The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-07
USE OF ELECTRICITY IN WAR.
How 1t May BE Utilized in Coast and
HarbOr Defenses.

USE OF ELECTRICITY IN WAR.
How 1t May BE Utilized in Coast and
HarbOr Defenses.
Elisha. p. Gray, in Chicago Times-Herald.
Some years ago had a conversation with
an army officer who was formerly stationed
at Fort Hamilton, on New York harbor, in
regard to the adaptation of the telauto-
graph as position finder to locate the
exact position of a vessel at any moment
as 1t sailed through a harbor or along
coast. At that time the only arrangement
in use required a mathematical calculation
before the exact location could be deter
mined The plan then suggested by the
writer contemplated an apparatus that
would trace line on map Of the harbor,
or a section of the coast that had been
carefully surveyed and laid out into squares
of convenient size If such an apparatus
has been perfected and put into use since
that time the writer does not know of it,
and if it has not this article may help some
one who is familiar with the details and re-
quirements of harbor defanses to adapt
such an apparatus to practical work. The
value of such system consists of being
able at a glance to determine the exact
position OF a vessel at any moment-Wlth-
out calculation-by direct reading
Each gun commanding harbor should
have its own outfit, consisting, first of
map of the harbor, or that section of it
that is covered by that particular gun. This
map should be an exact facsimile of the
harbor, both as to shape and the points
OF the compass, and reduced to the most
convenient size. The harbor should be ac-
curately surveyed and laid out into conven-
lent SquareSS, and IN each square may be
marked the distance it is from the gun, as
well as the direction and angle of depreS-
sion. The location of the gun may also be
given on the map. The map should be
placed in a permanent position and related
to the points of the compass exactly as the
harbor is itself II will be observed that
the distances and other readings on the
map will have to be different for each gun
or station, but the map and the squares
will be the same for all positions or loca-
tons
Having now completed a map and placed
1t ~ a safe place behind the fertilization
and conveniently located in reference to the
gum we will proceed to construct the APP
paratus and place it into proper position
Two, points Of observation are established
on the shore Of the harbOr, SO related to
each other that the lines Of observation will
always cross each other at some angle
when the observation glasses are both di-
fected to any single point on the surface
Of the harbOr, or that section of the harbor
mat this particular station has charge Of
These glasses are attached to a perpendicu-
lar standard or shaft that rotates in bear
lngs, and means are provided for elevating
or depressing the observation glasses, as
occasion requires. On the rotating stand
ard is fixed a device for transmitting cleo
trical impulses, and a certain number of
impulses will always be transmitted for a
given amount of rotation of the standard.
These impulses represent equal steps, which
may be as short as is desired. The equip
ments at each point of observation are ex-
acIly alike in construction, and in electrical
attachments. These two points of obserVa-
ton are the transmitting stations, and from
each an electric wire is run to the map
where the gun is located. At two points
on the shore of the map that comedies eX-
actly with the two transmitting stations
on the shore of the harbor are mounted
rotating standards, each of which carries
an arm long enough to cover that section
of the harbor map that it is designed to
stand guard over. These arms should be
light and no longer than is necessary to DO
the work. A ratchet Leel that is cleo
trically controlled, having fine teeth, is car
ried by each standard, carrying the arms.
These wheels are moved step by step the
same as in the telautograph, by the electric
impulses that come from the transmitters
or the observing stations. There must be
means of unifying the transmitters with
the receivers, the same as in the telauto-
graph. and also a reversing mechanism.
These devices are all worked out in the
telautograph, so that they will only need
to be adapted to this particular use. Now,
If the two sets of apparatus are put in
unison-which can be done in a second or
tWo-and the two observers train their
glasses upon some object located in the
harbor, which we will say is in square 100,
as marked on the map, it will be found that
ceiver cross each other over the map will
be in square 100, and in the exact part of
the square that the objects is in one the
harbor. In fact, it is only a question OF
accurate survey and accurate construction
of apparatus to locate an object to the frac-
ton of yard. From the standpoint of the
writer, not being a surveyor, the surveying
would be a much more difficult feat than
the construction and operation of the APP
/ viii guarantee the rest.
Suppose ship enters the harbor; the two
observers train their glasses on it and move
the glasses as the ship moves. The move
nent of the observation glasses transmits
electrical impulses to the corresponding
arms over the map, causing them to move
in the same manner, relatively. At the point
where the two arms cross a tracer is carried
that may or may not trace line the
map whichever is desired. The two observ-
ers should be in telephone connection and
both with the receiving station, and in or
der to be able to converse freely and at the
same time have their hands free to move
ceiverS fastened to the head, as they do in
central telephone stations. The tracer will
rest on the map in the same position that
the ship occupies on the water, and will
move as it moves. A station on a harbor
fitted out with this apparatus and disap-
pearing gun could load and take aim behind
the works and then elevate the gun and fire
If q harbor were filled with torpedoes or
mines, and they were accurately located on
the map any one could watch the Indicator
as it followed the movement of vessel, and
when it was over a torpedo it could be in
stantly exploded by touching a button.
harbor could be so fitted up that it would be
sure destruction to any vessel of an enemy
that attempted to enter it, and the whole
operation could be carried on under cover
practically The receiving station would be
under cover if the fort and the observing
station could be so masked as not to be no.
ticed from a ship.
This same system could be applied to the
coast outside the harbor within the limits
of observation and survey. Harbors and
coasts could be brilliantly lighted all over
the surface at night by means of electric
lights fixed on buoys and connected with the
shore by submarine cables. These lights
could be so grouped as to light only the mid
die of the harbor, or the shore, or both at
will If ever q war occurs electricity will be-
come much more of factor than it ever has
been, and in ways that do not dream of
now. There is an old adase which reads, 'In
time of peace prepare for war" As a mat
ter of fact most of the great improvements
in warfare are made after war begins 1t
required the greatest war of modern times
to bring out the monitor, or, as it was called
box" Forts or earthworks could be so fit
ted up with electrical devices surrounding
them, which could be so hidden that no one
could tell where to look for them, that would
effectually prevent a storming party from
ever entering the works. A regiment could
be annihilated in the twinkling of an eye,
and without firing a gun or exploding a
mine or torpedo.