines the active agent electricity The subject ot
ods of research undertaken. over eighty patterns OF
foreign and domestic vreties have been compared aud
are now in The museum at Nllctts Point. Tie one
nualy adopted retains It's action after years in tor
prd0 ana II al-sou t'ly ccrtaiu.
For tue operation of mines a very superior system has
been adopted aud kept secret BlOwS the safe passage
OF friendly ves-cr and EXPLOSIONS when struck
by the ear bee fired, every part can he
tested ANA iiury determined. In Important narbOrs
the iight viii br used ~ te system OF defence,
TIE form of lns Udued throws concentrated Eight 70
ans dctrcl .uot, b its rs impaired when the air Is
reuert Opaque b. moisture or smoke as The particles
the brightly linn ina ed and tOrm screen 10
bide ohiccf. Experiments with sh tOrpedOcs have
also made, aud ono recently tucd showed excel
lcni results The control OF TIE H5h Wds perfect us IL
coutd be- stopped, started on turned IA any direction
At toe school of -ubmLriuc Mulrg- officers entering
before ur.lcrcd duty. They assigned 10 com
puny and learn the routine OF garrison service with
troops aud acquire practice In the details ot their pro-
fe.si.n TIE submarine mining cOurc both theoretical
aud practical aud good facilities offered It has been
suggested to some ohi rls o. artillery 10 NLlets
Point to 10. taught thc dr1l3 on submarine mining, as
an immense amount Of work would deyOlye upon the
officers ia charge IN case of actual necessity. The
arfiiCgy should have ntra kno"ledRe oi submarine
mining before the crisis comes. Officers are always
welcomed 40 Nilctt'S Point and shown the system con
hdrufaliy Professional advantages will result from
no3e Intimate ASSOCIATION OF the different arms OF the
service.
short Il -cus the topics of the paper par
tcipatod I'm General lucOck. Colorel COukng and
General Tower. rhe next publication Of the institution
will appear about March l. and VIII contain paper by
General Sherman Euriy Authorities and the His
tory Military Law and its Relations 10 Civil Law"
Il Will also contain the first Of series OF papers on
Foreign Artillery, by Major Sanger giving the Iest OF
hts experience when abroad as a member OF the
Military Commission.