The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-01-17
ARMORED RAILWAY TRAINS,
They Were First Used In This COuns
try In the Civil War.

As with great many other utilitarian
devices, the Americans were the first to
construct an actual armor plated train.
During the civil war In the states a mob
destroyed the bridges on the Philadel-
phia, Wilmington and Baltimore railway,
and in order to prevent n recurrence OF
the disorders and to protect the line gem
orally the government hit upon the ex-
pedient of converting a long, fiat bag
gage car into a small, movable battery.
The car was built up and covered In with
thick sheet iron, in which were pierced
number loopholes for musketry. P0rt.!
holes were arranged at the center and at
each end, and cannon on trayersing
turntable was mounted for duty at each
or either of the portfolios. The projectiles
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 loopholes. Each train, carry
ing four small cannon which could be
readily and expedtiously 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, and they
were turned to account by the commu-
nists afterward against the government
troops, until their position was outfank-
cd by heavy naval guns.
In the year 1882 an armored train,
which was only partially protected By
boiler plates and sand bags, was used
against the Egyptian rebels under Arab Y
Pasha. A similar contrivance was also !
employed at kassasin previous to the
British advance on Te-el-Kebir. One
operated in Chile during the civil war,
and Il sand bag protected or armed"
train. equipped with field gun, was
utilized with advantage in the Sudan
quite recently. In Cuba locomotive and
truck. protected with three-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-
tected, and car placed in front with I W
gun in advance. These trains are, Of #
course, of little or no use IL the line falls
into the hands of the enemy. A few dy-
Mantle cartridges or the removal Of rail s
or two las was painfully Demonstrated
would render them source more Of dan.
ger than service.
The German emperor has an idea that VI
"war cars" can be constructed on plan N
which he has devised which will enable
them to traverse at will over battlefield
or territory which does not present im-
possible geographical difficulties. He
proposes that each car shall be complete
in itself and in size about that of 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 ii
ed sides will consist Of steel Of great re-
sisting force and will be pierced with
requisite number of port or loop holes for
quick firing and machine guns and rifles.
In order that q possible enemy may not
be able to get on top of the car 1t is to
be made with sharp, bayonet spikes pro-
truding from the sides and roof. The
whole Idea seems very chimerical, but aS Y
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's
London Magazine.