The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-02

mans To hit the French balloons in The
Franco Pruss.an war as an evidence that
his aerial torpedo could not be 'destroyef
when in use on land by the guns of the
enemy. When In use on the sea 10 would be
equally safe. owing 10 the inability of the
gunners 10 elevate their heavy ordnance
enough 10 throw shells mile into the air.
Besides. Il would require a higher develop
ment OF the gunner's art than has yet heel
attained. even by the crack craftsmanship
OF the Royal Arthur. to nit one Of these
torpedoes with shell while it was sailing
through the air.
For use in coast deferse work these tor
petoes would supplement every other
known device. Their great advantage over
the big pneumatic guns or the motor ha,-
teries at Sandy Hook lies ia their very
much greater range. They could he set Off
Ia fleets. y necessary or advisable, ana IN
that manner would cover more territory
by one discharge than several motor hat
teri1s, because Of she greater effect q the
explosion. Il would not be necessary actu-
ally To nit a ship 10 destroy 70. II the lor-
pssIs struck she water within a hundred
feet or SD Of the Jbject at which il was
aimed the concussion would blow il out OF
the sea.
FIRED hy a system Of charts such D. the
army officers have arranged for the gun
1ers % the mortar battery at SANDY HOOK
,htse aerial toruefsoes would be terribly ef-
fectlee. The Observers up on the X ss-
lands. constantly plotting ttle course cf
the advancing ships 81 The enemy. Couii
a0tiiy the torpedo gunners of the position
GA the chart which any ship would occupy
ne any gwen instant The exact time az
e chc u the torpedo w0uii be known To
the g1ngar. md ne coul3 let go a flock OK
tcrpeloes az such tir1e that ore ~ theTl
would surely end the ear. sr of the snip.
For work ON land. iu tae hombariment -
p city or foruHcattors. or against an en-
camped or iutreDched enemy. tEe torre-
does would te destructive aeyoua the cap@-
busty ~ man % determine. But. beside
these forged E3.son has another devise.
which although not 80 deadly "a SIS 0pnr3-
t.on is yer "a terrible engine ~ war. II IS
e gum which Rin Hse dynamite as pr6pill-
s.sa force. Al Efforts heretofore 80 au'ld
.sch a big eun have failed because fyn1-
-nIto eNp5olss So rapidly al3 Hrerates Us
tremendous bursting energy l9 SD Nrfls
,.ue that no E'4l has beer atte - with
s+aaI the shock Of the explosion. Edison
tAlrks ha can get around thts.
Suppose" hc SAYS. "thae the explosion
~ "a charge ~ dynamite .u tHe chamber ~
am ordinary gun produces pressure of
e. ne Mounds 80 TIE square tnrh. IRE gun
cannot stand it. and as "a rpsatt rs t30ws lrp.
n v suppose ven sariuk around Use tig
g-.a anstaer w5fh a chamber which cxceu3s
clear around the ins. ie gun. II us cham
her ola.e q charge which. whcn exn5 gs-i.
NflI Hrl3sce e pressure Of 2a.s0 pounds 10
r-e square }nth Explode both charges So
IngitareruSly. The lateral pressure of the
- psl- pound charge. acting against t'le zst-
side ~ tse chamber ~ the hIE tnstfe glGn.
neurrtliKes naif af tht ~ fso-p pound httYaf
pressure Of the eharSe at the 1iE inside sun
Then e q thtri gl1 IS c1usfr 1g~Fe3 outside
az tBe secar5 ene. batir m ere q charge 81
- 80 pounds pressure rcr square inch
fnar vii take so hair tae Outward pressure
s.fs the inside lasn- i'v raatinuiag ttp apcr-
sfs8n you make a sun walca IS absolutely
safe AMI wh.ch VII use charge - dyua-
r4tta in the propulsion NJ ordinary ur0}ec-
stas snich wtll ~ - tremendous force Il
- r,sSsftslss FOR Sach <un 80 throw such
-,~, fss,tRe< as fhoSr D4a ia use twenty
miles or nlore. Before sl a -s8Us. mounted
~ sandy Hook a. tse eae.lalatt- asd dlSap-
,aargnr guns are mounted row. Tire Tncsf
-...,,srfal feet al Sae uas3es ~ the voris
.-,,f4 s.at together IN continuation c1uta
r,,r make a demonstration against New
Work. S,lch guns are pracgseal possibilities.
49, thev make t1e question q oGy sea
-~..-s .fsf.y.ses very simple
7-hen Nr. Edison coF back a. the &efen-
z sy,,.. a,-afrs. ana he talked sec2g the protec-
-, "a harbars hv teFT~doss. ~ a0at1 ae
,..-,- s{r4pie. Re sid. 20 construct torpedo
$500 f,r New York. or any other haE-
~. ~ that matter. IL can be dome sg.11ck1s
..s ~ utfIs cost. Accurate and garet al
4 s,f~s-s,-s ~ al the important harhCrS ga she
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