Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-06-18

of projectiles. On this basis of reckoning each
shot costs about $500, without counting
the powder and projectile, which cost $3.50
more. Sixteen hundred and fifty dollars . pop
Ii good deal to pay. 1t is true that when n
missile from such q weapon hits anything the
Inter is likely to be seriously affected. One ex-
detrimental shot with 110-ton gun sent the pro-
jectile through 20 inches of solid steel, inches
of wrought iron, 20 feet of solid oak, feet Of
granite, IL feet of concrete and feet Of brick
back of all the rest. The striking energy of the
conieal bullet amounted to 81, 800 foot tons,
which was equivalent to the power necessary to
lift giant ships of the size of the steamer City
of New York foot out of water. 1t will be re-
membered that the famous Jubilee shot," fired
from a similar gun on the occasion Of the queens
jubilee, fell at distance of 10 miles, attaining
at the highest part of its trajectory an elevation
Of miles.
SMALL CALDER RIFLES.
1t is a remarkable fact that the caliber Of the
rifles supplied to the armies of Europe has
diminished within the last four years from
45-100 to 25-100 of an inch. Several very inter-
esting results are accomplished by this change
To begin with, owing to the less resistance OPP
posed by the air to the smaller bullets they go
straighter and the marksman use his sights
for point-biank range up to 500 yards. The
improvement in accuracy is very great and the
velocity Of the projectie is so far increased that
the latest pattern of weapon will kill man at a
distance OF three miles. So much greater is
the penetrating power of the smaller bullet
that 1t will go through the bodies of four men
in a row when fired from q distance of one mile
This was ascertained by the French, who, for
the purpose Of accurate experiment, stood up
four dead men in a line and practiced upon
them. Another advantage of the new departure
is that one soldier can carry as many 160
rounds of cartridges. Last but not least, the
smaller bullets are much more humane for use
in war; individuals wounded by them, il not
killed outright, are likely to recover. During
the late civil conflict in Chile excellent OPP
portunity was afforded for comparing the rela-
lively slight injuries inflicted by the new
fashioned projectiles when contrasted with the
wounds caused by bullets of the old size.
Modern warfare is at the same time more
humane and more cruel than any style of fight
ing adopted among nations in times past. 1t
stops at nothing that will injure or destroy the
enemy. During the rebellion when the south
began to use torpedoes there cry of pro-
test throughout the north. 1t was said that
such an abominable me .hod of killing men was
not consistent with the laws of war recognized
by civilized peoples. Nevertheless it was not
long before the north adopted and employed
torpedoes extensively. Up to the present time
explosive bullets have been distinctly set down
as being beyond the pale of recognition by civ
illzed beliigerents. The very notion of firing
shot into the.body of an antagonist that would
burst and tear him all to pieces regarded as
horrible and barbarous TO the point Of savagery.
put aside altogether and in the next war between
great and Christian powers explosive bullets
are to be a common form Of projectile, not
fired singly but discharged into the ranks of the
fee in streams. At the same time bombs filed
with diabolical combinations of chemicals many
times as powerful as gunpowder will rend whole
regiments limb from limb, while those who
may happen to escape the flying fragments will
be smothered to death by poisonous fumes A
commodore in the United States navy said to
the writer yesterday that only two means of
destruction were regarded as impossible in
war-namely, poisoned bullets and the poison
ing of wells. Surely it will not be long before
the prejudice against even these will have van
ished.
ToRPEDoEs AND TORPEDO BOATS.
One of the most astonishing inventions Of
modern times is a new torpedo boat now under
going trial at Detroit under the eyes of govern
ment experts. 1t fairly realizes the design of
the imaginary Nautilus created by the fancy of
Jules Verne. In fact photographs of the craft
as it lies on the surface of the water and nearly
submerged strikingly resemble the pictures of
the submarine boat (which illustrate the ro-
nance of the French author. 1t is cigar
shaped, pointed at both ends and has a small
dome-like turret on top, through a glass in
which the steersman looks along the level of the
waves. While running thus the twin screws are
driven by a steam engine. When the vessel
wishes to sink the little smokestack is unshipped
and down the cigar boat goes beneath the water,
which closes over it while it pursues its way at
a depth of ten feet or more. 1t can stay under
for half an hour comfortably the supply of air
suffcing for that length of time. While it is
submerged the screws are run by batteries in
which electricity is stored by the steam engine.
The Interior is lighted by electricity.
new kind of automatic torpedo, which does
not carry men, is called the Victoria, and
has been recently offered to the British govern
ment. Its motive power is compressed air,
contained within it, and it is steered and con-
trolled by means OF an electric wire from shore.
1t moves beneath the water, approaching the
object of its hostility unseen. II the operator
wishes to Just where it is on its course he
touches a button and it jumps out of the waves
like dolphin. The torpedo most favored by
the Navy Department here is the invention Of
Capt. Howell. U. s. N. 1t is worked on the
principle OF the gyroscope, having a wheel,
which Is spun up to tremendous rate of speed
before the torpedo is discharged from the gun.
Owing to this device it maintains a perfectly
straight course. The trouble with the cele-
brated Whitehead torpedo is that it il hard TO
guide and is very apt to go crooked. II it
strikes the object aimed at, however, some
thing is sure to happen Immediately. On
April ~, 1891. the Chilean insurgent battle ship
Blanco Encalada steamed into the harbor of
Valparaiso for the purpose Of doing some dam
age. After accomplishing this object to con-
siderable extent she came to anchor for the
ulBut, not the trOuD1e 10 put out her
torpedo nets or even to keep good watch.
Presently along came two torpedo boats, the
Almirante Lynch and the Almirante Condell
belonging to the other side in the war, and they
fired half a dozen Whitehead torpedoes, re-
sembling go many big steel fish, at the Blanco
Encalada. One or two Of the torpedoes hit the
ship, and the latter WAS blown up, with great
loss of life. But this is not deemed o good test
Of the effectiveness of torpedoes in warfare,
owing to the fact that she was an old fashiOned
wooden craft. 1t is very doubtful whether
such torpedo would sink man-of-war of the
modern type, provided with separate water
tight compartments.
RAMS IN FUTURE NAVAL BATTLES.
Naval authorities assert that rams will be the
most effective weapons in the naval conflicts Of
the future. In the building Of every battle
ship nowadays much attention is given to max
ing the stem as powerful possible in order
that she may ram adversary effectively.
Methods OF conflict on the sea are reverting,
curiously enough, to those practiced 2, 900 years
ago when Rome was mistress of the waves
Then vessels Of war were propelled bytwo or
three banks Of oars; now they are driven by
two or three screws. Then, now, the
most deadly blow was struck with
ram. Then, as now, the COM
handing officer stood in coming tower
directing the movements of the ship, issuing
orders for the launching Of missiles against the
enemy, and at the critical moment 'giving the
stem" to n OppOsipp craft Tn order IN CON.