The Raymer enterprise., 1915-02-04
G6EaT EpyIp c1NG< Nl2ezAe

nected with each other and with the shore by one
main cable 1t is only when a current OF elec.
tricity is turned on that they become dangerous.
under other circumstances they are dead" ani
harmless. But when they are alive" IL a shin
hts them, circuit Is automatically closed and the
water Is quickly strewn with her remains Var
Gus ingenious means have been devised for bring.
ing about this closing OF the circuit one OF them
being little cup partly filled with mercury
which, II tilted by shock. causes the mercury 10
reach metal bar This does the business and
bang goes the mine
II Is interesting just now to consider the fact
that the very first employment of a floating mine
was at the siege Of Antwerp by the Spaniards in
1898. The besiegers. being able to make little or
no headway In their attacks upon the stout walls
OF the city, resorted to a novel and unheard-o,
stratagem Loading ship with great quantity
of gunpowder, they set her adrift at a time when
the wind and tide would surely bring Ter IN
against the sea wall; and when she was tolerabIy
close, two men on board of her ignited pre
viously arranged fuse
The idea worked out, however In wav M,
at all in accordance with the plan contemplated
for the sturdy burghers OF Antwerp repaired the
damage done to the wall by the explosion before
the besegers could take advantage of IL and
adopting the suggestion offered them by the en-
emy sent out similar eunpowder boat under full
sail against the Spanish feet and blew IN one oi
their biggest ships
In recent news dispatches good deal has been
said about the use of mines on land for the oppor
tune blowing up of bridges or approaches to forti.
hcatiohs While the enemy was passing over them
BY such means whole regiments are said to have
been annhiated. The expedient is by no means
new but the methods adopted are of uptodate
and superior ingenuity
Suppose, for example, that piece of road is 10
be mined. The Internal machine is concealed from
view by spreading over II few inches Of earth
In consists In part OF a small electric battery
provided with two wires. one of which communi.
Gates with receptacle containing a large quantity
OF nigh explosive, while the other runs to an ar.
rangement called "springboard When A man
or horse steps on the sprngboard a piece of metal
beneath the latter is brought into contact with
projecting pin, thereby completing circuit which
ignites fuse
The same idea is easily applied to a bridge
In the case OF fort, system OF more scientific
ally constructed mines may render every approach
a waiting volcano switchboard inside the de:
lenses enabling the besieged TO explode them at
the moment when they are likely to kill the great.
est number of men.
In modern warfare wholesale killing takes the
place of the old-fashioned military murder by re.
tail Doubtless, as time goes on, Improvements"
In this direction will steadily progress The Brit.
ish and Germans have both been experimenting
with means whereby 0t is hoped) submarine
mines may be set of by wireless apparatus. They
are also trying to eontrive a submarine fish tor.
pedo' resembling the Whltehead) which can be
steered from shore to attack a hostile ship per.
haps miles from land
The Whitehead is an Englishman's invention,
and Is the only kind Of fish torpedo used in the
British navy. Oddly enough. the similar devils