Milford chronicle., 1907-04-12
sEARcHLIeHT sENTINELS.
important Fighting Aids = Shining
Marks Not Often Hit.

Little has been written Oh "Hat ="
perhaps one of the greatest fighting
units in modern warfare, the search
light
Hereafter every great power VIII not
only have its fighting ships well pro-
tected with the searchlight, but each
army corps will have its own detach-
ment and apparatus for this very nee
essary auxiliary.
For it has come to be one OF the
most important uses Of electricity, en-
abling artillerymen to remove many OF
the uncertainties from the much dread
ed night attack.
Shallow waters that are suspected TO
have been planted with submarine
mines are always subject to such at
tack by the enemy In small boats.
Volunteer landing crews are often sent
with orders to destroy all electrical
shore connections and thus render the
mines useless.
Foggy weather is the most favorable
time for this work. The boats are usu-
ally masked in gunny sacks to avoid
all noise.
In normal weather scouting Of this
character is by the use of the light
sure to be detected Then woe unto
the small boat crews, for the great
white beam gives only a few seconds
of silent grace in which to raise the
flag of surrender, then glares on the
hr- 4bo ranfn fTpC
Important channels or such passage
ways Of water as are too deep to be
successfully mined usually rely for
their protection on several Of the
lights. AS discovered vessels form a
very good target, the gunners in the
forts gleefully lick their chops, while
the enemy, owing to the disappearing
gun carriage now used, has practically
nothing on which to concentrate his
fire.
The operator does not stand near the
light, but takes up his position in the
fire commanders station, an elevated
tower at some distance from it. 1t is
above sea level and commands the
harbor.
Here is located the controller, which
by reason of its electrical connection
with the two motors in the base gives
full control of the light. By merely
shifting the handle the flashing beam
travels at will.
A dense fog, however, is absolutely
and smoke or slight mist
causes the beam to be followed with
difficulty. Then sometimes distinct
images are shown which are caused
by impurities, such as dust in the air
and which to the novice would appear
as dark objects on water.
However, when weather conditions
ire unfavorable the enemy is not apt
% move about much. Cloudy weather
md rain are rather beneficial than 9th
.rwise, as dust and smoke, which act
Is a screen to the light, are washed
,ut of the air.
But the very natural question is,
Why doesn't the enemy throw a few
ihells and destroy the searchlight? It's
bright enough, and one would
hink it would afford an easy mark.
1t has been found, however, after re-
,eated trials that to determine the ex-
Ict location of the lamp is almost an
Then, again, the forts
ave the advantage of a fixed gun and
comparatively large target, whereas
he ship has an unsteady gun base and |
very small target-in fact, not more
han eight feet An expert marksman,
ven at half mile distance, has hard
Y one chance out of fifty to hit the
rojector.
Every well, then; wait until day
ght and blaze away at the shelter
ouse In which the lamp is kept" is
aid.
A very good scheme, very good in
eed, only the shelter house under ac-
lal war conditions is mostly blind
nd contains nothing, for the latest
ype of searchlight is mounted on a
rotor car and, like the service ghost,
J never around in the daytime.-Arny
nd Navy Life.