Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-12-03
WHEELING REGISTER, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1893.


proved that though the gun is wonder
fully accurate, especially in line work,
the fuses were not reliable. The deton-
atIng apparatus could not be got to ex-
plode the nitro-gelatine. Capt. Ralpief
however, appears to have got over that
difficulty by the wonderful fuse he has
lust brought out. 1t is an arrangement
of triggers, balls and springs so cleverly
adjusted that the charge cannot posi-
bly, explode till the shell has left the
gun, when it is ready to act on the shell,
striking water or any solid substance
end on or at an angle. Should it strike
a solid substance it would explode at
once, but has a delay action on striking
water that allows il to get sufficiently
submerged TO obtain the ~dampening ef-
feet of water. FL Cid may, with some
modification, be taken as something
like what our future battle ships, in all
probability, will be. or course the
faster they can be built the better.
They must be %seaworthy, and OF such
stability that their dynamite guns can
be effectively used in a considerable sea
way. They can be comparatively
lightly built OF steel. with only sufficient
armor to protect vital parts from the
effect of rapid firing guns on torpedo
boats. There will be no necessity for
encumberina them with the fearful
weight of armour that the present type
of battle ship has to carry, for a dyna-
mite shell will as certainly destroy the
heaviest iron.clad as the lightest cruiser.
Torpedo boats will be carried on her
deck, or slung from davits. These
being lowered and preceding her into
action will, by q binding shower OF
metal from their rapid firing guns, do
much TO discomfort the aim or the
enemy's gunners, besides protecting her
from torpedo boats and giving them a
chance to use their own torpedoes. Inc
ship herself would also have a very
heavy arrangement OF rapid firing and
machine guns, with which she would
cooperate with her torpedo boats. On
the advance Of such a ship how would
a heavy ironclad act? Her only chance
would be to open fire as soon as possible
with her long range powder guns, In
in the hope of blowing up her enemy's
cargo of dynamite. Take the case that
is most likely to occur, Ell Cid attacking
Aquideban. The latter would open ire
at about five miles range, but could only
make the widest practice at that dis
lance. Ell Cid would go full speed ahead
and reply when she had reduced The
range to three aud a half miles, thereby
being only a few minutes under 1re be-
yond her range. She al throw so lbs,
Of nitro-gelatine,,at a range OF three and
| @ half miles: 200 lbs, at two and a hall
miles and 500 lbs, at one and hall miles
! Approaching bow on she would afford a
very small mark to be fred at. or
course Aquideban would also send out
torpedo boats, but Chese would be met
and engaged by the boats OF 81 Cid
The dynamite guns on the cruiser
Vesuvius are fixed in the hull aud can
only be laid by the person who steers:
that on Ell Cid is movable. This Is a
great advantage coming into action as
she can be- trained to the right or left
while the ship keeps full speed on her
course. Admiral Mello may expect q
rough time when the fleet that is now
being equipped commences operations