Engines Of Death

We know that the bigger the gun the less likely it is to hit the target, but, again, our data only suggests that the best possible lies in a mean - a mean that is left to the individual judgment. Already, says the Forum, the French have discarded it for a heavier weapon, and we may look to see other nations following suit. The ram, tested by results, has proved itself more likely to be fatal by accident than by design. From an absolute belief in it, opinión gradually changed till it was spoken of as an impossible weapon, and the French, previously so Rartial to enormous spurs, so far discarded their oíd ideáis as to build their battleship Brehnus without any ram at all. Yet, at the same time, the United States were busy over the Katahdin, a "ram" purs and simple, she is now in the navy. France is building ram-bowed ships once more, and the new second-class British cruiser Arragant and her sisters are short, doubled ruddered ships, specially designed for use as rams. Where, then, lies the truth about the ram? The torpedo again forms debatable land. With the torpedo vessel I shall deal further on; here we need but consider the ship's torpedo tube. The torpedo is a destructive weapon, but it can not be used at a range much exceeding a quarter of a mile. At that distance the big gun can hardly miss, and its devastation would be quite as appaling as any that the less accurate torpedo could effect. Moreover, the slow speed of a torpedo - slow in comparison with a projectile- infinitely increases the risk of damaging a friend instead of the enemy, aimed at. Also, every part of the ironclad not heavily armored being searched by quick-fire shell, the torpedoes are likely to be exploded in their tubes long ere they can be employed. So much is this reeognized that the underwater tube alone is being adopted for new designs, whila the above water tube is condemned entirely. But submerged tubes are difficult to use. In the British navy, certainly, the deflection of the torpedo caused by the ship's movement has been reduced to a very few degrees, but perfection is stilt some distance off. With other nations, the tube, being of cruder design, the deflection is so enormous that a hit at any appreeiable range must be almost a matter of pure chance.