Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-01-25
ARMORED RAILWAY TRAINS.
They Were First Used In This Conn
try In the civil Wnr.

AS with great many other unitarian
devices, the Americans were the first To
construct an actual armor plated train.
During the civil war in the states mob
destroyed tho bridges on the Phiadel-
phia, Wilmington and Baltimore railway,
and in order to prevent n recurrence OF
the disorders and to protect the line gen
orally the government hit upon the ex-
pedicnt Of converting n long. fat bag
gage car into a small, movable battery.
The car was built up and covered in with
thick sheet iron, in which were pierced
n number loopholes for musketry. Port
holes were arranged at the center and at
each end, and a cannon on traycrsing
turntable was mounted for duty at each
or either of the portfolios. The projectilcs
used were OF a somewhat extraordinary
character being nothing more nor less
than disks cut from boiler plates
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 car
riages were bullet proof and contained
number Of loophoes. Each train, carry
ing four small cannon which could be
readily and expeditiously Unanswered
from the train, was capable of holding
500 men. Considerable use was made
of these trains in bringing in provisions
to the beleaguered Frenchmen, aud they
were turned to account by the commu-
nists afterwnrd against the government
troops, until their position was outfank-
ed by heavy naval guns.
In the year 1882 an armored train,
which was only partially protected by
boiler plates and sand bags, was used
inc L.. Ill. A l..
Pasha. A similar contrvance was also
employed at Kassasin previous to the
British advance on Tcl-el X ebir One
operated in Chile during the civil war,
and a sand bag protected or armed"
train, equipped with a field gun, was
utilized with advantage in the Sudan
quite recently. In Cuba n locomotive and
truck. protected with thrcc-eighths inch
boiler plates, was sent in advance to pilot
and protect from the rebels the trains
between Colon and Santa Clara.
The South African armored trains
now being employed by the authorities
consist of nothing more nor less than ordi-
nary cars covered over with from half to
three-quarters of an inch of common
steel. the locomotives being similarly pro
tectcd, and car placed in front with Il
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 tas was painfully demonstrated)
would render them a source more Of dan
ger 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 I'M
possible geogra phical difficulties. He
proposes that each car shall be complete
in itself and in size about that of a Pull
man. The sides are to be constructed to
fall just above the level of the ground, in
order to protect the wheels. These plat
ed sides will consist OF steel of great re-
sisting force and will be pierced with a
requisite number of port or loop holes for
quick firing and machine guns and rifles.
In order that n possible enemy may not
be able to get on top of the car it is to
be made with sharp, bayonet spikes pro-
truding from the sides and roof. The
whole idea seems very chmerical, but AS
the world famed Krupp is responsible, we
believe. for much of the design and
has now an experimental car in progress
it would scarcely be safe to say that
there is nothing in the idea.-Fielden' 5
London Magazine.
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