Rocky Ford enterprise., 1898-05-26


mobile torpedo, the passive torpedoes
4 or mines that guard the entrances to
ports against unwelcome visitors are
tho most dreaded of all present per-
eected means OF subaquatic warfare.
n There are two kinds of mines used
Sgenerally for this purpose, and they
HDre, first the observation mine, which
- exploded by an observer when he
ees that the foes vessel Is over that
threatening mass of 500 pounds OF
un cotton; and second, the electro
pntact mine. which, containing about
eventy-fve pounds of the same explo-
I've. bursts when touching the bot
bm Of an enemy's craft. and, because
actual contact, needs a smaller
barge to accomplish its dread pur-
pse. This electro-contact mine is
ally the most dangerous to cope with.
but slight fitting causes the cleo
tc circuit to close. and the charge
be fired. A sudden jerk upon its
bile might work that havoc.
That Spain has blocked the passes
her Cuban and Porto Rico ports In
Us manner we already know by one
lghtful example; and the question
bw is, "How shall we protect our
ives from submarine attack even af-
q the heavy guns OF her batteries are
lenced and the paths seem free for
he safe entrance Of our victorious ves-
/Gsls?"
" With us. the work OF laying or
planting defensive mine fields falls to
the army. and upon the navy OF a foe
b placed the very questionable distinc-
tion Of destroying them. Capt.-Gen.
Blanco has planted some fateful fields,
and upon our navy will lie the bur-
den of evading the harvest by skill
'eul countermining.
Briefly. "countermining" consists in
he destruction OF an enemy's mine
0e1d by laying across that field other
Mines, which. by Intentional explosion.
6Gnkroy the mines planted by the foe.
T1afe are several ways OF accomplish
hg the same end. and It is the pur-
pose OF this article to suggest one
which native skill has made thorough
~ practicable and unprecedentedly
An ordinary line OF countermines
ines OF the observation type. These
lines are fastened ut intervals Of
about $50 feet apart to long electric
cable, and each mine has n branch
cablo Of perhaps fifty or sixty feet
/ degrading. Of course. upon the depth
Of water In which they are to operate.
These mines are secured to one OF the
heavy launches or cutters. the sinkers.
cables, and buoys being SO arranged as
to drop overheard at the proper time
being lnshed In place only by light
rope yarn which is intended to part
ct the moment strain is brought to
bear. The domes. |. e., the parts con-
tanning the detonating charge. are
turned toward the stern of the boat,
where they will be least exposed to
the IRE of the enemy's rapid-fire guns
-<hS ones usually relegated to the
protoction of mine fields and the ones
stu lfkely to bc available for such
/. defen6s even after the heavy guns are
allenced. There are three buoys at
tAched to each line OF countermines.
one At each end and one in the middle.
each some distance from the mines,
and they are charged with phosphide
of calcium for night work. water ig-
hitting them. Their purpose is to
mark the line Of the planted mines and
the channel through which the coun-
termining boat can retreat after the
explosion. After the mines are plant
ed, they are exploded by the joint ac-
ttion Of the officer in charge Of the ca
BILE end on shipboard or on the battery
boat and the officer at the other cable
end in the tug boat towing the cutter
/, full Of mines. They complete an cleo
trio circuit
The cutter being ready. the steam
launch starts of with the mine boat
and the battery boat in tow. Perhaps
the enemy's searchlights are sweeping
the mine field and the approaches to
1t, and everything must be done to
keep in the shadows. and steal as near
a. possible to the goal before crowd
ing on speed. Then everything de-
pends upon the celebrity and GOODNESS
of the operators. In the face, perhaps,
of scattering fire and driving bullets
from the Quick-firing pieces. the steam
launch sweeps fearless forward In
pre-arranged direction. The battery
boat drops astern and anchors, while
holding It's end of the cable. On steams
the cutter. A few moments later n
tug on the line from the battery boat
releases the first Of the mines. and
, overheard It goes. Again, and again.
and again this happens till all ten
or q dozen have been dropped over
board and the three buoys blaze with
/ their torches of sputtering light and a
\ rocket from the towbont tells OF Its
readiness. Then the firing batteries
are Joined up. A second rocket. and
= the circuit is closed by the simultan-
I, eous pressing OF the keys ut both ends.
For the briefest fraction of moment
there is an expectant halt. then from
u the depths burst great masses OF lu-
i minous, laundering columns of water
with ali the frightful detonation of per-
hana fhroe tons of gun cotcn-our