Omaha daily bee., 1897-03-27
The FIELD OF ELECTRICITY
Bullets and Cannon Balls DETECTED by
Electric Currents.
NOVEL FEATURES OF THE DISCOVERY
In~cnndcscent Light Not Injurious ia
the Eycs-EIcctric Roads Abroad
-surfnce system of street
Car Power.

N'.i -
Some experiments recently made IN
Switzerland open up an entirely novel nelu
Of military operations, and may lead TO de-
velopments In the way OF defensive tactics
OF an utterly revolutionary character. Inc
experiments show the possibility that cleo
tricity may be utilized to defect bullets from
their intended course, thus rendering the
aim of the most expert marksman altogether
Intellectual.
The discovery OF this important power OF
electricity over a flying missile, relates the
New York Sun, was made quite by acclueht'
The committee Of the Federal Shooting as
sociation of Switzerland, while target shoot
ing at Winterthur, noticed that targets at
The left of the range received a majority OF
bullets to the left of the bulls-eye, while the
reverse was the case on the other side OIL
tbe range. Some q~uick-witted member oil
the committee suggested that this apparent
detection Of the missiles might be due 10
the electric telephone wires which CHANGED
20 be strung on each side of the range. me
matter was brought to the attention Oh INC
federal experimental committee, which, found
that all projectiles that had been detected
from their course were magnetlZed.
The theory of electrical action being thus
supported experiments were undertaken 10
nut the question to a final test. AT the
range near Thun, where no electric wires
were in the way. four experimental wires,
each eighteen millimetres in diameter, were
strung parallel to the line OF fire, ana 10
feet away from 1t. Paper screens were tnen
fixed at intervals of thirty feet along the
range. to indicate the exact course OF tne
bullets. An electric current OF S,OOO Volts
beinp sent through the wires, its influence
was Enthusiastically shown by the course or
the bullets fired from the military rines. AZ
275 wards the detection Of the bullets from
the straight course was no less than seventy
Ave feet, 1.-THE trajectory, as marked by tne
paper screens, showing a very rehaihaDie
curve toward the wires
When a trial was made with a japanese
rife, the invention of Colonel 1amagata'
which throws a very slender Duilet, the
results were even more starting; as tne
"minute bullet went straight for the wires
broke two insulators, and followed along the
course of the electric wires, finally wearing
out its energy with the friction.
CANNON BALLS AFFECTED.
The effect thus being more pronounced
with small missiles, 1t was presumed that a
cannon ball would be unaffected. But d trlal
proved this assumption a mistake, lor on d
z OOO-yard range, the wires being strung only
for n distance of 200 yards in front OF the
target. and at the same lateral distance as
before, the cannon ball was detected no less
than IA degrees. With shrapnel ian expo
slye shell filled with musket balls) the efects
were even more curious, as the pro1ectlle
carrying the fuse made of nonmagnetic metal
was completely detached, while the Douy
was attracted by the current, the puliets'
after the shell burst, showing such extra
ordinary variations that all accuracy OF nre
was totally done away with" .
The general result of the entire series OF
experiments was to show that, as might be
expected. the DETECTING power of the current
was proportionately less when large missiles
were used, and varied also with the velocity
of the missiles. The conclusion was reached
that IL would be feasible to protect an entire
section of troops from hostile rifle fire at a
distance of 800 yards by means OF an electric
current generated by a dynamo or accu1nuia,
tor at one side; and that at 800 to l,4oo
yards even artillery would be thus rendered
harmless.
It seems doubtful, however, whether such
nm application of the current as that here
suggested could ever be of Use in actual war
fare, unless under very unusual clrcum-
stances, since lines strung at one side OF n
section would be too far removed from the
bullets on the other side to sufficiently inlu-
ence their flight. What apparently might be
done. however,, would be to have the wires
strung along the earth between the opposing
forces. in order to ground the bullets. The
wires being strung near the line to be pro-
tected would affect the partially spent balls
of the enemy more than those of the pro-
tected soldiers. who could, in addition, make
allowance for the current in aiming. Should
the enemy see that their shots are talling
low, and make allowance for the DETECTION,
the current of electricity coulu, of course, be
varied or altogether shut off for the moment,
thus releasing the projectiles and allowing
them to fly harmlessly overhead, the change
in current being from time to time an
Eounced to the protected line by signals, that
their own fire might be governed accord
tpuIv Nv ranpatpd ypriatiOps Of the current
Il Is evident that the aim OF the most expert
marksmen would be made a matter OF guess
work. 1t would indeed be a strange sight,
should 1t come to pass, that an army might
stand out In an open field and be protected
from the enemy's fire by an invisible breast
work Of electromagnetic force, yet this
seems to be within the possibilities. Mark
Twain imagined his Connecticut Yankee In
liking Arthur's Court" protecting himself
from his armored foes by surrounding his
stronghold with an electric fence, but now
truth promises to outrun the fancy of the
romancer.
LIGHT AND SIGHT.
Some interesting discussion has taken
place of late, says the London Lancet, in re-
gard to the effect upon the eye of the in
candescent light. The mantle of this in
candescent system of lighting consists, as Is
now pretty generally known, of a network
OF the rare oxides CHIEFLY OF thorium with a
small proportion of cerium), which on be-
1ub ntdltu III ut uliS hailiC MUS q IN
liant white light. AS might be expected,
this light is comparatively rich in the ultra
violet or chemically active rays that are
identical with those in sunlight, and 1t has
been urged that this richness in actinic rays
may possibly be productive OF injury to the
sight. This argument appears to be based
on measurements OF wave lengths made by
means of the picturesque. The are electric
light, 1t is said, has similar effects, but OF
a more pronounced character. AS yet there
is no evidence of experience, as far as we
know-and the Welsbach light has now been
In use for several years-that the slightest
injury to the optic mechanism where the
system has been In use for domestic lighting
. has ever been produced; and unless a per-
son deliberately stared at lie naked light
for some hours every day 1t would be sur
prising to learn that real injury could be
referred TO this cause. 1t is well known
that the radiation OF light downward from
the incandescert mantle Is feeble, so that
without a reflector or some rejecting sur
face at the top OF the mantle, as In the or
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