Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-05-28

Mines and countermines make n new
world of warfare. No sooner did the plac-
ing of mines become a science than hursan
ingenuity evolved schemes to destroy the
destroyers. Countermining consists in
the destruction of an enemy's mine field
by laying across that field other mines.
which, by Intentional explosion, destroy
the mines planted by the foe. New and
strange boats crawl about the bottom of
the sea and ghostly battles between divers
contending over mines arc among the
probabilities of the immediate future
The Argonaut is the name of new SUBJ
marine boat intended to destroy mines.
Mr. Lake, the inventor of the unique
craft, says:
Il do not claim any of the destructive
work within the bounds of torpedo boat
in connection with the Argonaut, because
she was not built with that object in
view. The Argonaut could not discharge
u torpado, nor could she even carry one l
notice that l have been quoted as claim
ing for my invention all the merits Of the
submarine war craft that cost possibly
three times as much. Such is not the case.
l merely can show that the Argonaut is
capable of doing work entirely unique and
which is not covered by any other vessel
afloat.
Now, we will suppose that am order
ed to rid the harbor of all the mines which
may or may not be under its waters. To
begin, the boat is quietly launched and l
carry with me five men. / have an en-
gtneer and four divers. The tanks fill
and down we 60 Maintaining a speed of
about two miles an hour, the Argonaut
passes slowly into the proposed protected
region at a depth below the surface which
will prevent observation by the enemy no
matter how closely they may scrutinize the
water.
I'm the lookout house the man at the
wheel will have turned on the 1000 can
die power searchlight, which has sufficient
penetration to illuminate the water for at
least so feet ahead and under peculiar
conditions even much farther As soon
as mine is sighted we will locate its con-
Meeting wire with the land battery which
fires it. This is of course on the suppose
ton that it is not a contact mine, one to
be exploded simply by running into it, but
of the kind which destroyed the Maine
and the kind almost invariably in use for
harbor defense. 1t would not be necessary
I for diver to leave the boat to cut the
wire. We would stop the engines and bring
the Argonaut to n standstill Immediately
over the cable. Then the air pressure
would be raised to point slightly exceed
| ing that of the surrounding water
''Of course a slightly anxious moment
| invariably ensues when the bottom trap
door is opened, but there would be no
cause for alarm. The door would swing
| up, and with pair of ships made for the
purpose the fatal wire would be cut before
you could wink. Not drop of water
would enter, and the Argonaut would be
| of to look up more mines"
Many Kinds Of Mines.
| Submarine mines are of a number of
varieties but the simplest is that known
as contact mine, which explodes on i'm
pact with an object This consists of an
iron case containing the explosives and a
cable attached to an anchor, by which it
| is held in place This case has number
of projecting points, on the end of which
are firing pins. When ship hits one Of
these pins, the latter is driven in, explod-
ing percussion cap and thus bursting
the charge.
In anchoring these mines care must be
taken that they are not too near the sur
face when the tide is low An immersion
of at least ten feet is necessary TO give the
charge sufficient force to destroy a heavy
ship. As it has been shown that strong
| current reduces considerably the efficiency
of the contact mine, since it may be forced
down so far by the action as to render it
useless, some mines are placed on the bot
tom. These are called ground mines and