Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-05-25
AN ENGINE OF WAR.
The New Travelling Torpedo Which Is Ex-
pected to Do Much Damage.

The New Travelling Torpedo Which Is Ex
pected to DO Much Damage.
The details of moving torpedoes, q
regards their steering power, propul
sion and explosive charge, have for som'
time past formed special study witt
MIR. r. Pauison, who has effected VIVA
would appear to be some important i'm
provements in these respects. Electro
magnets are the chief agents used in tn,
steering arrangements, although theil
exact construction and arrangement arr
points upon which the inventor prefer.
to preserve silence at present. So will
regard to his improved means of pro
pulsion and the explosive charge; the
most that he is just now prepared to
state publicly respecting these is that
propulsion is effected BY a system differ
ing in toto from any of those at present
employed.
Broadly stated it consists in the use OF
chemically generated gas, which is util'
lied either for forcing a column of wa
ter direct astern, or for causing it to
actuate machinery for driving propel-
Ter. The explosive charge consists of a
species of gun-cotton possessing fifty per
cent more power than ordinary gun
cotton, but having an equal degree OF
safety. The steering device is that upon
which Mr.. Paulson is most CON-
municative, and this is stated
to consist of two batteries, one
pole of each of which is placed
in connection with the coils of two sets
Ofelectro- from which leads are
conducted TO two metal pins. fixed on
the disc of insulating material. Both
the other poles of the batteries are placed
in communication with a balanced mag
netic needle of special construction.
The metal pins are placed on either
side of the needle, and the course of the
torpedo having been set, it is started.
ANY deviation of the torpedo from its
ment of the needle, which touches one
or the other of the pins, thus establish
ing the circuit through the coils of one
or other of the magnets. An arma ture
connected with rudder is attracted and
by this means the torpedo is again
placed on its right course. The depth
of immersion of the weapon is also reg
ulated and maintained in similar man
ner by vertically balanced needle.
Another feature is that the torpedo can
be directed toward the ships, irrespect-
i've of the predetermined course, by
means of another balanced needle
A demonstration of the steering pow
ers of the apparatus was recently given
tx-f h.. of ronf-e,,rv-
Charing Cross, a model torpedo about
twelve feet six inches long and seven
inches in diameter being used. The
model was not placed in water, and it
was clearly shown that when it deviated
from the course upon which it had been
laid, the electromagnetic arrange
ment-which was of course con-
cealed within the torpedo
into operation and restored it
to its normal course. More could not
be shown, but it was stated that a full
sized torpedo, sixteen feet in length and
fourteen inches in diameter, had been
made and successfully tried on the coast
in England. On the last occasion,
however, the torpedo had managed to
get away from its inventor. and had
been no more seen. The material of
which Mr.. Paulson proposes TO con-
struct the shell OF his torpedo differs
from that hitherto used in being "A
species of papier-mache of tough and
fibrous nature. The new we apon is to be
discharged from the shore or from any
ordinary torpedo boat. This feature
points it out as valuable for coast and
harbor defense. for which purposes it
is the opinion of several naval authori-
ties by whom it has been examined
that it is especially adapted. In view
of its apparent merits it would appear
desira BILE that the Government authori-
ties. who have had the matter under
consideration for some little time past,
should lose no time in constructing a
torpedo of the proper working size
and having it practically tested. Thi S
course is the less Questionable see
ing that the cost is stated to be only
about fl50. At any rate the invention
appears to justify prompt and thorough
in order that its practical
usefulness or otherwise may be ascer-
tanned. London Times.