Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1898-09-03
SUBMARINE MINES.
HOW THEY ARE CONTROLLED BY
THE USE or ELECTRICITY

Tbs Most Modern Dsyslspmsnt in tis A.
Of naval warfars-T1anisd % the Bos.
tom ~ IiaShsr.. They Anord Profession
Against the Largest Isattie.hip-.
Electricity a. a means for control
ling the engines Of war plays an i'm
portant part This y especially the
ease with submarine mines and tor
pedoes. which are kept under thorough
control and made TO act % the proper
time through the influence Of the cleo.
trlc current Submarine mines have
been extensively used In modern wan
fare. notably during the civil war In
this country and during the Franco.
Prusslan conflict. The last decade
however. has seen extensive improve.
ments In the method Of firing mines
due 10 the rapid development Of elee'
triclty
Probably the simplest form Of nina
and the one most extensively vfed I'M
III electricity came into general use
was that known az the contact mine
which consisted OF an iron case con
tanning an explosive attached TO .
cable the latter having IL lower ex.
tremlty fastened 10 an anchor Of some
sort The iron case was provided
With a number Of firing pins. any one
OF which being brought In contact
with the hull OF a ship fred a percus.
sion cap and exploded the charge. A
VIII readily be seen. these contact
mines are not In any way under con-
troll, and we're alike dangerous 10
friend and foe. With a view TO reme-
dying thls evil. what Is known as N.
eleeiro-contact mine was invented. lie
this device the firing pins on the case
containing the explosive. Instead Of
exploding percussion cap shet
brought IN contact With an object, acs
az switch by closing one opening II
an electric circuit. Another switch -
! located In this same circuit at a sta,
ton on shore. 70 that IN order 10 fire.
the nine Il Is necessary 70 close me
| land switch 40 the same time that one
Of the pins has been driven 10 by the
hull Of q vessel
Numerous electrical Inventions have
been patented from time 10 time for
controlling and firing submarine
mines one Of these inventions con.
slsii of an Ingenious arrangement foi
holding a mine down near the bed o.
a bay or other body o. water. 10 ena
be friendly vessels 70 pass over Il IN
safety The device consists In a loot
fastened TO the anchor and 10 a poin
on The cable near the mine In a hol
Low opening In this loop small
charge Of an explosive is placed. which
can BE- fred from the shore by mean
% spark from an electric battery
In Bursting. the loop IL destroyed an,
the mine Immediately rises the FOL
length OF lis cable and 20 within a few
feet Of the surface. The mine ltsel
nay then be fred from the shore II
DE ordinary manner.
In deep water. or where a stronl
current exists. recourse is had 10 wha
4 known as ground mines Thes
consists o. large charges OF gun oottoi
or other high explosives held in o.
Gear the ground by means Of mush
loom anchors. Mines Of this charae
Ter being too far below the surface 4
be fred By coming In contact with IN
bulls a vessels. arrangement has q
be made 20 ascertain exactly when
vessel ls over a mine In order 20 knov
when 20 ERE Il. This IL accomplished
by very simple method. although al
extremely ingenious one. An electrl
circuit extends from the mine 20 twl
stations on land at no great dlstanc
from one another. Al each OF thes
stations a break occurs In the electrl
circuit. aud. In order 20 explode th
mine both OF these breaks must b
closed simultaneously. A telescope /
mounted at each station on a pivot
which permits OF lis being swung In
horizontal direction. and 30 arrange
that when pointed al the mine
CLOSES the circuit at that station. Thu
all tha' Is necessary 10 do Is to kee
both telescopes pointed at an enemy
vessel As il advances. and when n
latter passes over the mine bot
svltches will be closed. the clrcuI
completed and the mine exploded.
lnnun cradle other devices hay
been brought out. in which electrlclt
Invariably plays an important part. "a
carrying "a warfare Of this naturl
VIVA, ia known as the obseryatio