The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-12-26
EDITORIAL NOTES.


The 12-nch rified mortars which are to be
mounted Tor the defense of New YORK, Boston
and San Francisco, will throw projeciile weigh
ing go pounds, and heir effective range will be
five miles. enabling them to give a warm recep-
tion TO any fleet thai may essay TO enter the bnr-
Dor with hostile intent. Should one Of these
shells strike The deck OF a warship with a pro-
teclye deck of six inches. an extraordinary
thickness, il would have energy enough to pierce
The deck and go Though Tie bottom Of the YES
sci II the delaying action fuse failed to explode
the shell. Should the shell explode as intended
between decks the result would be disastrous 10
any man cI-war aflOaI. In the recent expert
ments at Meppen an improved mortar was used.
1t had caliher of 1.27 inches and a length Of
10 feet 1o.7 inches, the weight being IL tons. the
mounting IA IONS, ana the BED supporting this
engine oil war 40 tons. The shells weighed Gel
aud 512 pounds. Out of tweniy-sX shots, twenty
struck an area The size Of the deck of modern
battle-ship the range being about two and a
quarter miles. The targets representing sections
OF protective decks were easily pierced IL is
consequently calculated that the new morIars
which VIII be of larger caiber. viii be capable of
greater execution. One shot IN the proper place
might send baitleship TO the bottom.
Russian intrigues in the Balkan States con
tinue 10 furnish interesting topics for the Eu-
ropean press. The Hakikat. the AN OF the
Turkish Grand Vfzler. recently published a some
what remarkable article, credited TO Russian in
SEPARATION, advocating the establishment OF
Balkanic confederation under the protection OF
Turkey, the confederated States TO be Roumania,
Sefvia, Montenegro and Greece. The Vienna
correspondent of the London Times declares
that as RoumanIa would not join tie proposed
union the scheme must come to nothing. what
ever support ii may receive at Belgrade, Csltinie
and Athens. Regent Rlstllch OF Servia, as Is
well known. has been the partisan of a Balkanic
asfAYa
would certainly be most gratifying to him 70 see
Turkey cajoed into placing her armies at the
service OF a RussOphil coalition directed against
Austria Hungary At Bucharest however, there
is a wel-grounded suspicion OF all those schemes
for the good OF the Balkan States which emapate
from ST Petersburg; and lie present tendencies
of Roumanian statesmen happen to be setting IN
direction quite contrary to that which Russia
desires.
In consequence of the late spell OF severe
weather in Europe, unequaled In severity for
nearly half century, the large number OF unem.
ployed have suffered great distress, special
measures OF relief having been found necessary
In Italy the popular misery. owing TO numerous
failures and other causes. is widespread, and the
national exchequer Is getting into desperate
condition. Ii is estimated thar at Turin over
1000 heads Of families are without work at
Milan 10000, and In Rome 5000, while Venice
Genoa and other beautiful places report an IN
usual amount of restitution. There Is a we'll
grounded belief that in spite Of Signor Crspfs
speeches painting the glories Of the Triple ALI.
ance, these troubles are Que TO the vast and
disproporiOnate naval and military burdens as.
sumed by Italy as a member OF the Triple ALI
ance.
Ii is a remarkable fact that In the large cities
of this country there are thousands of miles of
dead wires strung on telegraph poles or across
housetops. They are found streche in all d.
rections, and always seem bent on mischief. An
electrician OF well.kDown ability IN the East de-
clares these dead wires are never taken down.
because it costs more to do that than to put them
up, and the old wire Is practically worth nothing
In Eiost Instances the wire used Is Of an inferior
quality and much more liable Ia break than good
wire. This makes them doubiy dangerous. and
they are constant menace 10 the public.
The new enlistment rules and regulations cal
cnlated to ameiorate the condition of the sol.
der have not had the desired result, and after a
years trial there Is larger deficiency than be-
fore reported 1t has been suggested that as a
means oil augmenting the army battalions of ap-
prentices should be formed OF young, able bodied
men under 81 years OF age. The laws would not
compel them TO remain in the service OF Uncle
Sam on attaining their majority, but II Is argued
that after having for time been subjected to
army discipline they would not find it hall so lrk-
some TO take up the soldiers life.
A novel point in insurance litigation has re-
suited from the conviction OF Eyrsud the
stranger OF Goufe. His life was insured in an
English company which now refuses to accept
the premium from bis wife on the ground that
Eyraud, having placed himself In the immediate
danger OF capital punishment. practically CON-
mitted suicide. thus inyalidating his insurance.
The condemned man is also suffering from dis
ease that may even carry Inn of before the ex-
ecuiouer can perform his allotted task The
wiie's appeal TO the courts, therefore, presents
unique array Of facts for consideration
The monitor Miantonomah which, like the
Monterey, Is destined for service in home waters
is rapidly nearing completion at the BROOKLYN
Nayy-yard, the only work unfinished being the
fitting up of The forward tUrret. So far three of
her ten-inch guns have been received. Two
have been placed in the after turret and the re-
naming enc Is awaiting the arrival Of the fourth
before being placed in The forward turret The
monitor can be placed in commission, the Con-
struciion Department declares. within eighteen
days after the receipt of The fourth gun.