Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-09-08
ARMORED TRAINS
Were First Employed During thu
American Civil War.

Chicago AS with a great
many other unitarian devices, the
Americans were the first to construct an
actual armor-plated train. During the
civil Wa in the state a mob destroyed
the bridges on the Philadelphia and Bal
timore railway, and in order to prevent D
recurrence of the disorders and to pro-
tect the line generally the government hit
upon the expedient of converting a long,
nat g car into a small movabl
battery. The car was built up and COW
cred in with sheet iron, in which were
pierced a number of loop holes for mus
kerry. Port holes were arranged at the
center and at each end, and a cannon on
a traversing turnable was mounted for
duty at each or either of the port holes.
Inc proJectlles used were for a some
what extraordinary character, being
nothing more or less h disks cut from
boiler plate.
Perhaps the most effective use of ar
mored trains, up to recent years was
made by the French during the siege Of
Paris. In these trains both engines and
carriages were bullet-prooof, and con-
tanned a number of loop holes. Each
train, carrying four small cannon which
could be readily and expeditiously man.
euvered from the train, was capa-
BILE of holding 500 men. Considerable use
was made of these trains in bringing il
pAoS " Lie frcHCmeu,
and they were turned to account by the
communists afterward against the gov
eminent troops unit. their position was
~outtlanked by heavy naval ms
In the year 1882 an armored train,
which was only partially protected by
boiler plates and sandbags, was used
against the Egyptian rebels under Arab
Pasha. A similar continuance was also
employed at Kassasin previous to the
British advance on Tel-el-Kebir. One OPP
Grated in Chilli during the Civil War;, and
a sandbag protected or armed" train,
equipped with a field gun, was utilized
with advantage in the Soudan quite re-
Gently. In Cuba a locomotive and truck,
protected with three eights-inch boiler
plates, was sent in advance to pilot and
protect from the rebels the trains be-
tween Colon n Santa Clara.
The South African armored trains
now being employed by the authorities
consist of nothing more or less h Or
binary cars covered with from half to
three quarters of an inch of common
steel, the locomotive being similarly pro-
tected, and a car placed in front with a
gun in advance. These trains are, of
course, of little or no use if the line falls
into the hands of the enemy-a few dy-
Mantle cartridges or the removal of a
rail or two Gas was painfully demonstrate
ed in the recent disaster to the Mafeking
train) would render them a source more
of danger than service.
The German Emperor has an idea that
"war cars" can be constructed on a
plan which he has devised, which will
enable them to traverse at will over a
battlefield or territory which does not
present impossible geographical Difficult
ties. He proposes that each car shall be
complete in itself and in size about that
of a Pullman. The sides are to be con-
structed to fall just above the level OF
the ground, in order to protect the WHEELS
These plated sides will consist of steel Of
great resisting force. and will be pierced
with a requisite number of port or 1oor
holes for quick-firing and machine gun!
and rifles. In order that a possible enc
my may not be able to get on top of tn.
car, it is to be made with sharp bayone
spikes p%rotruding from the sides ant
roof. The whole idea seems very chin
erical, but as the wOrld-famed Krupp is
responsible and has now al experimental
car in progress, it would scarcely be safe
to say that there is nothing in the idea.