Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1907-03-07
SEARCHL|CHT IN WAR
Battles Hereafter to Be Fought
at Night, 1t Is Predicted.
OUR ARMY TO BE UP TO DATE.
Experiment Being Made to Keep
America N Line With Foreign Ma
tions--Plant Installed at Fort Leaven-
worth Promises to Rsvoiutionizs
Army Maneuvers.

"SfAu Ouueeo w nOvotuH0utx0
Army Maneuvers.
Great battles will he fought during
the next big war at night is the pre-
diction OF men versed In military af-
fairs. and the man. the individual
:ghting machine. who has been permit
te, 10 rest at night and obtain much
needed sleep before the morrow, will
be caliei upon for duty during dark
ness as in daylight But the nights
will not be dark. They will be IL
hminesl by great shafts OF white light
crossing and recrosslng the sky, telling
the army on the offensive where that
on the defensive Is planting its artil-
lery: where the engineers are directing
the construction Of earthworks The
soldier at work digging his shallow
trench by the aid of his trowel bayonet
will be exposed to an infantry fire as
direct as though the sun were shining
upon him. In fact, there will be no
rest for the weary soldier unless tacti-
clans or commanders direct that in
such battles those men who have been
on the fighting line all day be permit
ted to retire far enough to the rear for
sleep to be beyond the rays Of i'm
mense searchlights, and that the re-
serves who have done nothing during
the day battletbe brought on the firing
line for the night battle
The United States army, not to be
behind the other powers when such a
time does come, Is now experimenting
with the searchlight. not only for target
practice Of the enlisted men at night,
but also for night signalling, taking the
place Of rockets colored lights sent up
by balloons, wigwagging with lanterns
and the like, says Ieavenworth
(Kan) dispatch to the New York Her
aid.
A searchlight was sent to the Third
battalion Of engineers, stationed at
Fort Leavenworth, during the last year
as an experiment, but it proved such
success in many ways that 1t Is now
looked upon as Indispensable to the
service. and the time Is not far distant
when one will be attached to every
brigade in the service.
The first test given the light was on
the target range, where 1t was taken
one dark night and soldiers were called
upon for target practice. At ranges
from 100 to 1000 yards excellent'scores
were made, some of the marksmen
making s'possibles," or perfect score,
by the rays. The light was tested to
ognized at a distance Of twenty Ave
miles. This latter feature will be a
great factor In military signaling In
time Of war, SO that great bodies Of
men within twenty-five miles Of each
other may send and receive orders.
tell OF attacks. flank movements and
the like in time to surprise the enemy.
Such luxury as an electrically light
ed maneuver camp was never known
until the battalion Of engineers went
to Fort Riley, Kan, last summer for
maneuvers. There the searchlight,
when not in use, was run under it's
canvas cover and the dynamo and
boiler were used for lighting the tents
of the engineers and brigade headquar-
tiers. Army officers In the field made
out their reports at night by the light
Of an incandescent lamp. thing that
had never been heard OF or dreamed OF
In the past.
The candlepower of the searchlight
Is 10000; the dynamo capacity is l1l
volts 80 amperes. The boiler has q ca
pacity Of twenty horsepower, and
at Fort Riley 100 tents had incandes
cent lamps in them. To every twenty
amperes 200 incandescent lamps may
be used.
The light WAS used at Fort Riley
from July Is to Dec. 10. 1905. in all
kinds OF weather and for all magma
BILE purposes, and during the Ave
months not cent was expended II
making repairs to it.
The outfit--boiler, dynamo and ligh
lis transported on trucks or dat cars
and drawn by sixteen mules. The en-
gineers are not at all handicapped b,
ldhluS ~ Ou THO lnutIu With tAOin
easily keeping up with marching
army. The light is manipulated by al
electric controller.
The searchlight Of the engineers a
Fort Leavenworth is at the presen
time the. only one In the army, but a.
report ON its worth to the service
has been made to the war department
it Is thought that within short time
other organizations will be equipped
with it.
Army officers say that 1t IL possible
to place the light at such an angle a
to throw its rays several miles into tn
camp OF an enemy, so that the gunner
OF the artillery could shell an opposing
force and at the same time be practi
caIly safe from danger. 1t will have I.
be moved from time to time to keel
out OF range Of the enemy's guns, Blu
It is SO powerful that Its range I
greater than many Of the heavier gun
are capable Of throwing projectiles. 1
viii be 4 most dificult matter for al
enemy to erect breastworks at night Q
to place large bodies Of men in position
for surprise at daylight In fact, tn
light bids fair to revoiutionize warfar
pf modern times.