The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-01-04
CHLoRoFoRM BATTLE SHIPS.
A Submarine That Throws Shell Filled
With Sleep-Producing Drug.

Dragging 'em to death! Sending
through the side OF a ship the shell
that is loaded with powerful
anesthetic, putting the men, who run
rendering the giant citadel the veriest
pigmy for capturei
''Bosh!" you say, as you shake with
mirth at what you REGARD as the conf
cally ridiculous.
Let US reflect. however: They
warship. Nevertheless. that tiny.
twisting-turret thing revolutionized
the mode of naval warfare. 1t was the
same with the machine gun and Hol-
lands submarine. A foreign power
had first to buy and try in order that
and finally believe in and build the
war contrivance of one of Its own
citizens. Sneering and laughter have
little to do with determining the merit
of an invention.
Carl M. Wheaton. of NewtonvilIe,
Mass, an inventor of several much
used machines has been at work nine
years in evolving a submarine that
throws a shell filled with a non-ex-
plosive, sleep-inducing drug. His
scheme has been exhaustively gone
over by some of the most important
scientific and naval men in the world
and they-indorse it! and at the mo-
ment Of writing, a foreign government
is negotiating to get control of the in
vention.
Here is what George F. F. Wilde,
rear admiral in the United States navy
says under date of June 20. 1907:
Tn convinced that this scheme is
a thoroughly practical one, though on
the surface 1t may seem chemerical,
the surface it may seem chemical.
nary run of things"
Prof. Amos Dolbear, of Tufts col
iaRa a world Rnlahrafad caia iz&
Wheaton's scheme as in accord with
correct scientific principles"
w. Starting Burgess, the yacht de-
signer and naval architect, is another
expert who pronounces the project
practicable. A former chief of the
board Of engineers, U. S. A, Is another
who supports the idea.
The famous stinkpot of the Chinese
has been obsolete for centuries. New
ertheless. that principle is a striking
feature of the Wheaton method of
warfare. The anesthetic which he uses
is, as is his model, of course, being
kept profound secret. Its smell to
the laymen, suggests liberal proper
ton of chloroform. It's action is in
slant sleep, but it is not fatal unless
the victim is deprived of air.
Wheaton proposes building subma-
rines in groups of six. each of these
vessels costing 100000. Each carries
a tank capable of standing a pressure
OF QUO POUNDS TO the square inch, fit
ted with tubes and conveniences for
rapid heating, and connected with the
puncturing tube or anesthettc shell.
This ''puncturing gum" as Wheaton
calls 1t, is of peculiar construction,
carrying a tube which has a bore of
three-quarters of an inch and an out
side diameter Of one and one-half
inches. with a larger portion to fit the
bore of the gun. The tube Is about
five feet long
The detail procedure in attacking a
ship is as follows: A bomb is carried
in the interior of the submarine and
only placed in the discharging tube at
the moment preceding it's use 1t is
forced out of the tube by piston op-
Grating from the inside, and the piston
rises to the top of the tube. where it
remains until the cap Of the tube is
returned to its place, thereby practi-
cally excluding all the water which
would otherwise enter.
The bomb Is attached to a strong, flex-
dble cord 20 or 30 feet long, coiled in para
fin on its top. the other end being attach
ed to a ring which is placed in a recess in
the muzzle of the gun through which the
pointed end of the bolt projects. This
when discharged, penetrates the outer
shell of the ship, firmly fixing it thereto
with the bomb and attaching cord trailing
astern and held firmly in contact with
the ships bosom by means of buoys on
he outside of the b0Tnh These h,10IrS re