The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-24
II Il Said That They Were First Used In
This Country In tho Civil War.

From r,idtn's London Magazine.
As with great many other unitarian devices.
the Americans were the first to construct actual
amor plated train DURING the Civil War in
the States a mob destroyed the bridges on the
Philadelphia, Wilmington and baltimore Rail
way. and in order To- prevent recurrence 81 the
disorders and to protect the line generally the
Government hit upon the xpedient Of converting
a long, fiat baggage car into a small movable
battery, The car was built up and covered in
with thick sheet iron. IN which we're pierced a
number 81 loop holes for muskt-ty. Portfolios
We're arranged nj the centre and each nd.
and Il cannon ON travcrsing tutntahle was
mounted for duty at each or either 81 the port
what extraordinary character. beng nothing
more nor less than disks cut from boiler plates.
trains UP t" recent years, was made by tho French
during the siege uf Paris. In these trains both
,ngin,s and carriages were bulIci! proof, and
contained numh"r 81 lo"phoies Each train.
carrying four small cannon which oIuld hc readily
and cSpc,iiu"usly mnnruyred from the train.
WAS ApabIr 81 holding 800 men. CunsidrrabIr
us. was mode u these trains in bringing in pro
visions To the hclchRucrcd Frenchmrn. and they
We're TUNED 10 account by the Communists after.
ward against the Government troops until their
position was ulilankrd by heavy naval guns
In tile year 1882 an armorcd train. which was
bags Was used against the Egyptian rebels under
Ara, Pasha similar contrivancc was also
sdlsn on AZ Erb eS ns s% inS sh
during the civil War and Sandhac Protected
ur armed train, equipped with n hCil gun, was
utiZcd with advantage in the SOudan quite re-
Gently In Cuba a loCumutiyc and truck. protected
with three cighths inch boiler plates WAS sent
| in advance 10 pilot and protect from the rebels
the trains between Colon and Santa Clara
The South African armorcd trains now being
employed by the authorities consist of nothing
more nor less than ordinary cars covered over
with from half to three quarters of m inch Of
common steel. the locomotives being similarly
| protected, and n car placed IN front with n gun
in advance. These trains are Of course. II little
or no use II the line fails into the hands II tn.
cnemy--a few dynamite cartridges, OF the re
moval OF a rail or two las was painfully demon
| stratcd in the recent disaster 10 the Mafckng
train, would render them source more Of danger
| than service.
The German Emperor has an idea that war
| cars can be constructed on plan which he has
| devised, which will enable them to traverse AT will
| over battlefield or territory which does not pre-
| sent impossible geographical difficulties lie
proposes that each shall h. complete in itself
| and In size about that of u Pullman The sides
TO be constructed 10 fall Just above the level
| of the ground, in order to protect the wheels
| These plated sides will consist 81 steel of great
resisting force. and will he pierced with a reausite
| number Of port or loopholes for quick. firing and
| machine guns and ifca In order that a nos
| sible enemy may not be able 10 get on top
| Of the car. II Is 10 be made with sharp bayonet
| spikes protruding from the sides and roof The
whole idea seems very chimerical, but as tho
world.famed Krupp is responsible, We be
lcvc for much Of the design, and has now
an experimental car In progress, II would scarcely
he safe to say that there is nothing in the idea.