The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-04-14
BULLET-PRooF CLOTH.
Remarkable Experiments With a
Cloth Impervious to Rife Shots.

BERLIN, April l0.-Experts in military af-
fairs, not only in this city, but throughout
Europe, are discussing the recent expert
ments made with the bullet proof coat in
vented BY Herr DOVE, the Mannheim tailor.
There seems to be no longer any doubt that
Doves invention is a most valuable one and
that he was justified in refusing the princely
offers made to him by firms OF army eontrac
tors and others who are DESTROYS of purchas'
ing his rights.
The Russian ambassador, Count Won Schou-
valoff, at the Russian embassy, on Sunday
last, fred TWO shots at the tailor while the
latter was encased in his bullet proof coat,
and as Dove sustained absolutely no injury
the Russian ambassador pronounced himself
satisfied with the experiment.
The experiments before Count Won Sehou
valoff Began with thorough test of the new
rifle in use in the German army. From a box
of cartridges one was selected at random,
and the rifle was fred at n block of solid oak,
which was pierced by the small steel-hke
bullet.
RIFLE BULLETS STOPPED.
After the shot at the block of oak Dove
dressed himself in his bullet proof coat and
offered himself as target. While the rife
was being aimed at the tailor the spectators
were strung to an extreme state OF nervous
ness and instietively closed their eyes IN anticl-
patton of seeing DOVE killed upon the spot.
But after the report of the rifle rang out, and
the tailor was seen standing apparently un.
hurt. there was q feeling of immense relief
among all present. Dove evidently noticed
the state of excitement produced by the ex-
pertinent, for he smiled, much to the relief OF
the onlookers. and said, Il feel nothing,
A second shot was then fred directly al
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 it is proposed
10 adopt for soldiers, leaving the arms aud
legs, as well as the head, without protection
PROTECTION FOR CAVALRY.
Then commenced series of experiments
which were even more interesting than the
first A horse was covered with bullet
proof coat, for il is proposed that the cavalry
Of the future is to be protected by the wonder
fol material invented by the tailor Of Mann
helm. In this case number of shots were
fired in quick succession at the animal while
ii was quietly eating oats from manger. The
horse, a well trained cavalry mount, started
slightly at the first shot, apparently, however
only disturbed by the unexpected report o.
quickly as possible, some of them striking al
most in the same place as previous bullets
but the horse continued eating as II nothing
extraordinary was happening.
A naval officer who was present at the ex-
periments asked Herr Dove If his bullet
proof armor could be applied to warships,
and he was assured by the inventor that a
ship protected by his bullet proof material
could stand pounding from all the warships
in the world without sustaining any consider
able damage OF course this is only Herr
Doves theory, but as he seems to have car
ried out his theory in regard 10 the bullet
proof coat for soldiers, it does not seem I'M
likely that he may be able to carry out his
theory in regard to protecting warships
HOW THE CLOTH LOOKS.
The new garment is described as looking
like ordinary army clothing material, the re
sisting secret substance being placed beneath
the outside cloth. The garment is in the ma
ture of a breast plate and is fastened to the
side buttons of the soldiers uniform. II is
only to be used in actual warfare and weIghs
about six pounds.
REPRESENTATIVES of several foreign govern
ments have been making strong efforts to OBJ
tain Herr Doves secret, but 1t is SAID that
these efforts have failed, and patriotic Ger
mans express the desire that the German
government should secure Herr Doves secret
SO that the bullet. proof coats may be used by
the German army alone. 1t is said that s.
DOC. 900 marks have been offered to Herr
DOVE by the German government for his IN,
yention; or, as an alternative, hundred
years guarantee of the monopoly Of supply
ing the German government with the neces;
sary number of cnirasses at the rate OF Il
marks apiece.