Evening star., 1898-05-14

ally for this purpose,
and they are. first.
the observation mine. which Is exploded by
an observer when he sees that the foes
yessei Is over that TIN Ieateninss rnass of 5iC
pounds Of guncotton. and second the cleo
tro-cont@ct mine. which, containing about
% pouEds Of the same explosive, bursts
"hen touching the bottom of enemy's
craft. and. because OF actual contact, needs
a smaller charge to accomplish its dread
purpose. This slectro-contact mine is real
~ the most dangerous to cope vita. for but
slight fitting causes the electric circuit
to cicse and the charge to be fired. A sud
den Jerk upon its cable might work that
havoc
That Spain has blocked the passes to her
Cuban and Porto Eicln ports in this man.
ner we already know by one frightful ex-
ample; and the question now Is, How
snail We protect ourselves from submarine
attack even after the heavy guns of her
batteries are silenced and the paths seem
free for the safe entrance OF our victorious
yesselS?"
With US, the work of layin;, or planting
defensive mine fields falls to the army, and
upon the navy of foe is placed the very
Questionable distinction of destroying them.
Captain General BIanco has planted some
fateful fields and upon our navy will lie
the burden OF evading the harvest by skill
fu! cOuntermining.
' Briefly. -'cOunterrnining'' consists in the
destruction Of an entmy's mine field V lay
ing across that field other mines which. by
intentional explosion, i.stroy the mines
planted by the foe There a-e several ways
ol accomplishing the same end. and ii is
IT, PurPOSe Of this article to suggest one
which native skill has mada thoroughly
practicable and unprecedeHte-ily safe.
WorI. of Countermining.
An ordinary line of co1atermines con-
sists of ten OF a dozen 5co-pound mines Of
the observation type. These mines are fas-
tered at intervals OF about $50 feet apart TO
long electric cable ard each mine has
branch cable OF perhaps 30 or "a feet. de-
pending. OF course, upon the depth of wa
ter in which they are to operate. These
mines are secured TO one of the heavy
launches or cutters. the sinkers, cables and
buoys being 80 arranged to drop overheard
al the proper time. being lashed in place
only by light rope yarn which is intended
10 part the moment strain is brought to
bear The dCmes, l. e.. the parts contain
Ing the decorating charge turned to-
ward the stern Of the boat, where they will
be least exposed to the fire of the enemy's
fapd-fire guns the ones usually relegated
TO the protection of mine fields and the
ones still likely TO he available for such de-
feFlse, even after the heavy guns are 81
lenced- There are three buoys attached to
each lire OF CDIiE terrnines. one at each end
and one in tie middle. each some distance
lIrin tht mines, ana tney are Charged witn
InoSphitc IL calcium for night work, wa
ter igniting them. Their purpose is to
mark tne line Of the planted mines and the
channel through which the countermining
boat can r-trcat after the explosion.
After the mines are planted they are ex-
plCded by the joint action Of the officer
in charge Of the cable end on Shipboard
or on the battery boat and the officer at the
other catle end in the tusooat towing the
cutter fun Of mines They complete an
electric circuit. The cutter being ready
the steam launch starts of with the mine
boat and the battery boat in tow Perhaps
1.-THE eDeTny's searchlignts are sweeping the
mine field and the approaches to H. and
everything must be done to keep in the
shadows and 10 steal as near possible 10
the goal before crowdins on speed. Then
every thing depends upon the ceIerity and
coclness of the operators. In the face per-
hGps. Of scattering fire and driving bullets
frc m the quick-hr1ng pieces the steam
launch sweeps fearlessly forward in a pre-
arranged direction The battery boat drops
astern anG anchors. while holding it's end of
the cable ON steams the cutter. A few
n.Cments later, a tug on the line from the
battery boat releases the first Of the mines
and overheard il goes Again. and again
and again this happens, till all ten or a
dozen have been dropped overheard. and
the three buoys blaze with their torches of
spUtter1nS light. and "A rocket from the
toWboat tells Of its readiness. Then the fir
>ing batteries are Joined up. A second
rocket and the circuit is closed by the
ends For the briefest fraction of a mo-
ment there is an expectant halt, then from
the depths burst great masses of luminous
Numbering columns of water. with all The
frlghtful detonation of perhaps three tons
OF gun cCtton-our mines and the enerny's
as we'll II still afioat and unhahed by the
foes guns. the steam launch turns back
through the yet agitated channelway and
speeds on toward the battery boat and the
shelterng harbor of the ship beyond.
Goodness and Judgment.
No one need be in the countermining
launch, for the mines arranged TO drop
overheard automatically by the strain up
on the cable at intervals. but good cool
men must be in the battery boat and the
~steam cutter speeding On in the face of
threatening destruction. and the sinking
OF that cutter means certain failure to th,.
expedition That Moro Castle has power
ful searchligkts we already know and IL is
an easy thing to mount easily and in a
short while enough rapid-fire guns to sweep
with dangerous frequency the narrow en-
trance into Havana harbor- So counter
mining in the way described would hardly
be healthful Or successful.
The only other well-known method of
attacking an enemy's mines is by creep
Ing" and the object is to catch the electric
cables running to the miEes, and by cut
ting them. prevent the foes control of
Sahem. This is done by towing two grap-