Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-02-19

BURNING A CITY WITH A sUNGLAss.
foreign government he would un-
doubtedly realize the folly of spending
more millions In the construction of ordi-
nary warships and cannon and would ad-
wise his government of the folly of at
tempting to fight Uncle Sam once he gets
these new ideas into shape.
Take. for instance. says the Chicago
Tribune, the suggestion of Mr.. w. y.
Herman. He Is evidently of the opinion
that the best tactics in war is to carry
destruction into the heart OF the enemy's
country. If England. for example, should
be our opponent, he would take half a
dozen men, n balloon and one of his big
sunglasses. lie would sail across the
ocean either in the air or on the water,
so up in the balloon, wait for n bright
sunshlny day and then turn his giant
sunglass on the city OF London. Instan-
taneously, as Mr.. Herman is confident,
the metropolis and it's people would begin
TO smoke. Soon they would catch fire,
and conilagration would be started
which would call the British feet back
home at the double quick. In the case
Of London, II Is admitted. the prevalence
Of fogs might make the use OF the sun
glasses somewhat visionary, but the same
objections would not apply to Paris, Ber-
lin or any other of the great world capi-
tails.
Strangely enough, the shortsighted
board OF ordnance and forti6cation could
not see Its way clear TO recommending
the adoption of this suggestion.
II. Rossi, on the other hand, Is an In
yeptor who believes In meeting the for
eign powers al their own game and beat
ing them at II. if big feet should come
over 10 lombard the eastern coast of the
United States, Mr. Rossi suggests that
number of disappearing warships" be
sent out TO give them battle. Unfortu-
nately the report of the board does not
make 1t clear Just how Mr.. Ross pro-
poses to make his vessels disappear The
only plan which appeals TO the casual
reader as feasible Is so to arrange mat
ters that tho defending fleet shall sail
quietly out and surprise the enemy. Then
Hring a terrific volume before the hated
foo shall have time to load it's guns each
Of the defending ships should dive under
meath the water, disappearing from sight
entirely. After remaining beneath tho
surface until the enemy has again been
lulled into a sense OF fancied security tho
feet might rise again and deliver another
blow. 1t is charitable to suppose that
workings of Mr.. Rossis disappearing
warship," for the only epitaph II has in
The annual report are tho two words.
"Not recommended"
No less than l3 patriotic inventors,
inxious 10 save their country from all
danger OF attack by a foreign foe. sub
mitted plays for dying machines, air.
ships, balloons and other devices from
which death and destruction could be
hurled down on an approaching enemy.
One OF the airship projectors was u wom-
an, and her plan sounded 80 feasible that
Il was referred to the chief signal officer
for further investigation. An idea much
favored by tho inventors was that OF a
device, guided from the ground, but car
rying no men, which world take up a
large number OF dynamite shells high into
the air and travel with them until direct
~ above an enemy's army or battleships.
BY an automatic device the bombs would
be then released TO wrcak havoc as they
strike the earth or water. Several sub
mitted plans for making and firing aerial
torpedoes, which should duplicate on land
the work which is done under water by
such Internal machines as that which de.
stroyed the Maine. One plan include,
the erection of a tall steel tower from til,
top Of which the enemy's position may b,
spied out, while at the same time i'm
mcnse aerial togpedoes may be discharg
I'd. Many II not most of the airship sug
gestions were referred for investigation
30 il would appear that along this lin
the ordnance board has strong hopes o
success IN The near future.
Bm if Boston and other timid localitie
are not yei satisfied they may read tn
plan of john Coehled and rest in absc
lutte security johns plan IL q simpl
one, and IL is only strange that II has nc
occurred 10 any one before. In brief, b
woula cover the ocean for several mile
ont from the port TO be defended wit
petroleum. Whcn the attacking fee