The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-04

From he Brooklyn Eagle.
 Did ever occur to you that the largest industy of its kind in the world, and in some respects the most important also, is lofted in Brooklyn?
 PitSburg may boast of her steel plants -Esan. Germany, of her giant Krupp gun Ehctories-Liverpool, England of her shipDuilding yards-yet the policy Of eacfof these enormous industries for the mafifacture If implements and agents of Farfare is directed, in a large meas- ure by the produce of the E. W. Bliss co1panys factories in Brooklyn.
 Here, In the shops at the foot of Adams sthet, and in the big plant at the foot ofIFifty1third street, overlooking the Up- pe Bay the most potent engines for the destruction of an enemy's fleet are ill., vented, constructed and perfected. Those engines are known as the Blss-Leavitt torpedots.
 No greater proof of the fact that these submtrine projectiles are the highest type of aprnunition for naval use can be cited than the statement that the Bliss com pam ouppISS tlc Ciitii HotOCh VI toi pedes to the United States navy. Fw people have anything but vague conception of what the submarine tor peb really is. To the great majority 0 topedo Is some sort of a wonderful in- 'veition like gigantic steel cigar, filled win some high explosive, which is shot ou of long gun just below the water liIe of a warship and after a few mo- mmts strikes the hull of the enemy's ves- se explodes and sends all souls on board toa watery grave.
 \ Marvellous Ingenuity Displayed
 h a measure this is true. But it does not convey to the mind a proper under- 'staiding of the marvellous ingenuity dis plated in the manufacture of the torpedo. by which it is almost human in its self propulsion, selt-steering and perfectly au- tonhtic adjustments to fulfill every re- ouiiement demanded of it. From the in- stant the toMedo leaves the ship on it's errand of distraction to the moment 1t strikes it's target, every action of the projectie is controlled by internal mech anism whidi guides it straight and true on it's coufe. correcting every deviation caused by the elements.
 Visitorsto the Bliss factories are de- ried the trivilege of inspecting all the secret processes or manufacture of the . Bliss-LeTitt torpedo. Although the compan!a government contracts do not permit # such close-hand examination the offfials of the company extend ev- cry courtesy possible in the collection of sucl facts as are permissible for publication.
 Briely reviewing the history of the torpe6. it is interesting to note that xs fat back as 1750 there had been i>'ovane torpedoes It was not however until he close of the Civil war, In 1867 that he torpedo was started upon its preset rapid development. During the , Civil war the Confederates employed the movable or stationary torpedo in the destruction of federal war vessels.
 Several ironclads. 13 wooden ships, sevf1 transports and number of other vessels were either destroyed or dam agd by striking floating torpedoes an- chded in the channels or by torpedoes exroded from small boats alongside. Of bourse, this was extremely danger ous to the attacking forces as well, and many lives were sacrificed, as was the case in some of the attacks upon thefederal fleet off Charleston.