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The Fortress Of The Future

The Fortress Of The Future image
Parent Issue
Day
26
Month
July
Year
1888
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

The plan of fortresses at present adopted- unknowD to the public, but the divulging of which can do no harm, as it cannot remain secret- is very peculiar and quite opposed to any cesthetic or artistic conception. A fortress is henceforth composed of an immense block of concrete of incredible thickness. It will offer to the eye only a square, oval or lozenge shape, the outside being a mere block without projections or access. It is not yet settled whetherthis block shall be surrounded by a trench, but all competent authorities in Europe seem to hold that one or several sheeted cannon shall move round the block, and as povvder will in future be smokeless, this cannon, always in motion and escaping the enemy's aim, will fire on a fixed point. This movable sheeting will make up for the absence of trenehes. At the angles of the block. moreover, if square, or elsewhere it js round or oval, there will b sheeted reducts, which will cover the base cf the block and makf assault impossible. Of course the interior of the block will contain the equipments oL a fortress. The entrance is underground, on the side opposite that where the enemy oan appear. There will be air opeuings in the interior, whieh is lit up by electricity produced on the spot or at a distance. The magazine of proyectiles is in a spot inaccessible to the explosions caused by shells coming without. The stores of other ammunition and of victualsare similarly protected. The hiding places for the men, and. in short, everything that has to be under shelter, are under grouud, and so placed as to be quite protected from the besiegers. Electric wires, both for messagesand licht, as also telephones, bevond reach of the beslegers, protect the fort against isolation- that is to say, against abandonment and diseouragement. The underground existence of the garrison may not be very lively, and it will be well to accustom as many men as possibleto it; but that garrison will not exceed thirty or forty men per fortress.- London Times.

Article

Subjects
Old News
Ann Arbor Register