The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-08-27
A NAVY'S ELECTRICITY,
THE APPARATUS USED ON A MODERN
BATTLESHIP VERY COMPLEX.


1t is in the electrical apparatus that
the modern battleship is especially
complex. For a vessel like the Massa-
chusetts there are three generating
units" with multipolar dynamos, each
having capacity CT 800 amperes at
80 volts. These dynamos are run by
engines which make 400 revolutions
minute. This electric plant is used
for the operation of nearly 500 mean
descent lights, four search lights, one
set of signaling apparatus, two sta
tionary and four portable ventilating
fans, four motors for the S-inch am
munition hoists, and other apparatus
peculiar to warships, such as range
finders, engine telegraphs, telephones
and the like.
The introduction of electricity on
warships has been q constant fight
and struggle against steam. Inch by
inch the ground has been fought over,
and inch by inch electricity has been
winning its way, and the end is not
yet.
Very few of our warships are steered
by electricity. The cruiser Brook
Ign, however, has such an apparatus
and it is said to work satisfactorily.
On most of the large ships the guns
are fired by electricity. On nearly
all OF them an elaborate telephone
system is in place and use. Another
electrical device is what is called the
helm indicator, which shows the navi-.
gator of the ship the exact condition
of the helm at any time. One of the
commonest uses of electricity on ship
board is the steering telegraph, where
by the navigator communicates with
the engine room and is enabled in re-
turn to see whether the orders he has
transmitted have bean carried out.
Another electrical instrument, which
is coming into use on warships, is the
speed and direction indicator, which
reveals to the navigator of the ship
not only the number but the direction
of the revolutions OF the shaft of each
engine.
Then there is the range finder and
the range indicator whereby, with
dials, the captain of a ship can regu-
late the direction and all the details
Of firing guns in any part of the ship
from his station in the coming tower.
Another electrical apparatus is the
electric telescope sight. This works
in cooperation with the range indi-
Gator. It has been found that when q
ship is rolling the man who is sight
ing the gun has to get the target, the
front sight and the rear sight into line
and that he has only about one-tifth
of a second in which to do this work.
Through the operation of this tele-
scopic sight the man who is elevating
the gun merely watches the range in
dicator and keeps the gun in a certain
vertical plane. The man at the tele-
scopic sight waits until the vertical
and horizontal cross-hairs rest upon
the target as he looks through his
telescope, and the proiectile goes
straight toward the mark when he
presses the button to fire gun.
A scientific paper recently called
attention to the fact that it was i'm
possible to provide any more search,
lights for our larger ships owing tc
the scarcity of the mirrors used in
them. They are of peculiar make,
and cannot be produced quickly.
This emphasizes the fact that the war
ship of the present time IS something
that cannot be put together in o
helter-skelter, slam-bang fashion, like
the war of 1862, when even battle
ship was made in something like sil
months. "The modern searchlight
such as is used on the Massachusetts
or Indiana, has 100, 600 candle power
and there is no manifestation Of cleo
tricity on a warship that so appeals tt
the average man as shaft of ligh
from one of these instruments in {
dark night. Theaverago ship, also, is
full of various indicators which
are operated by electricity an(
which, although apparently Of triAine
Importance, are of serious moment
One of these is thermostat, which
is placed on the walls of the magazine
which automatically rings fire alarm
in case the temperature of the maya
zine rises to a dangerous point
Another indicator is called the waite
alarm. This tells exactly when an.
compartment Of the double bottom il
perforated in any way, and also ex
actly where the injury is. If it is
serious injury the captain on the yes
sci again employs electricity and b,
the mere pressure of button blow
that ear-spitting instrument of tor
ture known as the siren whistle. Thi
is a signal to close all water-tigh
compartments throughout the ship, s
that, if possible, tragedy may b
averted if the vessel is in danger o
sinking.
| A,otL az ,,oo 90 olootricitv on war