The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1892-11-10
WAR IS DANGEROUS NOW.
Modern Equipments Haks 4 TFsmsn-
dOHS Killing Inevitable.
Fumes 60 Put Armies 70 sIesP.Ex.
pIOSIVeS BY Means Of which
ono man Could Destroy
an Entire CIIy.

The United States government is tax
ing active part-particulaFly Of late in
the line Of strategic ballooning-ln the
experiments which all civilized and
Christian nations are engaged With-ioF
the purpose Of discovering more effective
means for wiping out hostile armies and
fleets. While busy with smokeless pow.
ders, the chief object Of which is 10 make
the foe visible, the war department has
been keeping an eye upon the Smoke
grenades" that are now exciting attsn-
ton in England. They are filled with
chemical substances which, on explosion,
produce clouds Of dense black smoke,
and are designed to be carried in adj
vance by skirmishers and thrown 90 as to
conceal the troops following.
Not less novel and remarkable are the
illuminating bombs which are being test
ed by the Italians. One Of them, cast
among the enemy at night, will burst
and Immediately light up the darkness
with the power Of 10000 candles. One
Of the most extraordinary Of new inven-
tionS in warfare Is the French explosive
called "nlelinite," which is not only ei-
iective for rending and destroying when
thrown in q bomb, but also serves q pur-
pose similar to that Of the "stinkpots" Of
long ago. The latter, supposed to have
been originated by the Saracens In the
middle ages, were utilized as late as the
last century by the British. Smashed
among the enemy they set free volumes
Of poisonous and asphyIiating gases.
Melinite is not only three times %
strong as gunpowder, but 1t has the great
advantage Of being safe to handle. Its
base is a coal tar product termed picric
acid, and It has about the consistency Of
molasses, being poured into'shells and
hardening. The fumes liberated by the
bursting Of one Of these bombs are most
deadly. Not long ago, for the purpose Of
experiment, a single one was fired at a
vessel on which bad been placed . num-
Der Of sheep and goats. All Of the ami
mails not killed by fragments Of the ex-
ploded shell were sufocated to death.
One day French workman, digging out
Of the ground = melInite bomb that had
been fred three days before, was 80 far
overcome by the gases which it still ex-
hailed as to be with difficulty restored.
The war department has been recently
conducting experiments with balloons for
military purposes. It will exhibit Rt the
Columbian exposition one Of its new bal
loon trains, consisting Of three wagons.
One Of the wagons carries a balloon
packed in a basket, while the other two
convey cylinders charged with hydrogen
gas. When It is desired to send up the
balloon, II is taken out Of the basket,
connected with one or more Of the cylin-
dOrs, and is ready.
1t attains an elevation Of 1900 feet, re-
naming attached to the earth by a wire
rope. through which a copper wire runs.
The copper wire connects telephone on
the ground with one In the balloon car,
1
tanned. II desired the telephone wire
may be continued to the headquarters Of
the commanding general miles away.
Meanwhile the observer in the balloon
car can overlook the position and en-
trenchments Of the enemy, being 4 safe
distance from the battle lines. Sketch
maps they can send down by means Of
the wire rope. A plan recently suggest
ed Is to send up small captive balloons
carrying nothing but Photographic cam.
eras, which could be worked automatic
ally from the ground. They would he al
lowed to DRIFT over the Notifications Of
the foe, each one taking a series Of pic
lures Of whatever was beneath.
Rapid firing guns are attracting more
attention just now than any other devel-
opmsnt 10 the science Of warfare. The
--latest and most admirable weapon Of this
sort Is the invention Of Mr.. Maxim. Il
stands on pivot and Is ranged entirely
BY one man, who points the nicely bal
anced instrument in any direction he de-
sires. He has simply to aim, inasmueh
as the gun fires itseIi, throwing q contin-
uo7s stream Of projectiles, like water
from hose.
The operator pulls the trigger once, and
after that each shot discharges the next
one, and rife bullets issue from the muz-
ale at the rate Of 90 a mindte. Another