Chicago eagle., 1893-05-13
ARMOR FOR SOLDIERS.
American Officers Take Little Stock In
the Alleged Bullet-Proof Uniforms.

A series of experiments with so-called
bullet-proof uniforms has recently been
made at Vienna Dove, tailor, is the
inventor of the new armor. His idea is
that soldiers should wear in action a
bullet. proof, flexible composition, faced
with cloth, and buttoned over or under
the uniform. He claims that steel-faced
bullets from modern rifles have failed to
penetrate the stuff at any distance over
100 metres. At less than 200 metres the
shock of bulleA might render man
clad in the amor unconscious. What
ever may be the real value of the inven-
ton, it is certain that Berlin firm has
offered Herr Dove an enormous sum for
the patent.
Major General Howard, of the United
States Army, does not believe that armor
will be introduced into modern warfare
during the next two decades at least.
"For years." he said, I'VE have been
told of experiments of this nature being
made. They are favorably commented
upon at the outset, but prove failures
eventually and are forgotten. The last
important battle in which armor figured
was Waterloo. You remember the re-
suits therel Napoleon's steel-clad cuiras-
siers were simply cut to pieces by the
English. Their armor proved no pro-
lection whatever, and although the Eng
lish and Prussians had armored troops on
the field they kept them almost entirely
out of the action.
There is nothing in the law of nations
prohibiting the use of armor. fancy
there will never be any need for the in
sertion of such clause. The chief OBJ
iections to armor are easily summed up,
If the armor be strong enough to be
really bullet-proof it is sure to be too
heavy for marching, If it be light
enough for marching it cannot be strong
enough to adequately resist bullets.
With regard to Herr Doves invention,
am inclined to think that it is an i'm
provement on the invention of Herr Kar
Scarned, which was tested in severa
countries some years ago. Scarnedi
armor was of undressed hemp, stitched
together and put under hydraulic pres
sure. 1t was thoroughly tested, anc
found to bs useleSs in time of war. The
Dove invAtion is probably the same
stuff, with the addition of wire net
ting"
General Howard was asked if an.
branch of the American army had eve
worn armor, and he answered.
'Some regiments of Federal troop
during the Civil War tried chain armor
1t did not turn out to be a success, ant
was soon abandoned. "
Said Lieutenant II. Bean, U. 5. A,
ex-Government Instructor to State MI
litias:
Should armor or modification {
armor, ever be re-introduced, the art 0
war will be revolutionized. Candidly
| do not anticipate any such event.
witnessed the tests made with tn
Scarned armored uniform Scarned eA
hibited his hempen material with bullet
twisted in its meshes, yet when tn
armor was placed on sheep the animi
was killed by an ordinary rifle bulle
fired from distance of somewhat owe
100 metres. Armor of any kind woul
be cumbersome to infantry soldiers
Armor of this kind would be of no us
whatever against the bayonet. The cav
alrymen might wear armor advantage
ously enough. If it be introduced at a
| should think that the experimer
would be made with the mounted branc
: of the service"
The Scarned armored material WI
made to be worn under the uniform.
covered the entire body, saving only Il
, hands, feet and face. Being quite ligh
, it admitted of the free movement of =
muscles, The armor was made in thrt
pieces, which overlapped each other an
were secured together by hooks.