The Delta independent., 1906-06-01

pounds OF Calnite. a new explosive
whose force operated always DOWN
ward. The bomb contained also q mag
net and circuit-breaker 80 tuned a. 20
be responsive to electrical vibrations
set up in a powerful electrical tnstru-
ment on the discharging ship. by tne
use of q unique range finding apparatus
the bomb was kept In sight during i.s
whole flight. and upon reaching tne
desired point 1t was exploded by the
mere pressure of q button on the snip
lom which it had been fired. tests
.si,n this bomb had shown wonoeriul
accuracy and most deadly euects.
Another offensive device was an aerial
.lunlnator-a small, balloon-like affatr.
.aSed to float at q considerable ele-
vatlon. and carrying a powerful chem.
cal light, backed by strong refiectors-
A shoal OF these illuminators would be
sent toward the enemy's fleet. lighting
up the sea and the vessels and making
easy targets for the German guns.
Against these devices the French had
prepared an aerial bomb to discharge
heavy and deadly gas, and to sprinkle
acids or explosives upon the ships of
the enemy. They were also provided
with aluminium armor. SO thick and
tough that an ordinary projectile would
merely become imbedded therein and
held fast without being able to pass
through. Around their ships and under
exerting. by peculiar wiring. repell-
ing influence on approaching torpedoes
at n distance Of a hundred yards. In
variably turning them aside. Their
mainstay. however. was new centrifu-
gal submarine torpedo-boat. which
needed not to come to the surface. re-
maining down for days at O time. yet
observing operations on the surface.
and doing its. work with deadly accu-
racy. LeFevre could not give me the
data i1a fhfQ machine. lt0
terrible effectiveness, however. was ap-
parent the next day.
I had no apprehension whatever a. to
the stability OF L'Aimee, and We lay
down and went to sleep that night
without the least apprehension. Stanch
and true was she. even as my own sweet
betrothed. 1t was still dark. when !
was awakened with a start by the
sound of heavy detonations below uA
leaped to my feet and looked over the
side Of the car. IeFevre Joined me the
next moment
The Germans had evidently planned q
night attack by the use Of their tliumi-
nators. Below US the sea was altght
in great spots. and dimly we could
make out the vessels over which shone
the strong. blue-white lights. Far on
in the darkness We could see the occa.
sional fash OF a gun. The Germans
were sending home great shells loaded
with explosives. Their aerial bombs
French were replying. but their IRE was
more or less blind. The roar Of the
guns came UP to uf plainly. II shook
the heavens. Suddenly there was Q
flash that lit UP the whole sky. ana .
terrific explosion sounded from oeiov.
A German shell had found Its mark
One OF the French battleships had gone
to her long home.
During the rest OF the night there was
no intermission in the heavy nrtug.
Fearful explosions sounded now and
then. and we could but guess the Dc.
struction that was being wrought
had no wish to see either side win at
the expense OF the other.
At dawn We were able to note the
situation clearly. Six or eight miles
away to the northeast lay the German
feet Almost beneath us the French
were gathered in loose order. Both were
plying their great guns. On both sidee
burning ships were drifting away.
others were careening, half-nlied with
water. And now. with the coming OF
daylight. the combatants resorted TO
their deadliest appliances As we
watched one OF the French battleships
there was q dull explosion. The great
hull opened. split In twain like a cante
loupe, and went skiddering to the bot
tom. We could zee II deep In the clear
water, its hundreds Of seaman swarm
ing around like 30 many ants In
bowl.
II was remarkable to note the sub
marines moving here and there under
water. From our height We could see
clear to the bottom. and every boa,
WINS visible by q bright streak as II
swept through the water. suddenly
I-eFevre clutched my arm and pointed
"Thc CentrifuGal." he said. in whis-
In a bright whirl OF bubbles. 1t was
ma kgn1 ita vav toward the German