Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-04-03
nections constitutes complete mine


ready for action.
From bomb-proof operating case
mates seven-colored cables will be
laid to junction boxes placed at Sc
lected points in the channel. Thence
the copper cores will diverge into
cables radiating toward the advance,
and terminating in three mines, so
connected that each will explode
singly If struck, while all three can
be exploded simultaneously at will.
To fill the gaps between the lines, to
menace the enemy far in advance Of
the main defenses, and to compel him
to extend countermining operations
over wide area, lines of skirmish or
single cable mines will cut the waters
well to the front,
In shallow channels or anchorages
IN the coast line available for occupa-
tion in conducting a distant bonn
bardment large and carefully located
ground mines so charged and elec7
trically controlled that their removal
by sweeping or graphing would prove
both difficult and dangerous will re-
enforce the mortar batteries in very
effective manner.
The primary defense of the mines
.ests with the guns of the batteries
commanding the channels, where the
main lines will be so arranged as to
be swept throughout their length by
fanking fire. The machine and
rapid-firing guns, when we have
them, will play an important part in
such operations. But, should war be
declared tomorrow, our old-fashioned
eight and ten-inch smoothbores would
prove very effective against torpedo
boats and launches attempting to
work mischief under cover of night
or a fog. Charged with grape and
canister, trained by daylight and
placed in circuit with the electric
| system through electric primers and
insulated wires extended to the oper-
ating station, any effort to raise
mine or cut cable will at once auto
matically draw volley that would
disable or greatly harass the boats.
In the absence Of high-power guns
An ironclad will move steadily for
ward and attempt by countermining
to open safe passage for beleauger-
Ing fleet, and here the adopted Sims
Edison electric fish torpedo would
prove a valuable auxiliary to the de-
Tense. The range Of this aggressive
torpedo Is over two miles, while it's
speed exceeds eighteen miles an hour.
1t is steered, propelled, and exploded
by means of controllable electric
current, and carries charge capable
pf disabling the most formidable
lronclad.
The complete torpedo consists of,
iwo distinct parts, the float and the
hull. The former is filed with an
unsubmergible material and Is prac-
tically indifferent to the bullets Of
fapid-flring guns; the latter, cigar
shaped hull sheltered from Ire under
seven feet of water, carries in the
bow section the explosive, In another
an insulated cable, which pays out
without strain as the torpedo pro-
,eeds, and in the stern section the
slectro-motor that revolves the pro-
peller and powerful relay that ac-
tuates the steering gear.
The electric current, produced by
dynamo on shore, and conveyed to
The torpedo through the cable, is un-
der control of the operator through
the keyboard switches by which he
,an at will start, stop, steer to port,
or starboard, or explode the charge.
Movable torpedoes of this type will
prove formidable assailants to the.
,nemy's vessels moving cautiously in
Instructed channels, and will re-en-
! force the fire Of the mortars.
Ignorance Of the nature and object.
If torpedoes has led the public to.
believe that harbors can, in an emer-
yency, be protected by this branch
| Of the defense alone. Heavy bat
| teries and submarine mines are but.
correlatiye terms of good defense.
The function Of the latter Is to so.
| obstruct the channels that the ene-
| my's vessels shall be held under fire
| Of the former. But at least it can
be said that we have ready for duty a
| perfected defensive torpedo system,
supplemented with a skilled corps of
| submarine miners and electricians.