The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-01-10
HoRsELEss FORTS AND ARMoRED W

sebastopol. Lucknow. Paris and Rich
nond win never again Doe possible. with
the modern appliances Of steam ana
electricity?
\ MOVING FORT.
Tho motocvcle artillery wagon IS q
moving fort II is built to transport
armies wherever they want 10 80. The
forts are capable of carrying 5000 pounds
and their speed is fully five miles an
hour.
The travelling fort Is for advances into
the enemy's country. Take thal not
wholly impossible thing, war win
Spain and see how the motocycle ioil
could be used. Suppose Spanish war
shIpg effected a landing at some point
of our long coast line The first news
would reach us that the enemy had
landed and was marching 10 take
city Immediately the motorcycle forts
would be mounted upon railway trains
and the army carried as FAR as the me
Of railway was open. Ihcn the loilS
would be placed upon the ground and
loaded with men and ammunition. the
power i'm the dynamo would DE started
bv small gasoline burners. and away
the vehicles would start across country.
with every facility for routing tho ln-
Vadinr army Twenty forts each carrying
5000 pounds Of men and ammunition. could
rout an army of 10000 men
The forts would be fitted with small
cannon and with abundant holes for The
sharpshooters. They would carry dN-
Mantle shells and every small missile or
destruction.
At the front revolving turret Of Cat
ling guns would scatter small dynamite
bombs I'm all directions in case Of any
stoppage by outlying pickcts.
The speed OF the motorcycle fort can
be placed at twenty miles am hour. But
this Is too great for any but squirt.
The average speed would not be over
three miles an hour.
BEATS THE HORSE.
The motorcycle fort when fully COM
rfeted will he much less expensive than
any horse power. The cost Of operating
n motorcycle carrying 5000 pounds SIS one
tenth OF the cost Of maintaining horses
that could carry the same weight. and
I'm army use there must always be- horses
or mules TO transport the baggage. SUPP
plies. extra ammunition and for the
carrying OF the sick and wounded Spain
has railroad fort an engine httel with
guns. but this goes only on laid tracks.
The motorcycle fort is also easy 20 man.
age. IL can bc guided across smooth
fields and TO open places I'm fences. 10
Is more easily stccrcd than team Of
horses and has the advantage OF not rum
ming away.
Another ADVANTAGE OF the fort will be
that II can be used I'm winter. The idea
OF motorcycle on runners Us a contra
dictOry one. because there must BE- some
thing 20 make wheels 80 around IN order
20 carry the vehicle along. But the moto-
cycle can be mounted on runners just the
same. This Is done by placing runners
under The front wheels ana under the
fore part Of the hind wheels. I'm going
over slippery surface the speed H. much
Increased. as the runners slip rapidly
along. and the wheels on the back Keep
a constant friction eXcrtcd which pr0pels
the wagon forward This has been free
quently done with the motorcycle road wa
gon. 80 IL use with tho artillery wagon |
will be a simple thing.
The cycle fort Will be easily operated. |
There Is a lever managed by an cN- |
perienced operator. This Is in "a com |
partment I'm the middle. separated 10y |
partitions from the sharpshOotcrs and |
the gunners. In starting the fort the
eDArsias draws back the leyer. and in !