The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-11-12

Utilized With Good Results I'm the
FrnncO-PruSsian War-OriRinRIly
Invented in 1877 by IA Scotchman
of Edinbursh-SOuth African
Railways Narrow Gauge.
The honor Of inVenting armored trains,
the use of which is frequently mentioned
in the war dispatches from South Africa.
belongs TO James Anderson, of Edin
burgh who in 1S47 prepared and patented
a series of plans and further submitted a
WORKING method OF his defensive rolling
stock for the inspection of some distin-
guished engineer and artillery officers.
Again, in lS49. he forwarded his PROPOSE
lions which included an estimate for lay
ing down 100 miles of single branch line
along the south coast of England, in con-
nection with the existing lines. as the
maneuvering area for his trucks, to the
Duke of Wellington and Lord Hardinge
at the Horse guards. As, however, the
aggregate cost of the special railroads and
ordnance carriages was estimated at ST.
0g0,00e the commander in chief did not
think fl expedient to offer any opinion
upon the matter says the London News.
Although IT IS impossible to obtain any
reliable details, it is certain that the
Franco-Prussian war was the first cam
paigr Witnessing the use of protected
trains and locomotives in the field of bat
tie. IN their sortles from Paris the
French troops were frequently backed up
by the fire of light field pieces carried in
this manner, and when the communities
We're holding the capital against the Yer
the railway in the direction of Chateau
Brecon, and is said to have achieved its
object in silencng the batteries which the
regular troops were endeavoring to es-
tabish in that position. 1t is this ex-
perience, perhaps, that has given rise to
the belief that the French were the origi-
nal adapters of the idea for the utilization
of permanent lines of railway for the
transport OF artillery, capable of being
brought into action upon the metals them
selves. Shortly after the war of 1870
al Englishman, Evelyn Liardet, took out
patent for an armored train, which was
nulIihed by the discovery in the patent
office Of Mr.. Anderson's prior scheme
Where The British army is concerned,
Capt Fishers armor-clad train, used dur
ing the first stages of the campaign
against Arab, was the first and so far
only active example of its type. The
train was constructed at Alexandria by
a party Of bluejackets, and was compos-
cd of locomotive and a number of trucks,
protected by iron rails, iron plates and
eandbags. The engine was placed in the
middle of the train, while a Nordenfelt
machine gun was mounted on the leading
F1
the next. The latter, by means of a small
crane carried with the train, could be
quickly mounted and dismounted. one
minute sufitcing from the hating of the
train to remount and fire the gun. The
vehicles behind the engine carried a de-
tachment of skirmishers, while It was
found eXpedient to attach one or two
empty trucks in front of the working
portion carrying the guns, so as to min
imize any danger from the explosion of
the mines laid under the permanent way
by the enemy. Unfortunately Capt Fish
er had few opportunities of bringing his
train into action, but during a smart Skin
mish on the MahmOudiyeh canal it came
steaming up from Gabarrie and by
throwing some well-directed shells into
the very center of the enemy compelled
him TO retire with considerable loss.
PROGRESS SINCE THEN
Since then, however both France and
Germany have recognized specially con-
strncted armored trains as formidable
units of fighting equipment, but neither.
apparently, have gone so far yet in their
experiments as have the First Sussex
artillery volunteers, who since 1898 have
possessed what is probably the conplet-
est thing of it's kind in the world The
train originated as follows: In the south
eastern military strict it was found that
If ever 1t became necessary to mobilize
the Sussex artillery volunteers there
would be with this corps some 800 men.
to whom, under the mobilization scheme
no special duties were allotted, and fur
Their. that there was at Shoreham a forty
FOUNDER breech-lOading gun not destined
TO any particular embraSure or position
The brigadier major, r. A, then conceiv-
&c tie happy idea of utilizing both men
and gun on an armOred train, and the
support Of some wealthy residents in the
district being obtained, the project was
worked out, and IS still being partially
maintained at their expense. For con-
strucrng the rolling stock the London,
Brighton d South Coast Railway ~compa
ny gave the use of their workshops and
materially assisted with technical adj
vice.
The truck specially constructed for the
field carriage) consists of a turnta bile
platform pfVOted on the center and re-
VolVing on a circular racer The gun
detachment is protected by a plating
some six feet high round three of the
sides, and the gun is fired through an
aperture, the recoll being checked bv a
hydraulic brake on its own carriage and
by rising sides, on which the wheels Of
the latter rest, causing the gun to return
automatically to the firing position Bv
an ingenious arrangement of cross grid
ers which can be run out and supnorted
on blocks, broad base can be Obtained
for the truck when the gun is fired At
right angles to the permanent wav. while
to increase the stability the truck can he
connected with the rails by strong screw
clips. The vehicle, however, has proved
itself sufficiently steady on the metals
without these last aids, and SO slight
is the jar to the permanent way when
the explosion takes place that stone
placed on the rail remains unnoved
The remainder of the train is made I'm
of an ordinary locomotive and two steai-
plated vans conveying a. Maxim g1in, the
men. the horses the timber and the nro-
jeetiles. During the military ,naneuvorc
carried out in the soutbeas stern military,
district The Sussex arnored train has on
several occasions played prominent mart
ard accustcd Itself. right wall. althouwa