The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-09-13

Special to the Globe
LONDON. Sept at t. i always in
teresting to turnuback to records of the
past and note the wild chimerical
schemes that have been associated with
the birth of nearly every great inven-
that shrdlu shrdlu, shrdlu shrdlucmfw
ton or discovery. In connection with
that Of steam tpower and railroads,
imagination SCARED to unusually giddy
heights: engines, it was said, should
be made to employ their superfluous
power in impregnating the earth with
carbonic acid and other gases, so that
vegetation might be forced forward
despite all the ordinary vicissitudes of
the weather, and corn be made to grow
at railway speed
Again, acting on the theory that no
great invention could long remain
without making it's influence felt on
war and warfare at large, crack-brain-
ed military enthusiasts came forward
with schemes for huge steam ploughs.
emitting noxious vapors, and with
scythes affixed to their wheels after
the pattern of Boadicea's chariots.
These were to take the place of cav
airy in future campaigns, where,
driven at high speed, they m ght crash
through the ranks of opposing armies,
snffocating those whom they did not
mince up.
AS time went on calmer suggestions
prevailed, the enormous Importance of
railroads for the rapid trans port of
troops became fully recognized, and
the idea of utilizing the iron roads
as a means for the establishment of
armored trains or a species of flying
martello towers, to patrol our coast
line. first made its appearance. There
have been many claimants for the hon.
or of this practical but strangely neg
lected suggestion.
Capt. Fishers armor clad train dur
ing the first stages of the campaign
against Arab Pa ha in Egypt, was the
first practical example of railways be-
ing put to such a use. This train was
constructed at Alexandria by party
OF blue jackets, spelling for the want
of aggressive occupation. 1t was COM
posed of a locomotive and a number of
trucks protected by iron rails, iron
plates and sandbags. The engine was
placed in the middle of the train while
a Nordenfeldt was placed on the first
protected truck and fourty-pounder
on the next. The latter, by means of
small crane carried with the train.
could be quickly remounted and dis
mounted, one minute sufficing from
the hating of . train to remount
and fire the gun. An empty truck or
two was run in front of the working
portion of the train, so as to minim-
ize any danger that might arise from
the explosion of any mines laid in the
permanent way by the enemy.
Unfortunately, Capt. Fisher did not
have many opportunities given him OF
proving his mettle In one slight Skin
mlsh only did it have a real chance
and then this strange assortment of
rolling stock acquitted itself right We'll
coming upon the scene at a critical
moment and creating a great effect by
It's unexpected fire. Since then. how
ever, botn France and Germany have
aWaked to the value of armored trains
as properly recognized unit of ma
tons fighting equipment. aot
Some five years ago, Capt. (now MAID
stone, IL. A, when acting as brigade
major, r. A, in the southeastern dis
trict of England, found that if ever 1t
became necessary to mobilize the First
Sussex artillery Volunteers, there would
be with the corps some 800 men to
whom, under the mobilization scheme
no special duties were allotted; and
further, that at Shoreham there was
with the corps a forty-pounder breech-
loading gun not destined to any par
t1cular embrazure or position. He then
conceived the idea of utilizing both
men and gun on an armored train
The scheme was no sooner preached
than it was well back up by private
capital and the trains construction
followed. The train consists of an ordi-
nary locomotive, truck specially con-.
Structed for the gun-that is, the gun
and its carriage are mounted upon a
turntable platform, pivoted on the CEN
ter of the truck, and revolving on a
circular racer-and two-third-clas car
riages rendered bullet-proof with iron
plating, for conveying the men, the
timber, and the projectiles. When
working the gun, the gun detachment
is protected by plating some six feet
high round three sides of the turntab BILE.
and the gun is fired through an aper-
ture.
The main problem involved was the
mastering of the recoil, so as to pre-
vent the truck capsizing bodily, when
the gun had to be fired crossWise to
the railway line, and also to prevent
the rails being torn up or damaged
by the shock of the firing. These diff
ficulties were successfully overcome by
the addition of hydraulic brake, and
by rising slides on which the gun
wheels rest, causing the gun to return
automatically to the firing position
after the exhaustion of the recoil
Again, by an ingenious arrangement
of cross girders, which can be run out
and supported on blocks, a broad base
can be obtained for the truck when
the gun is fired at right angles to the
permanent way, while, to increase that
stability, the truck can be connected
with the metals by strong clips, acting
upon the principle of the ordinary rail-
way couplings, and capable of being
screwed up to any degree of tightneSs.
During the maneuVerS of 1895 in the
southeastern military, district, the Sus-
sex armored train furnished realistic
proofs of it's capabilities. The railway
company placed at it's disposal a GER
tain stretch of line near Lydd; and,
though the engine was in the wrong
plaee-that is, in front instead of be-
hind, since the board of trade regula-
lions must be respected in mimic war;
fare, and the same do not allow trans
ports to be pushed, they must be pull
ed-the trains special duties were
clearly eXemDlified