The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-01-27
DYNAMITE IN WAR.
Cuba the First to Make Use a!
the Explosive.
Practical Demonstration of the Eli
fectiveness OF the Terrible
Weapon In Inland War

There are indications that the Cubas
war, insignificant as it Is from a milf
tary point Of view, may furnish Other
nations with the first practical evi
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 discon
cries or the adaptation Of scientific prin
ciples to military purposes. The Crf
mean war demonstrated more com
pletely than had ever been done before
the usefulness of q navy as a line OF
communication and base of operations
The Fraaco-German war introduced
balloons as means OF accommodating
and sending dispatches. Our civil wal
marked many new departures and fur
nished a great deal for other nations
to think about in the remodeling o!
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 iuustrs
tons 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 first 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 dyaa'
mite IS more easily handled and InOrs
destructive than either. It is compact
easily transported, can be placed IN.
derground with little trouble. and, by
the aid of electrical appliances, ex.
ploded at a moments notice. The ao
counts of the recent battle in Cuba, in
which tho insurgents won 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 az
open field which had been planted
with dynamite cartridges At the
proper time. VIXEN the Spaniards were
swarming over the field, Maceo's cleo
tricians exploded the cartridges, kill.
ing and wounding many and throwing
the survivors into O 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
the passes and defensive lines, it is not
unlikely they have planted a 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
4erriblo in its effect. To plant a field OF
dynamite is an easy task. All you have
to do Is to make series Of shallow gut
tiers 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,
it is not difficult to restore the surface
CT the field to its former condition.
After the wires are laid and the cart.
ridges adjusted. the electrician il
charge simply connects the other end
of the Communicating wire with a
small ten-cell battery and is ready fol-
work. From the crest of a hill OF 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
signals to his commanding
officer, who in turn signals to him. The
simply presses the button,
the dynamite buried in that distant
field does the rest"
This shows what a 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 it's effective
ness.-Indianapolis Journal.