The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-07
82lJtoJV6JbJEbJgbJV6JE Observation-Disclosures

the value of any system Of warfare two
things are chiefly to be oonsidered-ex-
pense and efficiency. For coast defense
that weapon is best which, at a given eX-
pense, Will cover entrances to harhor over
the greatest range, and in itself eX
pose to the fire of the enemy the least risk
of material loss. AT sea that weapon IS
best which, at a given cost, will be most
effective in the destruction of other YES
sells and of coast Notifications; and you
shall judge whether there is any system
which embraces all these requisites to the
extent that does the system of throwing
aerial torpedoes shown you to-day. be-
lieVe you will agree with me that half
ton of dyna mite would be a less desirable
visitor upon the deck of a battleship or
in the water beside her, than would be
the largest of the present forms Of she'll
thrown from high power guns. 1t is only
necessary therefore to show that the re-
suits are within reach and easy of attain
ment.
THE nearest approach to the system
proposed by me for throwing high ex-
plosives that has yet been developed Is the
system of throwing them by means of
| compressed air. But the shortness of
range of pneumatic guns the difficulty and
expense of protecting them and the enor-
nous plant of engines, boilers and air COM
pressors necessary are strong objections to
their use for coast defense; while their
cumbersomeness and vulnerabtlity togeth-
er with the above objections, render their
employment on shipboard entirely out of
the question.
with the 15-inch pneumatic guns that
have been erected In the United States at
Sandy Hook and San Francisco, 800
pounds of high explosive may be thrown
distance of about one mile and a quar-
ter; 200 pounds of about 2a miles, this Is
the maximum range. Hence battleship
could lie Just beyond the range of these
guns and destroy the entire outfit without
in turn being in the least exposed to the
fire of the. pneumatic tubes. 1t is obvious,
therefore, that practical system of
throwing aerial torpedoes must have a
range substantially equal to that of high
power guns opposed to 1t, and. the quantity
of high explosive thrown must be suffi-
cient to effect upon the target greater de-
struction than can be effected by ordinary
shells thrown from heavy ordnance.
"As a weapon for the destruction Of sub
marine mines in the advance of a fleet
there are no means at the command of the
naval engineer at the present time which
can stand the least comparison with the
aerial torpedo
'In the projection of large masses Of
high explosives from guns Ii is necessary
to be absolutely certain that a prema ture
explosion shall not occur; and the nteg-
fifty of the projectile, or aerial torpedo,
must be such as to secure at against dis
ruption from the shock of the propelling
powder charge; and is is better TO select
high explosive which shall not be so sensl-
tive as to be in the least endangered by
the shock of accelera ton exerted upon it
in the gun"
At this point Mr.. Maxim proceeded to
describe the details of his system, explain
ing certain charts and diagrams with
which he Illustrated his argument.
THE modern first-class battle ship costs
about fl 200, 900 sterling" he continued. ut
carries an armament of four Pinch wire
guns, u six-inch, and is three and six
Founders and five torpedo discharges. Not
more than one-half of the guns can be
trained upon single target at one time.
Now at an equivalent expenditure, we can
construct and oppose to this 10 torpedo
cruisers, costing 100000 each. This sum
will construct a very respectable sort Of
craft. and one which will carry one a.
inch torpedo gun weighing 40 tons and two
torpedo mortars weighing 20 tons each. The
cruiser would fight head on, and the ex-
posed portion could be protected by defect
ing arnor sufficiently thick to turn aside
all shots thrown from battle ship except
those from l2-inch wire guns. The torpedo
gun would be capable of throwing half a
ton five miles. Each mortar will be capa-
bic of throwing 500 pounds four miles.
half ton about three miles and one ton
nearly two miles.
The size of the target presented by the
cruiser fighting head on would represent
an area about equal to her cross section
above that portion protected by the water
while the target presented by the battle
snip to the cruiser would be in proportion
Of trl,
by the cruiser Now, the battle ship. In or
der to do any harm whatever te the cruis-
err must, OF course, make a hlt. and to be