Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-10-23
EARTH TORPEDoEs.
vvw AND TERRIBLE Destructive
AGENT.


AGENT.
Some particulars concerning the ea''h
torpedoes which were lately tested a.
Tbun have been tested BY the Geneva
napers. The result of the experiments
wa, considered so satisfactory that the
Swiss military authorities have ad''seu
the Federal Council to purchase the right
of making the torpedoes and the secret
of their construction from the inventor
Lieut.. Feodor Won Zubowiiz ofthe Austrian
Army. The Zubowitz torpedo, according
to several high military authorities is des-
tined to effect a partial revolution in the
art of war, especially Of defensive war
It renders possible the laying in avery short
time, and by common workmen' oil
series Of powerful mines, any one OF
which can be made, as circumstances
NAV require, either harmless or arranged
ia such manner as to be exploded oy a
shock, a train Of gunpowder or an cleo
tr;c wire. In fifteen minutes sixty men
can furnish with these torpedoes a line
1000 yards long The system, moreover
offers great advantages for strengthening
the out works Of permanent or temporary
notifications, barring defiles, protecting
an exposed flank, reinforcing oarri-
cade. covering a weak detachment or de-
Tending line Of retreat. The perfection
of this engine Of destruction occupied
Lieutenant Zubowi,z seven years, and II
is said now to have all the properties
which such an invention ought to possess
certainly Of effect, cheapness, simple
i,v of construction and ease Of manlpula-
rion. After series OF search
ing experiments, it was warmly rec
commended by the engineer section OF
the Austrian Military Commission. and
was used with success during the late
instruction in the south of Dalmaiia
On one occasion ten men completely bar
red, in seventeen minutes, the pass oil
Han with fifteen ,orpedoes.
In appearance the torpedo is sort
of square shsrpnel. The charge II
explosive Trau,zel gela,ine and, by mean'
of a simple interior mechanism, can be
burst either above ground. under layei
of earth or under water. The torpedoe'
are made in series corresponding viii
their charges, which range from four
pounds to one hundred pounds, and are
classed respectively according to the use
for which they are destined "a tofpedoes
of observation, of contact and Of percus-
sion. The two last named sorts are
meant to be exploded by the enemy-in-
voluntarily, of course. The contact tor
pedo may be put in any place where IT.
existence was no, likely TO be suspected
in an abandoned carriage placed across
road, behind door or gate when
has 70 be opened, the mere removal Of
the obstacle being suffcien, to cause III {
explosion. The percussion torpedo Il
hidden a few inches beneath the soil OF
in drain, and explodes readily under
the weight Of number OF men or the
pressure OF a vehicle or the tramp OF q
horse. The four pound torpedoes are fol
instant use, and, being easy to transport
may be taken almost whenever troops
can march. Twenty-Five Of them can be
packed on one bat mule.
A single torpedo Of this calibre will
break up any ordinary road to its full
width, and three or four torpedoes along
road are sufficient to render i. impass-
able. They pulverize everything with
in diameter of seven, and break every
thing within diameter Of thirteen metres
from the centre Of explosion. They may
be buried under four or FIVE centimetres
OF earth without detriment Of their des,uc
tive effect. It is only the larger engines
that can be buried deeper than this with.
out impairing their efficiency.
Up to the distance of three kilometres
explosion can be produced mechanically
without the aid Of electricity. either by
design on the part of the operator or in
voluntarily by some act of the enemy.
As touching the time required to place
these torpedoes under layer of earth Of
five centimetres thick, II has been found
by actual experiment that in fifteen min
utes sixty men may SOW in this way 100
engines in three or four lines over one
square kilometre of ground. thereby rem
dering it absolutely impossible. A reg
iment that would attempt to march over
it would be simply pulverized.
PARALYzING A DOG WITH AWE.
TT