The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1897-02-25
DYNAMITE IN WAR.
Practical Demonstration of the Ef-
fectlveness Of the Terrible
Weapon In Inland War

Weapon In Inland War
fare.
There are indications that the Cuban
war, insignificant as it is from a mill
tary point of view, may furnish other
nations with the first practical evil
dence of the utility and effectiveness of
dynamite in military operations. AL
most every modern war has furnished
some lesson in the use of new discov.
cries or the adaptation of scientific prin-
oiples to military purposes. The Cri.
mean war demonstrated more COM
pletely than had ever been done before
the usefulness of u navy as IL line of
communication and base of operations.
The Franco-German war introduced
balloons as q means of reconnoitering
and sending dispatches. Our civil war
marked many new departures and fur
nished q great deal for other nations
to think about in the remodeling of
their armies and navies. The recent
war between Japan and China afforded
some interesting lessons in the man
euvering and fighting of ironclad ships.
The next war between two great nations
will furnish some astonishing illustra-
tions Of the tremendous projectile force
of modern improved guns, the irresist-
ible power of their balls, the accuracy
and destructiveness of submarine tor
pedoes and many other new discoveries.
The Cuban war is the 6rst in which
dynamite has been made use of for de-
fensive purposes against an attacking
force. Powder and torpedoes have
often been used in that way. but dyua-
mite is more easily handled and more
destructive than either IL is compact,
easily transported, can be placed un-
derground with little trouble and. by
the aid of electrical appliances, ex-
ploded at a moments notice. The ac-
counts Of the recent battle in Cuba, in
which the insurgents won a decided
victory over the Spaniards, shows that
dynamite played an important part in
the victory. To get within fighting dis
tance the Spaniards had to cross an
open field which had been planted
with dynamite cartridges. At the
proper time. when the Spaniards were
swarming over the field. Maceo's elec-
tricians exploded the cartridges. kill
ing and wcunding many and throwing
the survivors into panic. There have
been several accounts of the shipment
| Of dynamite from this country to the
insurgents. and they are probably abun-
dainty supplied with it. As they are
on the defensive in, a country of their
own choosing, of which they know all
hn nj af . v,o%
unlikely they have planted II great deal
of dynamite where they think it will
do the most good. Inventor Edison, in
an interesting interview just published.
says:
dynamite used in that way is simply
terrible in it's effect. To plant u field Of
| dynamite is an easy task. ALI you have
to do is TO make a series of shallow gut
ters or burrows from one end to the
other. In these burrows. which. by the
way, need not be more than six inches
deep, lay an insulated wire. There
should be space of 80 or 40 feet be-
tween each cartridge. The insulated
wires are connected with other wires,
which stretch from the mine to some
point a mile or two away. All these
wires are buried, and as there is little
or no grass land in this section of Cuba.
1t is not difficult to restore the surface
Of the field to it's former condition.
After the wires are laid and the cart
ridges adjusted, the electrician in
charge simply connects the other end
of the communicating wire with q
small ten-cell battery and is ready for
work. From the crest of hill or the
top of tree, and armed with strong
field glass, he waits for the enemy. He
may be two or three miles from the field
of dynamite. but, at any rate. he is far
enough away to be out Of danger.
When the enemy reaches the field the
electrician signals to his commanding
officer. who in turn signals to him. The
electrician simply presses the button.
the, dynamite buried in that distant
field does the rest"
This shows what terrific weapon
dynamite may become. The Cuban in
surGents have already shown that they
know how to use it, and if the war con-
tinues much longer they will probably
furnish other proofs of its effective
ess.-Indianapolis Journal.