The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-06-26

oa,iust tho obstruction and fred.
svoerine- is n tedious operation wnicn
evidently could not be expected Whlle
"a single gun OF the enemy was IN range
and ln working order.
Countermiuing is employing obserVa-
ton mines to blow up 0tner mines Win
Tho mines used are the same pattern
and power ass ordinary observation
mines. They may be laid under quite
a. heavy fire by simple S l.oI l.S
method. The mines are welghtel ann
provided with bu0ys and an electric ca
bla The whole outfit IL then arranged
ON a small boat il such manner lhal
after the first buoy IS cut or It's weight
viii nuu overheard tho mine nearest TO
81 and this viii detach the next mine
and so on until a row of mines Is ia'u
along the channel
Tho end Of the cable IS usually held
on board the nearest ship OF the ueet
A aunboat takes the counrerminlng boat
FIN tow and steams rapidly UP the chan
mol AZ the proper point rope at
taohod 10 the first buoy IS pulled ana
the mines begin 10 fan into the water
These couutermines are usually laid
slide bv side and two sets OF six mines
each may be carried by a gooi-slzed
cogntermlnlng boat This would clear
u9regro go feet wide and more than W
ward the exploding all the mines Tut
10 blast "a way through for a fleet.
The su-ost and best way OF dealing
with mines fired from the shore IS by
~-aunline iu small boats for ale wires.
Tnc wires are caught and brought 10
the surface and either cut, which tend-
ers the mine useless " IL thTe ls ilnle
the wire Is connected with Il battery
and the mine exploded
81 rIarsf.I a n ~ 4
To undertake 10 grapple for wires IN
tho daytime. while exposed 70 sharp
fire. IS work that no life insurance com
many would cOuuteuance. Though TINS
NAV be done BY brave men 7s was
shown by our sailors. who did practi-
cnlly the same thing when they Crap
pIed for cables off Cienfuegos
For graphing under fire a steam iauncn
should Doe usou rather than gig, ana
tho explosive grapnel used. the ordi-
nary erapnel. n 3-pronged graphing hook
ON the end Of rome. merely catches the
cable. which must be lifted 10 me sur
face before it can he destroyed. Inc
/ explosive grapnel contains ;harge OF
{ runcotton lashed within the hooks ana
connected 20 a battery in the boat by an
I insulated wire running along the gran
mel rome. II is dragged along the bot
tom. usually iu the shallow waters near
| the shore. and when there is a "bite.
| that is a tug indicating that somethine
J i- hooked. The boat back OH 70 q safe
| distance and the charge IS lred. II a
cable ls caught the explosion VIII pro-
! badly sever r.
! Grapnels are the surest and most high
/ ~ recommended means 81 destroying the
| usefulness of mines. But they are use
/ less on n rock bottom. The Cuban har
bors and the harnor Of san Juan are
j lined with mud.
Of course the only truly effective onc
! cocksure way OF destroying submarine
| explosives As 90 capture the SeyoOdrd'
an shove. This is the first move ma
| an admiral about 90 attack a port woulS
consider. for AN methods Of mine de
| stroving by water are very uncertain
as well as probably the most dangerou
enterprises OF war. n an attack mus
be made ard IL is decided 20 take des
perate risks and advance over MN
fields before the shore batteries are ST
! fenced. n fleet advances as Dewey's ship,
aid at Manila IN single file.
IL Is better that the lighter draft ship
20 IN first az they may avoid contac
mines. The water OF the channel 4
swept by a fire Of small guns for tn
purpose OF exploding mines that may b
aoating on the surface, and every shil
uses rs anchor chains as a drag. an,
I NNis OUT tAIlhHlNf eTAlitNlN III NAA' Fh'
lection OF the vessels behind Other
wise. IL Is matter OF trusting 10 lucl
that the small vessels ahead will bea
the brunt OF the mine explosives an'
the large ships get through safely.
Perhaps the difficulties Of destroyinl
mines under fire may be overcome bl
the dynamite cruiser. Many Of our Off
GERS believe that the Nesuvius can de
stroy all the mines In Havana harbor
She can lie out Of range OF the guns o
the forts and drop dynamite into tn
bay with sufficient accuracy TO explod
all the mines IN the channel; or, sh
could 90 past Morro Castle under IN
protection OF the other ships and clea
: a way for them.
The Vesuvius is in no condition I
use In an open sea fight. for her gun
display an inaccuracy that Is quit
Spanish. but she will do her duty b
her country II she solves the questio
OF countermlning. and II she does nc
Il will probably remain unsolved durtn
this war -Phlladelphia Press.