The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1898-08-03
A NAvY'S ELECTRICITY.
THE APPARATUS USED ON A MODERN
6ATTLEsHIP VERY COMPLEX.

rcnt-The Range Finder n Novel Device.
IL is IN the electrical apparatus that
the modern battleship is especially
complex. For q vessel like the Massa-
chusetts there are three generating
units" with multipolar dynamos, each
having n capacity of 900 nmperes at
80 volts. These dynamos are run by
engines which make 400 revolutions q
minute. This electric plant is used
for the operation OF nearly 800 incan-
descent lights, four search lights, one
set of signaling apparatus, two sta
tionary and four portable ventilating
fans, four motors for the S-inch am
munition hoists, and other apparatus
peculiar to warships, such ms range
finders, engine telegrophs, telephones
and the like.
The introduction OF electricity on
warships has been n constant fight
and struggle against steam. Inch by
inch the ground has been fought over,
and inch by inch electricity has been
winning its way, end the end is not
yet.
Very few Of our warships are steered
lyn, however, has such an apparatus
aud it is said to work satisfactorily.
On most Of the large ships the guns
are fired by electricity. On nearly
all Of them an elaborate telephone
system is in place and use. Another
electrical device is what is called the
helm Indicator, which shows the navi-
gator OF the ship the exact condition
OF the helm Mt any time. One Of the
coinmonest uses of electricity on ship
board is the steering telegraph, where
by the navigator communicates with
the engine room and is enabled in re-
turn to see whether the orders he has
transmitted have be,n carried ont.
Another electrical instrument, which
~ coming into use on warships. is the
speed aud direction indicator, which
reveals to the navigator of the ship
not only the number but the direction
of the revolutions OF the shaft of each
engine.
Then there is the range finder and
the range indicator whereby, with
dials, the captain of ship can regu-
late the direction and all the details
OF firing guns in ~ part of the ship
from his station III the coming tower.
Another electrical apparatus is the
electric telescope sight. This works
in cooperation with the range indi-
Gator. IL has been found that when q
ship is rolling the man who is sight
ing the gun has to get the target, the
front sight and the rear sight into line
and that he has only about one-fifth
OF second in which to do this work.
Through the operation of this tele-
scopic sight the man who is elevatng
the gun merely watches the range in
dicator aud keeps the gun in a certain
vertical plane. The man at the tele-
scopic sight waits until the vertical
and horizontal cross-hairs rest upon
the targel as he looks through his
telescope, and the projectie goes
straight toward the mark when he
presses the button to fire n gun.
A scientific paper recently called
attention to the fact that it was i'm
possible to provide any more search
lights for our larger ships owing to
the scarcity OF the mirrors used in
them. They are of peculiar make,
and cannot be produced quickly.
This emphasizes the fact that the war;
ship of the present time is something
that cannot be put together in a
helter-skelter, lam-bang fashion, like
the war of 1862, when even battle
ship was made in something like six
months. The modern searchlight,
such as is used on the Massachusetts
or Indiana, has 100, 900 candle power,
and there is no manifestation OF cleo
tricity on a warship that so appeals to
the average man as a shaft of light
from one of these instruments in a
dark night. The average ship, also, is
full of various indicators which
are operated by electricity and
which, although apparently of trifiing
Importance, are of serious moment.
One of these is thermostat, which
is placed en- the walls OF the magazine
which automatically rings u fire alarm
in case the temperature of the maga-
zine rises To n dangerous point.
Another indicator is called the water
alarm. This tells exactly when any
compartment of the double bottom is
RoiAoA"sON AA "hy "ay, oHu hioo ga
actly where the injury is. If it is
serious injury the captain on the yes
sci again employs electricity and by
the mere pressure of button blows
that ear-spIitting instrument of .or-
ture known as the siren whistle. This
is a signal to close all water-tight
compartments throughout the ship, so
that, il possible, n tragedy NAV be
averted if the vessel is in danger of
sinking.
Another use of electricity on war
ships that invariably attracts the at
tention OF the spectator at night has
to do with the signalling apparatus.
Red and white lights are strung from
yard to the deck, and the various
combinations of lights form certain
letters, which are the means Of COM
inunication from ship to ship. The
operator Of this signalling system sits
ut little table on which are arranged