The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-11-27
Wheeled Body Shield
Is Among New Con-
trivances
PROTECTS MAN
FROM BULLETS
p al rio tic Geniuses
Work Hard to Meet
Demand

Since Europe has been merged in
hostilities, scarcely month has
passed unmarked either by the de
velopment OF some new agent OF
destruction, or the introduction Of
some new medium OF defense. The
creative genius OF half the world
has been concentrated in an effort
to make war more terrible on the
one hand, and safer on the other.
And first one belligerent and then
the other has met crucial emergen.
cies by ingenious, not to say start
ling. inventions.
The apparent deadlock on the
western frontier has presented a
perplexing situation For months
the armies have fought battles more
sanguinary than Waterloo without
making progress except in terms OF
yards. Trench warfare has been re.
sponsible for this.
To make the trench less secure
for the enemy is an object which
each OF the belligerents is striving
10 accomplish A step in this direc-
ton is found in the work OF Brit
ish inventor who has developed
wheeled body shield that affords i'm
munity from rife bullets and shrap-
mel when advancing upon fortified
positions. The body OF this is con-
structed OF tempered steel plates
the front so rounded and tempered
that bullets strike the surface at ar
angle and glance on without doing
harm. The rear IL open, while the
interior is just large enough TO &C.
commodate one soldier, who rests
on his hands and knees. The device
Is propelled forward by pushing
against the ground with one foot.
II was inventive skill applied In
a different channel that made pos
sible the construction OF gigantic
steel network across the Narrows
I'm the Dardanelles 10 check the OPP
crations OF the Allies submarines
IN the Sea OF Marmora. The bar
rier extends some rs feet beneath
the water and is long enough to
block the entire channel from Cha
max Kalessi in Asia Minor to Ma.
match on the European side. II Is
composed OF number of great nets
each approximately 500 feet long.
moored end 10 end by means OF
buoys and anchors.
The net across the Narrows has
been practical means Of defense
because there is little tide in the
eastern Mediterranean 10 disturb It.
This condition is not true in the wa
ters about England. where differ
emf scheme has been used by the
| British Admiralty with remarkable
results. Here. IL is claimed. the
| submarines are caught by literally
SEEMING them. The nets used for
this are made in lengths OF about
| 10 feet. with heavy iron wire
| They are usually about q feet In
width and OF 15-foot mesh. When
in use they are stretched between
the bows OF two oil-burning destroy
ers and buoyed by means or large
blocks OF wood attached TO the
binding cables along the ton. When
an enemy submarine IL sighted. the
FAST destroyers cut ahead Of the
vessel and moore the net directly
IN the path II is pursuing
The rough condition OF the water
IN the North Sea greatly restricts
the range OF a periscope, making "
effective for distance OF only
about a mile This permits the de-
strovers 10 set the trap. after OBJ
serving the course submarine Is
taking. and escape unnoticed The
result Is that the submersible pro
ceeds. ignorant OF danger, and
drives It's nose into the netting. the
top Of which Is about eight or II
feet beneath the surface.
These illustrate few OF the nu
merous WAYS IN which the wars
emergencies are being met. Fol
every new instrument Of destruction
introduced some means is promptly
developed 60 counteract is effect OF
rullifv its efficiency. And for every
fresh obstacle encountered in The
cver-changing methods ~ war. some
scheme IS devised for surrounding
Searle Hcadee IN November
| r,.,,,.. Nrccbantce Magazine