The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1894-06-28
BULLET-PRo0F CLOTH.
The Invention Of German Taiiof
Meets Expectations.
ny Its Ala soldier WIN Bo Rendered
Impervious TO Bullets - Tho m-
vcntor SUBMITS to Hazard
Gus Experiments.

Gus Experiments.
Experts in military affairs, not only
IN Berlin, but throughout Europe, are
discussing herecent experimentsmade
with the bullet-proof coat invented by
Herr Dove, the Mannheim tailor,
There seems to be no longer any doubt
that Doves invention Is most val.
liable one, and that he was justified in
refusing the princely offers made to
him by firms of army contractors and
others who are DESTROYS Of purchasing
his rights. The Russian ambassador,
Count Won Schouvaloff, at the Russian
embassy, says the Washington Star,
fred two shots at the tailor while the
latter was incased in his bullot.proot
coat, and as Dove sustained absolutely
no injury the Russian ambassador pro-
nounced himself satisfied with the ex.
pertinent. The experiments before
Count Won Schouvaloff began with
thorough test of the new rifle in use In
the German army. From box Of car
tridges one was selected at random,
and the rife was fired at a block OF
solid oak, which was pierced by the
small steel-lilke bullet. After the shot
at the block of oak Dove dressed him.
self In his bullet-proof coat and
offered himself as target, While
the rifle was being aimed at the tailor
the spectators were strung to an ex-
IRENE state of nervousness and In.
| Automatically alAeN1 thafa IN anita
patton of seeing Dove killed upon the
spot. But after the report OF the rifle
rang out and the tailor was seen
standing apparently unhurt there was
a feeling OF immense relief among all
present. Dove evidently noticed the
state of excitement produced by tho
experiment, for he smiled, much to the
relief of the onlookers, and said; 81
feel nothing" A second sh OF was then
fired directly at the tailor's heart, but
It had the same effect as the FIRST; the
tailor was absolutely unhurt and both
bullets were found imbedded in the
bullet-proof coat, which covered his
breast and body in the manner which
1t is proposed to adopt for soldiers,
leaving the arms and legs, as well as
the head, without protection.
Then commenced series Of expert.
ments which were even more interest.
ing than the first. A horse was Gov
cred with a bullet-proof coat, for IL
is proposed that the cavalry of the
/. future is to be protected by the won
derful material invented by the tailor
,, of Mannheim. In this case o number
of shots were fred In quick succession
. at the animal while 1t was quietly eat
ing oats from a manger, The horse, 9
well-trained cavalry mount started
slightly at the first shot, apparently
I however, only disturbed by the unex
pected report Of the rifle. Then othel
! shots were fred as quickly as possible
some of them striking almost in the
same place as previous bullets, but The
horse continued eating as II nothing
extraordinary was happening. A nava
officer who was present at the expert
ments asked Herr Dove If his bullet
,. proof armor could be applied to war
ships, and he was assured by the in
! |, ventor that ship protected by hi
bullet-proof material could stand |
/, pounding from all the warships in thu
. world without sustaining any consid
:, cradle damage. OF course this is onlJ
Herr Doves theory, but as he SEEM
to have carried out his theory in re
gard to the bullet-proof coat for sol
A diers 1t does not seem unlikely that HI
] may be able to carry out his theory II
! regard to protecting warships.
The new garment is described as look
!. ing like ordinary army clothing mate
a rial, the resisting secret substance be
= placed beneath the outside cloth. TIL,
garment is In the nature of breast
|, plate and is fastened to the side but
4 tons of the soldiers uniform. It |
only to be used in actual warfare ant
weighs about six pounds. Represen
tatives of several foreign government
a. have been making strong Efforts to oh
a. tain Herr Doves secret, but 1t Is sail
/ that these efforts have failed, and pa
n tr1otic Germans express the desir
\. that the German government SHOULD
secure Herr Doves secret, so that tn
bullet-proof coats may be used by tn
n German army alone. 1t 10 said tina
ID three million marks have been offeret
!. 70 Herr DOVE by the German govern
re ment for his invention, or, as an alter
,e native, O hundred years guarantee 0
,r the monopoly of supplying the German
10 government with the necessary mum
re- Der of cuirasses at the rate Of twelv
IN marks apiece,