Evening star., 1898-03-25
NEW TYPES OF WAR ENGINES
War Probability Has Bet Many Inventors
to Work.
for Defense at New
York Proceed without Attract
ing Unusual Attention.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star
NEW YORK, March 25.-The work of
putting New York in a perfect state of de-
fense goes OF methodically and without at
tracing the attention it did at the begin
ring. Our people have about settled down
to expect something and the shipment Of
guns Or ammunition does not quicken ths
public pulse by one beat. Nothing but the
report of the naval board of inq.;iry will
rouse the public from this state of highly
strained expectancy. And it Is astonishing
how we'll informed everybody seems to BE-
about the time the report should be made
public If it is pitched in wariike key there
will be no dlscordant note from the people
of this city. From the street urchin to the
gentleman who Dimes at his club there is
uHanimity of feeling and thought-peace
with honor II that Is possible; fight and
fight like blue blazes IL we must
or course the navy yard attracts the
lions snare of attention. The work being
doGe uI-ol the yacht Mayfiower and the big
cry dock No. is watched very closely. 1t
is generally conceded mat the Goelet yacht
VIII make a much better dispatch boat than
the Dolphin. 1t is also conceded that she
canIiot De rendered formidable in action.
was docked TINS week and her spsed
Hines were mucn aumireu oy naval ofhcers,
CIVILIAN visitors and yard workmen gain
cred about the dry dock
His Force at Work.
Two hundred and fifty workmen are busy
putting her upon a war footing. Construct
ed as she is for spaed it will be necessary
to take out enough weight to minimize the
aUditio4, of tne armor piale. The protective
bet OF :s-incn Steel which many believe
will reduce the boat s speed from seventeen
II, natf of fQ ct
weigh only about twenty tons. 1t mas been
decided by the board in charge of altera-
tions to place the Maytower's heaviest
Weapons, tne two o-incn rapid-fire guns,
Well forward on the port and starpoard
bows. fhc sinai. gu"s Will extend along
the sides, Win machine guns OF small
cAilDer at the sIeili. Inc Two torpedo tubes
with which size is 10 Le supplied Will pe ATT,
hear tne main gd4gWay.
.iue piepatd,..ns iul emergencies" are
bringing To lEe iiLn. ali ktnos Of peculiar
devices. The newest OF these finus lOd3-
1aent IN tie BRAIN Ci an inventor, Charles
A. kUnZei, VINO lives al tioboken, and
whose IIea puts The t1oiitnd boat to shame.
Air Ships for War.
He has just competed the working plans
of three ships, one of which he believes
peculiarly auapied to war purposes.
1T The government cannot lind use for
my inven.ion,' he saiu. II will offer my
services TO the United States in the event
oil with a foreign power and am willing
10 take charge OF any air snip or balloon
ascension the government may PLAN
MIR. hunZeiS three air snlpS are the
triple balloon pattern, the whale ship and
the bird ship. All OF them are lifted AMI
sus AIMED in the air by balloons. The two
latter derive their name from the peculiar
shape Of the balloon. 1t is the last named
Cne that Mr.. kunzel thinks would be most
Eerviceable in the event OF war. His craft
is 1J) feet lcng anu Ju Ieet in diameter.
Above it is attached horizontally an egg
Shaped balloon Of the same dimensions,
Capaoe of holding 29.,D00 cubic feet of gas.
which is manufactured from coal oil by al
apparatus in the snip. AT either side and
top of the ship are propeliers operated
by a gas engine. These are controlled by
wheel. To assist the propellers in steering.
adjustable fans are attached on each side.
Yet 10 BE Tried.
The ship is made Of aluminium, and is in
closed. MIR. kunzel says it will float in wa
ter, and wheels attached to its bottom can
be operated for travelling on land. He as
serts 1t is capable of holding five men. be-
sides an extra weight of frcm LOO to
1,SW pounds. Its entire weight Is 9,5Oo
pounds. The cost of constructing it was
10000.
Mr.. Kunzel has been experimenting with
aerial craft for more than twenty years,
part of the time in Germany. Many of his
inventions are patented, and patents are
pending on the vital parts Of the craft now
Planned. The inventor has plenty Of faith
In the utility of the work when completed
and believes firmly that his balloon and its
operations would be of material effect The
inventor is making arrangements for the
building Of the bird ship, and IL its trial
trip is successful 1t will pe offered to the
government.