The Lamar register., 1898-05-25

pOtlS aEfAIHl aAt
the most dreaded OF all present per
fected means of subaquatie warfare.
There are two kinds of mines used
generally for this purpose. and they
are. first the observation mine. which
Is exploded by an observer when he
sees that the foes vessel is over that
threatening mass OF 500 pounds OF
gun cotton; and second, the electro
contact mine. which, containing about
seventy-fiye pounds Of the Same explo-
siye. bursts when touching the bot
tom of an enemy's craft. and. because
of actual contact needs a smaller
charge to accomplish its dread pur-
pose This eIectro-contact mine Is
really the most dangerous to cope with.
for but slight fitting causes the cleo
tric circuit 10 close and the charge
TO be fired. A sudden Jerk upon its
cable might work that havoc.
That Spain has blocked the passes
TO her Cuban and Porto Rico ports in
this manner we already know by Que
frightfui example; and the question
now is. How shall we protect our
selves from submarine attack even af-
ter the heavy guns Of her batteries are
silenced and the paths seem free for
the safe entrance OF our victorious YES
selss-
With us. the work OF laying or
planting defensive mine fields fails to
the army. and upon the navy OF a foe
Is placed the very questionable distinc-
ton of destroying them. Capt-Gen.
Blanco has planted some fatsful fields.
and upon our navy win lie the bur
den of evading the harvest by skill
full countermining.
Briefly. ..countermining'' consists In
the destruction Of an enemy's mine
field by laying across that field other
mines. which. by Intentional explosion.
destroy the mines planted by the foe.
There are several ways of accomplish
ing the same end. and It is the pur-
pose of this article to suggest one
which native skill has made thorough
ly practicable and unprccedentedly
safe.
An ordinary line of countermines
consists OF ten or a dozen 5o0-pound
mines of the observation type These
mines are fastened at intervals OF
about $50 feet apart TO a long electric
cable, and each mine has a branch
cable of perhaps fifty or sixty feet
depending. of course. upon the depth
of water in which they are to opera..s.
These mines are secured to one OF tie
heavy launches or cutters. the sinkers.
cables, and buoys being so arranged as
to drop overheard at the proper time
being lashed in place only by light
rope yarn which is intended to part
at the moment strain Is brought to
bear. The domes, I. e.. the parts con-
tanning the decorating charge, are
turned toward the stern of the boat,
where they will be least exposed to
the fire of the enemy's rapid-fre guns
the ones usually relegated to the
protection of mine fields and the ones
still likely to be available for such
defense even after the heavy guns are
silenced. There are three buoys at
taehed 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-
tion 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
tric circuit.
The cutter being ready. the steam
launch starts off with the mine boat
and the battery boat in tow. Perhaps
the enemy,s searchlights are sweeping
the mine field and the approaches to
it. and everything must be done to
keep in the .shadows, and steal as near
as possible to the goal before crowd
ing on speed Then everything de-
pends upon the celerity 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 a
pre-arranged direction. The battery
boat drops astern and anchors. while
holding its end of the cable. On steams
the cutter. A few moments later a
tug on the line from the battery oat
releases the first of the mines. and
overheard it goes. Again, and again.
and again this happens till all ten
azn~u t.aya haen drnppe1 nyor-