The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-05-01
By One Of The Fort Wadsworth Balloonsts

the clearing away OF set torpedoes IN
harbors. Being thrown ahead OF a snip
they may be so timed as TO burst soon
after reaching the bottom, exploding as
10 burst soon after reaching bottom
exploding any mines that obstruct the
channel IL Is said that 100 pounds or
dynamite thus applied will destroy all
torpedoes or break the connecting wires
on which they depend for their ehicien-
cy within a radius OF 100 feet. A serious
problem that is sure 70 confront the
naval forces Of the United states early
In the coming war is the clearing out OF
the mines with which the harbor OF
Havana has been extensively soWn
within the last few days. This is likely
TO be accomplished with the guns OF the
dynamite cruiser Vesuvus. and the cost
of the business has been estimated at
10000 per mile of channel.
BY no means least interesting OF the
novel projecues for naval use rs a conf
cal shell that has a long tail with n
screw propeller on the end Of it, The
tail screws into the body Of the cOntri-
vance, and is meant 10 detach itself
after the shell is fred. When discharged.
the projectile rev0ves very rapidly and
continues to do so after falling into the
water and while it speeds on IT'S way
through the latter element. But the
propeller fans on the tail. while increas-
ing the accuracy of the projectiles
course m the air. are stopped from re-
volv.ng by the water and thus cause the
caudal appendage TO unscrew itself rapid
ly ana drop of. In doing this n COM
pletes an electric circuit and eXpodcs
the dynamite contained in the shell.
The new Halpine torpedo seems TO be
n wonder in its way. 10 is Ike n very
much elongated boat. and can not only
Doe directed from the shore az a distance
of milcs. but after delivering its deadly
missile will turn about and return TO
the operator. lf INSTRUCTED by n tOrpe-
do net 70 viii turn over on It's back and
throw IT'S proiectile upon the deck Of the
vessel attacked. There rs quite variety
OF such "dirisible torpedOes.' as they arc
called. ono of tho most notable being
attachable 10 q float miles from shore.
10 is so perfectly under control that 10
can be released from the float by an
operator ON the land and started of
from that point ON IT'S errand Of mischief.
During the last reW weeks the engineers
OF the army have planted submarine
mines in an the harbors along the Allan
tic coast. and any Spanish warship that
ventures in their neighborhOod will be
blown 90 smithereeus by the touch OF
button on shore.
A Chicago man named Baker has IN
vented a submarine electric boat. with
which the experts of the War Depart
ment have made some experiments. No
final determination respecting Il seems 20
have been reached. however Some Of
our cruisers have. electric launches.
which are run by storage batteries be-
meath the soats. John Jacob Aston owns
an electric boat forty-sx feet long, the
largest craft OF IT'S kind In the country.
f.a 60. 81 frcn
during the approaching war With all
that has been said recently about tor
pedO boats ~ IS worth mentioning that
our battleships carry on their decks
small and swift little vessels of this de-
scrlpuon. The latter In turn. have coll
lapsible boats Of canvas for emergencies
The Texas possesses two such torpedo
boats. which are adapted for acting as
scouts. and might do a lot OF damage
If an opportunity arrived.
The commander Of an American fight
ing ship I'm the coming war Will manage
his floating fortress almost wholly by
electricity. EnscOnced within the steel
walls OF the coming tower. he will direct
the steering Of his vessel by moving an
Indicator on q dial. The dial is electro
cally connected with another dial close
by the man at the helm who in this
way receives his orders. Notification
that his order has been obey is instantly
telegraphed back 10 the captain. who
meanwhile has his eye upon another dial
that shows the ship is moving On this
this dial is also an indicator. which he
sets at "half speed. back her" go
ahead or "stop her" as he wishes, thus
transmitting his commands 10 the engine
room.
The approaching conflict ON the sea
viii be- marked by a number Of tremen-
dou5 duels between ships. IN which
victory will perch on the banner OF the
cOol-headed and more Intelligent captain.
Never before i'm the history OF warfare
has so much depended upon the brains
of the commander. He is literally the
soul OF ms fighting machine-the only
cOmbatant on board who has any free
dom OF action. His officers and men
are merely parts OF the mechanism which
point and shoot every gun. The electric
range finder records in the coming tower