The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-04-25
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zinS about pcrsistently. like moths
around a candle. and accepting losses
from the rapid-fire guns of the fortress
and their patrol-boats. these destroyers
may accomplish their purpose and sue
coed in putting some of the searchlights
out Of commission. Which will be a serf-
Gus matter, for they cannot be replaced.
Not only are these coast-defense search
lights very expensive Ia single one with
its operating plant costs about $1,000,
but the siXty-inch parabolic mirrors OF
silvered glass are not made in this coun-
try. and could only be imported from
France after weeks of delay. So search
light put out by a gun stays out, and II
all the searchlights Of a fortress were
put out-which Is very unlikely-the fort
ress itself would be seriously crippled
for night work.
! may mention that a plan is now I'M
der consideration in the War Depart
ment to equip our forts with disappear
ing searchlights. which. in emergencies
and in the daytime. will drop behind
protecting walls after the manner Of our
disappearing guns.
During the maneuvers at Fishers
Island in the summer Of 1918. an ingen-
ious use Of searchlights against shore
defenses was made by Admiral Badgers
feet in an effort to run by the forts at
night A distance Of four or five miles
separates the Notifications on Fishers
Island from the guns at Fort Niche,
and to run safely between these defenses
would give to a hostile fleet a command
ing position in Long Island Sound and
would leave cities like New Haven and
Bridgeport on the northern shore at the
mercy Of the enemy. Could this be done?
A Brilliant Move In the War Game.
Admiral Badger representing the en-
cmy) waited for a night when the WIND
was favorable Then. as his first move
in the game, he sent ahead group OF
destroyers, with the drafts Of their fur
naces wide open and a feed of oil fuel
so abundant that each vessel. as she
steamed along. threw forth from her
tunnels cloud of dense smoke that
drifted toward the forts on the Fishers
Island side. These several clouds from
the advancing line of destroyers blended
together and formed a continuous black
curtain half mile long. which hid the
destroyers themselves. except the first
one. and formed a barrier through which |
no searchlight could throw its beams.
The consequence was that the gum
pointers, range-fnders. course-plotters.
fire commanders. and battle commanders
on this side Of the passage were render
ed temporarily blind and powerless;
their guns were Of no avail against this
curtain.
Then, under the protection OF this
the admiral sent forward
his battleships. steaming at full speed
in line Of battle, and ordered each one
to turn all her searchlights on the guns
and fange-finding stations Of Fort
Niche. Here was the second half Of the
trick. The forts on one side Of the chan
mel we're blanketed by black smoke. and
on the other side were dazzled by the
glare Of four-score search
lights. 1t was impossible for the range
finders to sight their telescopes for the
gun pointers to aim their guns. for the
fire commanders to see anything in this
universal glare. And, before the land
forces had recovered from their demon
alization, the fleet, steaming at high
speed, had swept mockingly past. and
the thing was done. The double ruse
had succeeded. An enemy's fleet had
penetrated Long Island Sound. and now
held half dozen cities helpless before 1t.
This brilliant coup OF Admiral Bad
gers has been much discussed In army
and navy circles. and doubtless has Its
lesson and warning for the future: but
this lesson Is not as serious as would
appear. for two reasons. In the first
place. 1t is possible to protect coast de-
lenses against the daxzle Of searchlights
by the use Of ray-filters in the tele-
scopes, these filters allowing the gun
pointers and range-inders to do their
work without Inconvenience lust az n