The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-18
TOrpedoes Sunk in the Filth of the
Channels, Ready to BE Exploded
by an Electric Spark.
TERRIBLE ENGINES OF WAR
CAPABLE OF BLOWING HOLES IN
THE GREATEST VESSELS AFLOAT.
How the Maine Might Have Been De-
strOyed-Thc Modern TOrpedO-NIOr-
no Castle and other Forts.

The sinking of the battle ship Maine in
the harbor of Havana, and the intimationS
that torpedo was the cause, have aroused
much interest in that modern 'engine Of
destruction" called the torpedo The disas-
ter has also called attention to methods
employed by Spain in defending the port
of Havana. From a number of sources the
Journal has compiled the following: Naval
authorities says the Chicago Record, draw
a very definite distinction between coast
defenses and harbor defenses. Havana is
i'm excellent condition so far as harbor de-
lenses are concerned, but in very poor con-
dition as to it's coast defenses. 1t may
be that the Maine suffered its disaster
by coming in contact with the former.
1t has been we'll understood that the
fortresses which surround the harbor of
Havana do not form the only preparation
for pc 'sible hostility that the Spanish au-
thorit.es in that city have made. Those
who have watched the course of events
there have known that within the last few
years there has been completed one of the
most perfect torpedo systems that guard
any harbor in the world Even New York
is not as well protected in this manner.
Submerged in the filth that forms the bot
tom. of the channels and the anchOrages in
Havana harbor are a succession of torpe-
does, streWn wherever it was considered
possible that q vessel might lie. They are
of the most approved modern construction,
and presumably quite safe against any
danger of accidental explosion from con-
tact, conclusion or otherwise. The work
has been done under the direction of the
most competent Spanish officers of engi-
neers. The surveys are minute, and the
maps of the bottom of the harbor on which
this work is indicated are made in great de-
tail. 1t is said that the records of this
work, the maps and the directions for con-
nection, are kept in duplicate in the Office
of the commandant of the Havana arsenal
and in the quarters of the commandment of
the Castle of La Cabana, on the other side
of the harbor, all of them, of course, in
absolute seclusion.
The story has been that the electrical con-
nections were not completed for fear of ac-
cidental explosion some time, but that the
only thing remaining to be done to complete
the system was to make some simple shore
connections, which could be done on either
side, as the submerged wires are all con-
nected in duplicate with both stations. Once
the connections were completed, the only
thing necessary to do to destroy whatever
vessel might be at anchor would be for the
operator to touch the correct button as in
dicated on his chart, with no more difficulty
than one touches the key of his typewriter.
The immediate result would be an explosion
which would make an end of any vessel so
attacked.
best harbor defense for Havana. More
than once it has been said that any hostile
vessel at anchor in the harbor when war
with Spain began would be blown to atoms
before she knew of the danger. No vessel
could run the gauntlet OF guns that look
from the ports of MORO, Puenta and Ca
bana, the three fortresses which guard the
harbor mouth, either to enter or to escape,
if there were any desire to prevent. And
once in, the condition or the hOStle VeSSel
would be intolerable.
WORK DONE AT NIGHT.
But it is the torpedo system that forms
the final protection there. 1t must be re-
membered that no American cruiser has
been in Cuban waters for some three years,
until the Maine went for her fatal friendly
visit, and the observation of laymen on the
few merchant vessels would have been no
obstacle to the completion of the torpedo
system, which has been done slowly and
with care, largely at night. Less than a
year ago, after the murder of Dr. Ruiz in
the Guanabacoa jail, and when Americans
in Havana felt the most lively sense of
their danger, looking out to sea every day
in the hope that one of the cruisers would
arrive to give them the announcement of
it's presence, it repeatedly said by the
Spanish officers in casual conversation that
if any vessel from the white squadron once
anchored in the harbor it would never
leave.
The coast defenses Of the Cuban city are
as feeble as the harbor defenses are strong.
Picturesque as MORO and its neighbors are
they have little value. as Notifications
against modern guns, and the excellent ar
tillery mounted behind these old walls
would be disabled or unprotected after a
by modern war ships. 1t was with this fact
in mind that Fighting Bob" Evans a year
ago made his famous epigram-
Let take the Indiana down there
he said land there won't be anything but
Spanish spoken in hades for six months"
All the miles of the sea front Of Havana
tected and open to the sea. The forts
would afford no protection against vessels
taking position a little to the westward and
little off shore, so that the city could be
reduced by a bombardment without danger
to the attacking fleet.
The anchorage for American vessels at
Havana is in the extreme eastern arm of
the harbor, a considerable distance from
the custom house mole and the other land
ing stages Small boats carry passengers
back and FORTH most of them q novel sort
of sailbOat that is peculiar to Havana Casa
Blanca, on the north shore of the harbor
is Il little village where are great coal
docks and where the golfers usually dis
charge their cargoes 1t is reported that
the Spanish war ship Alfonso XII was at
ol4Siol A1CetA ~dod Dldncdy ana IL may De
presumed that this station was selected for
. the purpose of coaling, her anchorage
was ON the other side of the channel. nearer
the city. 1t was this change of berth that
brought the Spanish vessel near the Amer
lean, and enabled her sailors to come
promptly to the aid of those who We're
struggling in the water Casa Blanca is
just to the right of the base of the hill on
whose summit the fortress of Cabana
stands, and the winding pathway up to the
fortress starts from that vicinity.
HAVANA'S FORTIFTCATIONS
Havana harbor, says the Chicago Times
Herald, is fortified as BELTS the eighth most
important commercial harbor of the world.
1t is true that New York only Of all Amer
lean ports commands a greater shipping.
The harbor is one naturally arranged for
defense. Natures plan was supplemented
with gateway Notifications and guns as
early as 1889. Lord Albemarle and fleet
Of 200 English vessels and 1900 men were
withstood for twenty-five days of battle in
1852, after which the Notifications of the
harbor were mined and surrender followed.
NO sooner had the Spanish acquired pos
session of the harbor again, however, than
the fortiticationS We're rebuilt, enlarged and
better equipped. Several times i'm the CEN
fury following radical changes were made
in the ornaments of these fortifications by
way of keeping up with the improved equip
ments of warfare.
Havana's defense equipments. however
were largely planned with view of re-
pelling buccaneers in The first place, and
when the walls of stone and extensive
earthWork embankmentS were built, which
constitute the main fOrtifcations of the
harbOr. there was little thought OF the pen
hfs