The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-03-02
TO SMASH HOSTILE FLEETS.
GEN. sKRRELL DEYTsEs A THUNDER.
BOLT FOR HARBOR DEFENCE

BOLT FOR HARBOR DEFENCE
AIR Upon Any War ship that Crosses II
Given Line = $4,000 foot.ton Electrical
Biow that VIII smash Anything Aaoat
An entirely new plan for the defence OF New
York city and harbor against hostile feet is
under consideration by the Committee on
Coast Defences OF the United States Senate
tits plan with some very striking features.
which appeal to the Imagination OF the ordi-
nary unscientific citizen and has been before
military and naval experts for several
months. 1t Is before Congress at the instance
Of the Adiutant- Generals office OF the State OF
New Jersey and OF committees OF the New
York Chamber OF Commerce and Board OF
Trade. appointed TO look after tho matter Of
the defence OF the city. II the invention
will do all that is claimed for it big load
will be taken of the minds OF very many New
Yorkers.
The invention Is electrical. 1t can be ap-
piled to tho protection OF all seacoast cities.
IN any country but the Chamber OF Comm cree
and Board OF Trade committees are not wor-
fying about its use anywhere but In New York.
and all the plans so far have been confined to
this harbor. &.
What Is claimed for the invention. In few
words, is this: II any hostile ship or fleet at
tempted to enter this harbor. rs 1t crossed
any given line. say the 6h-fathom line in
the outer bay. a blow OF $4,000 foot-tons could
be struck upon each ship. which would effec-
tually put any vessel now ahoat out OF the way
Of doing damage to New York city or to any
thing else. The blow would como from over
head. out Of the air. would strike vertically and
with absolute certainty 1t could be directed at
any part Of the surface Of the ship. and would
be aimed at the spot whore II would do the
most and surest damage. Twenty OF thesa
6O.OOO-foot ton blows could be struck in ten
seconds OF time. The six-and-a-half-fa thom
line Is distant about fourteen miles from the
City Hall and twelve smiles from tho buit-up
parts OF Brooklyn. Outside that line no ship
now afoat could do any damage to New York
city. and inside that line. the inventor says. 1t
would be absolutely impossible for any vessel
to come The blow could not be conducted OF;
asa stroke Of lightning might. and It would
One, feature Of the Invention. the inventor
says. is that it REQUIRES only very simple ma
be bought from machinery dealers. and need
only be collected and put together ready Tor
No o . will be
there will be practically nothing Of the works
Of the r Sn for the enemy to attack The
fence against the electric slugger
For many years the attack ,. in making war var
safH "0H "f ssSass i 0is
SuhHDct VI tue vi WV
# s5Susht II VII to ten r. %smbs 3; TIE
and had but two u the , vessels e%mHssins the
white sluadroni he could easily lay New York
e or Of
What would the militi be doing. Admiral?"
ss 81 tf tss e HSmns they would DO
helpnG carry the treasure to the wharf,
The Chamber and the Board OF Trade became
much stirred up about the timo Of tho Italian
trouble and later in the CHILEAN rumpus. and
fenses to look t up Tor % the city
Ley 1ssssS Sss5sa sssds ss
Gen Edward W. serrell of this city is the in
3 year Years Old; H. Helped build The Nisr H
lspension Bridge and the Bristol bridge over
the sonstrustion Of seyeIsl raiiroais; He was
sataeshEs ARMY
is l ms Ge9 chit t. E Baer and eae d
81 the famous swamp Angel batteries dur
which Fort PULASKI was captured he Is the
o. the vertical gun LIT for
many impoTtant United States pu bic works;
ing the harbor, but for some time he declined
& aR 81" With Gsaf Boaras
ot ORDNANCE, and Fertilization, Eventually
gineering circles. The officers ct Fortress
ting i It Tor H seme eG months S',DS aA0 'e
- Gen. Wright was once asked by the Senate
AGAINST hostile fleet il he, could have any;
about ten miles & air !. space between him and
the only solution Of the problem Of the defence
mously long range. and the thing to do is to
keep the enemy SO far out at sea that he can
Gen. Serrell would not for obvious reasons. |
describe his invention when asked about it
yesterday. but gave some points Of informa-
fere with or endanser commercial vessels en-.
he built very quickly and at little, cost The |
side Sandy Hook to a spot of Coney Island. |
The device would be under control Of officers
tin so th be
mys ships. and: indeed. their location would
ps be All marf Would or be
which the General exhibited. about foot long
cam era; lucida. which would indicate, day Or
night the position OF the hostile ships with
absolute accuracy. md when one attempted t9
fall. on it. There would. ofcourso. be duplicate
The Senate Committee on Coast Dcfences
rell e inability to be present the hearing was
postponed. A second day for consideration OF
the plan will be set soon.
THEY WE'RE MARRIED IS YEARS.