The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-13

Il for nothing to Cuba in her war with
Spain. wins
The tombstone she'll is different from au
others inasmuch 1t explodes not simnIv
py conclusion, but is fitted with a cart
ridge containing chemical which GOES
OH on touching the water This point
makes 1t of infinite and unique value. All
other torpedoes are constructed so thar
ny means OF a cap at the end the explos-
ION taxes place when the point strikes III
nara substance. but should the shell fail
| snort OF its mark, even by half q foot h
will sink useless into the water ana nm
dreds of dollars be wasted
WIN the Johnstone torpedo this diff
culty IS obviated, and the shell explodes
not only on striking a ship. but viii he
niVu Just as efticaciously by simply fall
ing INTO the water. Should II glance ofe
from the armor Of a ship or be dronned
Wlthln few feet of the boat, it will ex-
piode the moment the water touches this
chemical of the peculiar cartridge. ana
me hundreds Of pounds of dynamite ID
in the world to-day.
All modern men-of-war, while heaviIu
HIinored above the water line, have onlv
rev sheetS of the plate below henca
,he most vulnerable point Is that below
me me cage OF the water A shell exploding
there has not only but a few inches a.
armor TO penetrate, but, being unable to
dlsplace the huge bulk of water. IL ex-
TENDS ITS strength in uplifting the shin.
at winch point II finds the least resist
ince. BUT the trouble in firing below the
me IS the detection of the she'll
With the Whitehead torpedo now in usa
smell Is run out by means of machinery
gets under ship and Is exploded by AM
electric wire from the home boat or a ner-
cussioh cap on its head. But nets now pro-
tect vessels from this form of attack. Be-
SIDES, this torpedo is of great cost Wheu
one Is lost II means a large sum Of tnonevs
wasted, lying IN the bottom of the sea.
But 1t Is impossible for the Johnstona
,oIpeuo 70 become useless, for IL ii falls
anywhere within several hundred yards
OF boat the effects of the explosion viii
reaeh the vessel If an accurate aim be-
taken and the shell hit just a few inches
IRON the ship, the cartridge can be 40
timed that II will explode at any denth de-
sred. whether 1t be one inch or fifteen
rect below the water line. While the cosr
or the present style Of torpedo Is very
great, the tombstone can be made an 4
small expense, and it can be fashioned az
glass, iron or cast steel and cast into anv
shape desired. Il is intended to be fired
from pneumatic gun and a tiny tug, fit
tea up with cargo OF these shells. couId
eXterminate the fleets of the world The
peculiar chemical which possesses tha
property or exploding on touching the wa
Ter is placed within one end of the car
fridge when 1t Is ready to be fired. hut
n
the vessel so there is no danger to the
seaman who Is handling the shell.
Inc shell is also intended to be used ia
crop from balloon elevated above the
ships OF the enemy. There is no need OF
gun, FOR the simple fact OF letting It
IAN INTO the water at the side of the Toes
vessel Will set 1t off with the same violent
explosion caused I'm other torpodoes bv
striking the armor of the ship with great
Ioree. In case of the landing of marines
from foreign vessel a few forts along
tne mouth or the harbor would amply pro-
tect a country from invasion and small
smells In the hands OF the inhahItant.
could be cast so as to make It Impossible
Tor any foreigner to get ashore In the
boats. Small towers placed at the entrance
our rivers and al such places as SANDY
Hook and the Golden Gate would lraes,,
OUT the naVles of England II provided only
with long-range pneumatic gun and q
pountiful supply of these water exploding
shells
The capital OF this nation is now SIM
posed TO be safe from any invasion OF the
enemy from the fact that torpedoes have
been sunk In the bottom of the Potomac
river and these can be exploded bv cleo
trlclty at the approach Of an invading foe
Vet these torpedoes have lain now for
many years and Il is Just possible thae
some might fail to explode were thew
touched Off In a moment Of danger A lIna
OF forts twenty miles down the river
could blow any fleet to atoms with the
tombstone shell, and not one be wasted.
DR.. tombstone has offered his inventions
70 Cuba's acting minister Senior Gonzalo
de Quesada. and II the struggling republic
makes use OF the present II win be Ible
to blow up the fleets OF Spain at a small
expense and with great destruction TO
the forces of Weyler. The Ingredients
composing the cartridge are a secret
which will be made known only 10 tha
government on It's acceptance Of the shell.