Evening star., 1898-06-14
PORTABLE BREASTWORkS
Machines Constructed for Use of Army in
Raiding Rifle Pits.
Woodwork Supplied by II Washing
ingtOn Firm, the Steel Shield by
New Jersey Foundry.

Two hundred portable protective shields
for use in the invading army of the United
States in Cuba for raiding rife pits have
been manufactured in this city at the wood
working mills Of Belt & Dyer, 18th and G
streets northwest, and will be shipped
probably tomorrow to Tampa, Fla, where
the headquarters of the army are now To-
Gated. The portable breas tworks," as
the affairs are dubbed by the workmen en-
gagged on them, consist of two large wood
en- wheels at either end of a wooden axle
about seven feet long. To this axle is at
tached twenty-foot ladder the ladder
being fastened about eighteen inches from
one Of it's ends. The ladder is used a
lever for the shield, which is fastened to
the short protruding end, while the longer
portion of the climbing apparatus is used
as the means of pushing the affair along.
With the steel plate in front of them,
proof against all infantry bullets, 1t is be-
lieved that small detachment of soldiers
will be enabled to take a rifle pit filed
with men. 1t is 10 avoid the raking fire
of the sharpshooters that the shield is
designed and Is to be used. Once adja-
cent to the pit or works the ladder is let
go. The shield swings down in vertical
position between the wheels and beneath
the axle, while the ladder is brought to a
perpendicular position. 1t may now be
used for scaling purposes.
To he Shipped In Sections.
All the wood work for the protectors has
been made by Belt & Dyer, but the steel
is the product of a New Jersey foundry
They will be shipped to Tampa in pieces
to be assembled either there somewhere
with the invading army on Cuban or Porto
Rcan soil. The shells are very simple
indeed and were made comparatively
rough in order that the plans may be fol-
lowed and new shields constructed by SOL
a. fh.a fol
The wooden wheels, made of seven layers
of plank are 4 feet 9 inches in diameter
the rims being six inches wide and eight
inches deep. Four boards at right angles
take the place of spokes. The wheels are
made wide and light, in order that they
may be easily pushed through the soft
earth and sand The axle is about six
inches in diameter, and is turned Of hard
weed.
Made of Oiled Wood.
The ladder levers are well-made affairs
of oiled wood, with round rungs. Pushing
from between these rungs the soldiers will
be safely protected from any infantry fire
fro IN the front, the shield at the other end
of the ladder being 5xG feet in size. The
shield is constructed of two plates of Har-
veyized steel, one-eighth of an inch in
thickness, bolted on either side of hard
wood seven-eightns of an inch in thickness.
This shield has been tested and found to be
absolutely bullet proof, although small
machine gun would doubtless play havoc
with it.
One of the steel shields has been shipSed
to Washington, and entire portable
protector, which has something the ap-
pearance. in construction, Of the battering
ram of olden days, has been set up, to be
inspected by the army authorities some
time this afternoon or tomorrow. The order
for the machines was given some ten days
ago. and they were all completed within
the specified time. The shields will be
shipped directly from the New Jersey
foundry. while the wood portion will go
through from this city.