Evening journal., 1898-08-01
USE OF SEARCHLIGHT
Valuable for Signaling as Well as
Exposing an Enemy.
A Lnrae Number of Great Lights to
lie Employed by the Govern
ment in the Principal
HnrhOrs.

The United States government has
ordered for use in its coast defenses q
large number OF the most powerful
searchlights to be built in the earliest
possible time and delivered for mount
ing in the principal harbors along the
coast. The lights are of vital impor-
tance in harhor defenses, and will be a
valuable addition to our harbor equip
ments. Already a considerable num-
Der are in operation, but not sufficient
to do the work which might be done In
this way.
Operated on a scientific system the
Importance of the light can scarcely be
overestimated. by its use the whole
area of the harDor protected by our
Notifications and by fixed or stationary
torpedoes is in the dead of the night
made as bright as day. In detecting
the approach or any movement OF an at
tacking fleet, and especially where an
attempt is made to pass a fortIiicatiQn
after partial or total destruction its
torpedoes, these are most important.
Under such circumstances the search
light would expose the enemy's ships
TO the deadly fire from the heavy ar
tillery guns Of our coast defense and
insure total destruction.
Another and most important OF the
many factors Of the senrchlight system
as adopted by the army is its adaptable.
ity for signaling from one fortiflcatlon
10 another by means of long and short
flashes, messages being sent several
miles by cipher code.
An idea of the wonderful power and
efficiency of these searchlights for sig
mailing may be had from the following:
a short time ago great searchligh'
was purchased by the government and
turned over to the army for expert
menting purposes IN coast signaling
This light was purchased from arm
in Germany, and upon its receipt It wa.
Immediately forwarded to the Sandy
Hook proving ground. where il under
went thorough test. One object wal
TO determine fAc facility with which
o message could be transmitted by long
and short flashes The light wal
mounted on tower at Sandy Hook ant
arrangements made with Mr. Dunn, O.
the weather bureau in New York, to bi
ready to receive the message a
a stated hour. Late in, the night, Al
agreed upon, one of the army officers
especially expert in signaling, mounte,
the top Of the tower. When the exac
moment arrived there were thrown
against the dark sky long and shor
flashes Of bright light from the tower q
Sandy Hook. At the same moment, Il
New York city, another man was a
the top Of one Of the high office buHd
ings steadily looking toward Sand
Hook lie .reod the meassage Alad re
| peated II by wire TO Sandy Hook wher
- was found correct. This message wa
flashed distance Of 90 miles, ani coul
| undoubtedly have been passed a muc
! greater dlstabce. With thes0 light
mounted at the fortihcations aroun
New York harbor messages could b
Immediately sent from the defense
at Sandy Hook to either Forth wads
worth or Fort Hamilton. when Oh
movements OF hostile fleet eopid b
seen and II was desired to trHusmi
instructions TO the inner defenses.
The searchlight in coast defenses in
terferes with the sight Of a man NJ tn
helm Of an approaching vessel. In ea
periments tried in France a powerfr
electric searchlight was turned upo
o moving vessel, the captain of whlc
stated that his eyes were so dazzle
by this light that II prevented him frol
properly steering his boat, which r.
suited in a collision with another
| DhilnAnlnl.in rrl...n.