THE SUNDAY OREGONIAX, PORTLAND, MARCH 8, 1903.
THB Navy Department does not in
tend to let gome of our older but
fairly itpeedy cruiser be placed
upon the shelf, so to speak, but la
earnestly Intent uport making- them
up-to-date craft In other directions.
The IT. S. B. Baltimore and the U. S. B.
Ban Francisco are to be converted into
mine-laylnfc vessels, and In this con
version they will bear all the hall
marks of one of the most striking lea
sons taught by the Russo-Japanese war.
Japan cannot claim precedence In
this direction; neither can Russia, be
cause Germany set the pace ( some
yearn afro. It required, however, the
operations of actual warfare to prove
how anticipatory the Germans were In
their work in the field of submarine
mining.
The purpose of the mine-laying-ship
is that of sowing speedily a field or
line of offensive mines known in
naval parlance as blockading mines
or naval defense mines. These mines
rarry from 75 to 100 pounds of gun
cotton, which i sufficient to destroy
the under-water bodies of the heaviest
battleships when exploded in actual
contact with those vessels. When
once planted, these mines are a men
ace alike to friend and to foe, as they
amply proved during the war between
Russia and Japan.
Purpose Is Two Fold.
The layman may reasonably, ask:
Why are such dangerous Instruments
of destruction used if they are a peril
to any vessel after once being plant
ed? The answer to this Is, that un
less they break away from their
moorings, their location Is known to
the ship or force sowing them, while
their presence can only be suspected,
but not known by the foe. Their pur
pose Is twofold: To form a defense
to the approach of a position tempo
rarily taken by a mobile force such,
for instance, as a halting place in one
if our northern harbors that an en
emy might take as a temporary base,
and, again, the momentary retreat to
such a place on the part of- one of our
own squadrons w,hen menaced by a
superior naval force. The defense
mine In the latter case take the part
that would otherwise be assumed by
the sea coast batteries, if any were
theie.
What the Russians Did.
The Russians used mines of this sort
to supplement their military defenses
In & vain endeavor to huld the Japan
ese either at arm' length or to force
them to take position in attacking
which would enable the Russian gun
ners ashore and afloat to bring their
ueppons to bpar with heaviest effect
upon the assailing Japanese. The Jap
aiienr, on the other hand, used their
min os rot for defense, but for pur
poses of offense. They did this by
enticing the Russians out of harbor
over mine fields just laid and by
swinging tn behind the Russians and
planting lines of these mines between
their foe and the approaches of the
harbors to which their enemies must
subsequently repair. In this work the
Japanese showed a keen strategic
sense, and their work was a practical
application of certain peace-time ex
periments conducted by the Italians In
the course of some of their naval ma
neuvers a year or two before.
The Russians started out In that war
with a vessel especially built and equipped
for mine-laying work. That ship was the
Yenisei, a crafty of 2j00 tons, which was
capable of - planting about 600 mines in
fairly rapid succession. The Yenisei car
ried an armament of powerful rapid-lire
guns with which to resist torpedoboat at
tack while engaged In her work. Com
mander Sueter. of the Rritish navy, has
this to say of that vessel:
"After the successful attack made by
the Japanese torpedoboats on the night of
February 7- ism, the Russians realized
the tremendous blow that had been struck
at their naval supremacy in the Eat.
The authorities were thus face to face
with a very grave state of affairs, and at
once commenced to lay mines across the
entrance of Tslienwan Bay to protect
Ualny from any attack: all these belonged
to the elertro-meehanical type, and were
laid by the armed mine-layer, Yenisei.
While laying the 301st mine, one previous
ly dropped came to the surface, and In
clearing It the mine-layer fouled the last
laid with her bows: a severe explosion
occurred, and the Yenisei sank rapidly,
taking with her moat of the crew. Only
a few survivors were picked up."
Operation of Japaivcse.
The Japanese, on the other hand, re
sorting to an expedient, made use of cer
tain of their small craft to plant their of
fensive mines. This Is what Commander
Sueter tells us of that operation:
"On the night of August 12-13. 1904, the
Japanese sent a mining expedition of
destroyers, torpedoboats, plequet-boats
and mirie-layera to operate off Port Ar
thur. A pretended torpedo attack was
made to screen the mine-layers, and
during this feint mines were dropped, from
the destroyers and the mining vessels
right across the channel usually used by
the Russians.
'The next day a weak' decoy squadron
was sent by Admiral Togo to draw the
Russian fleet out of Port Arthur, the
main Japanese fleet being kept out of
sight, but in wireless telegraphy touch
with the detached ships. During the
morning the Russian squadron proceeded
out of harbor and gave chase to the
decoy squadron, which then made off. but
kept In touch by wireless with the main
squadron below the horixon. After some
time the latter appeared In sight. The
Russians were not apparently ready to
try conclusions with their enemy, and
therefore the Admiral signaled to his
net to return to Port Arthur. Suddenly
under the starboard side of the flagship
a column of water was thrown up, fol
lowed by several dull reports It is be
lieved the Japanese mines were coupled
togethei and when the bow of the Pe
tropavlovsk tll.OCO tons touched the con
necting cable she carried it with her and
swung the two lines with considerable
force against her side, probably one to
port and one to starboard. The terrific
shock may also have detonated the explo
sives In one of her maxaxines, for the
ship disappeared bow first, with a heavy
list to starboard, within two minutes of
the explosions, only some 40 men out of
a crew of Too were saved.
Admiral Makaroff, the most brilliant
scientist of the Russian navy, went down
with that ship. The Pobieda was also
damaged by a mifte on the same occa
sion, but she was able to stagger into
harbor and was ultimately repaired. The
Russian latt1eship Sevastopol was twice
damaged by Jriprmfse mines, and the crul
iit tiromoboi was severely damaged by
soother Jjaes nns whan goinr south
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from Vladivostok to meet Admiral Rozh
destvensky's aquadron. On the other
hand, the Japanese lost the battleship
Hatsuse. with most of her crew, and had
the battleship Yashima so badly damaged
that she was not again able to take part
in the war. Ia addition to this the Jap
anese lost three cruisers, several gunboats
and a number of smaller cra'ft by their
fatal stumblings over Russian mines.
The Japanese offensive mine was ren
dered innocuous during a certain period
after planting half an honr by a clock
work contrivance which gradually made
one of the contacts In the explosive elec
tric circuit. All that was then necessary
was that the mine should be tilted by
a passing body, mhen a pendulum made
the second contact and thus completed
the circuit which detonated Us mass of
shimose. powder. The Russian mine was
slightly different in its safety feature, and
some of them were arranged with a solu
ble Insulator, which, melting after being
In the water a short while, set the mine
free to explode by any blow that would
tilt It over far enough to make the neces
sary contacts for that purpose.
Hacue Conference Couldn't Stop It.
It will probably.be remembered that an
effort was made during the last Hague
Conference to substantially do away with
submarine mines by reducing their field
of application to a great degree. Ger
many had too long recognized the mine
as a potent means of coast defense to
assent to such a proposition, and France
quite naturally, and for much the same
reasons, took the same stand. Germany
also claimed with characteristic biunt
ness the right to sow mines off the coast
and harbors of an enemy "without re
gard for the merchant shipping which is
certain to be destroyed." for it was ar
gued that merchant ships are not com
pelled to putJta..sea jex.cept tar purposes
of gain, and upon them should rest the
risk in that venture. To have assented to
the abolition of submarine mines. Ger
many would have found herself with
two new special service vessels on her
hands, built at considerable cost, for
which she could have no possible use.
These vessels are the Albatross and the
Nautilus, ships of 3000 tons displacement
and capable of making 20 knots an hour.
ELach Of these boats renrpsents A cost of
i JN35.000. They carry a number of rapld-
nre guns or about four-inch caliber. In
addition to these there - is the cruiser
Pelikan, of 2360 tons, having a speed of
15 knots, and carrying an effective arma
ment of anti-torpedo rapid-fire guns! -The
newer vessels of this fleet are fitted with
an ice-boat, so that they may be able to
carry out the work of laying mines In
Winter when ice may be about. These
ships are only part of a very consider
able organliation. which includes a. num
ber of smaller vessels, and this section
of the German navy represents a person
nel of something like 1300 officers and en
listed men who have been systematic&lly
and carefully drilled In this sort of work.
How Mines Are Laid.
The German mine-laying ships, like the
British mine-layer Iphigenla. are so ar
ranged that they can handle ready for
planting between 400 and 300 mines. Tnese
weapons or Instruments of destruction
are stowed along the main deck adjacent
to a specially designed trolley system by
which they can be rua aft and dropped
overboard through large ports made for
the 'purpose, so that the mine is swung
completely clear of the.craft before it is
dropped into the water. These mines are
generally planted about a hundred feet
apart, and in parallel lines, so that a
large vessel passing safely between two
mines in the first line would surely hit
a mine further on In the second line. Tiie
mines of the most modern type are ar
ranged with self-anchoring mechanisms,
which hold them at a predetermined
depth below the surface. Otherwise, they
might show at low tide and warn an en
emy of their presence. To destroy them
by gunfire would be a very easy task,
and the foe could then be-sure of a safe
line for approach and attack.
The Baltimore and San Franctsco are
to be. made thoroughly up to date, and
in doing this the Navy Department in
tends to profit by all that has been
done abroad In this direction. These
ships are 20-knot vessels, and are of
4000 -tons displacement. Being- thus
considerably larger than any mine-laying
vessels so far constructed they
should prove that much more efficient
for this service. They will probably
retain a battery of five-inch rapid-fire
guns, the caliber which is now recogn
ized as essential for repelling the at
tack of torpedoboats supplied with the
modern long-range torpedo.'
The Chief of Artillery, Brigadier
General Arthur Murray, has called the
attention of the War Department to the
urgent need of making sufficient and
immediate provision for the proper
mining of our principal harbors and
the waters leading to some of our sea
ports lying some distance back from
the coast. He has pointed out some
important places on both the Atlantic
and Pacific Coasts where this work
should be done without further delay;
and he has also called attention to our
unpreparedness in this direction In
some of our Insular possessions. Fur
ther. General Murray says:
"When the value that this completed
mine defense would have, not only for
its actual worth as a destructive ele
ment of harbor defense, but also for
its moral effect in- closing our harbors
against sudden attack even by the most
enterprising enemy, and the compara
tively, small cost at which tills protec
tion can be obtained is considered, it
will be apparent that this completion
should be accomplished at the earliest
possible moment."
What this means toward the comple
tion of our permanent defenses, the
fitting out of the Baltimore and the
San Francisco means to such temporary
defenses as the Navy may see fit to
supply during the various strategio
moves of coast defense lying essentially
within the domain of that arm of the
Nation's fighting force.
Good Anecdotes of Thomas Edison
Xovel AVay of Getting Kid of Annoying Visitor.s
New York Tribune!
THOMAS A. EDISON is an excellent
source of anecdotes. This Is dem
onstrated in a book about him by
Francis Arthur Jones; which Thomas Y.
Crowell & Company are shortly to pub
lish. Edison is somewhat deaf in his right
ear. Through constantly placing his hand
behind it the lobe has been pressed slight
ly forward. This partial deafness has
enabled him to pursue his work undis
turbed while surrounded by all the noise
of a busy shop. Naturally it would look
well in an advertisement, from the adver
tiser's point of view, to' be able to an
nounce that Edison used the article ad
vertised. Accordingly he has had many
visits from persona with "a-sure cure for
deafness" to sell. One visited his labora
tory at Orange recently in order to ex
plain the merits of a method which, he
declared, would bring about a speedy re
moval of tha obstacle to hearing.
"No," said Edison, "I think I will not
try it."
"Why not? I wish you would tell me
why you will not."
Edison smiled. "Suppose you did cure
my deafness." he said. "Think of the lot
of stuff I'd have tu listen to that 1 don't
want to hear! To be a little deaf has Its
advantages; and. on the whole, I prefer
to let well enough alone."
His deafness has been described as be
ing more In the nature of a psychological
phenomenon fhan a physical disability.
A story Is told illustrative of his ability
to hear when it is least expected. Sev
eral visitors had called at the laboratory,
and although Edison, as usual, was ex
tremely busy, he made them welcome.
He did not express any irritability even
when foolish questions were shouted at
him in unnecessarily high-pitched tones.
When He Could Hear.
At last the humorist of the party re
marked to a companion in an ordinary
tone of voice:
"I guess he would hear if we asked him
to take a drink."
The inventor, who is temperate in the
use of liquors, turned about, looked the
young man squarely In the eye and smil
ingly said:
-"Yes, perhaps, I should; but no, thank
you. not today."
Edison has strong opinions regarding
diet. He firmly believes that half the ills
that flesh is heir to are due to incorrect
and excessive eating. He himself is very
abstemious and often does not consume
a pound of food In the'eourse of tic day.
Yet he is no faddist in wiiat- he shaH eat.
taking anything he fancies, but in very
small quantities. He -Is fond of- telling
a story as an Illustration of how great a,
slave to meal hours a man may become.
"You know, of course." he says, when
telling It, "all about tho Ohio man who
went to New York for the first time,
and, having taken a room at a gooi hotel,
unpacked his grip and went to the desk
to inquire about the meals.
" 'What Is the eatln' hours in this yere
hotel r he said to the' clerk.
" 'Breakfast. the clerk answered. 7
to 11; lunch. 11 to S; dinner S to 8; sup
per. 8 to 12.'
" Jerusalem!" exclaimed the astonished
farmer, 'when am I goln" to get time to
see the town?' "
Visitors to the laboratory are some
times so numerous that Mr. Edison will
not grant an interview unless they are
well known to him. Some of these vis
itors with great pompousness assert that
they have known ."Tom Edison" since
they were boys together, and act as If
much affronted when the gateman in
form them that Mr. Edison is so busy
that It will be impossible to see him on
that day.
On one occasion a bona fide friend who
had known him from childhood called at
the laboratory with a companion, and
was greatly offended when told that Mr.
Edison was very busy and could not re
ceive visitors.
"What!" said the caller, ' indignantly,
. "do you mean to say that Thomas Edi
son won't see me? Why. I have known
him intimately all my life."
Knew Him Better.
"Oh, no. I don't Bay he won't see you,"
replied the man. "but Mrs. Edison wait
ed here two hours this morning and had
to go away without seeing him, and I
don't suppose you know him any better
than she does."
Occasionally when visitors are admit
ted they stay so long that they become
nuisances. Edison once disposed of a
party of unwelcome callers In an unusual
way. In his experiments with explosives
he- has produced some so sensitive that
a drop placed on a table would explode
if any one shouted.
"You see," he said, by way of explana
tion, "the thing Is. In a state of very
delicate equilibrium. It is a question
'depending upon surrounding conditions, as
to which it will do remain a. liquid' or
turn Into gas. When this balance is about
equal it takes a very little to incline It
toward a gaseous form, so that even the
sound of the voice will produce the ef
fect. And so would a heavy weight
dropped on the floor."
While conducting his experiments In ex
plosives he was visited- one morning by
a company of clergymen. The Inventor
treated them, as lie treats every one,
courteously, but as the day wore on
and there was no sign of their going, he
began to study how to get rid of them
without offending them. He casually re
marked that he was experimenting with
very delicate explosives, and would be
sorry if any of them were injured.
This had only the effect of increasing
their interest. They got in the way and
distracted him by foolish questions. He
finally became nervous and almost irri
table. A method of eliminating them
from the scene finally occurred to him.
Taking some of the material with which
he had been experimenting he put a drop
or two where there was no danger of
blowing a minister through the window.
The clergymen watched his action with
added interest, apparently feeling no
uneasiness, and crowded around him.
The Inventor seated himself at his bench
and again took up his experiments. Sud
denly he Jumped up, shouting: "I have
it!" at the same moment knocking a
board from the table as If by accident.
It fell to the floor with a crash. What
followed was even more disastrous than
Edison had Intended.
Even Edison AVas Startled.
No windows were broken, but several
glass bottles were smashed, a piece of
electrical apparatus was disabled, a table
overturned and the ministers were fright
ened. They put their hands to their
heads, fearful of something worse to fol
low. "What happened?" one of them ex
claimed. "Such explosions are constantly happen
ing," replied Edison, calmly. "I'm glad
to say that they haven't killed any one
since the fall. You can never tell when
one will happen, but I hope you will not
be treated to another today."
The clergymen declared that it was all
Intensely interesting, but they would bet
ter not remain longer. Grabbing their
hats, they hastily bade the inventor good
bye and did what Edison had long been
wishing them to- do.
The faculty for remembering faces is
especially well developed in Mr. Edison.
An incident that exhibits this and
amused Mr. Edison greatly happened re
cently. A certain great American machine fac
tory, devoted to the manufacture of elec
trical appliances, attracts many visitors
from all quarters of the globe. One en
gineer at the factory, who may be called
"Steve," . is frequently detailed to serve
as guide, because of his fund of informa
tion and his lucid explanations. Recently
he was assigned to conduct through tho
plant a guest from the West a light-:
haired little man. The visitor seemed i
duly impressed with all he saw but made
no comment'. He was apparently drink.-;
ing In and silently criticising every word
which young "Steve" uttered. That
usually confident person grew nervous
and Buspiclous.
This fellow," he thdught, "must ba
some smart electrician, and he is just
taking all my statements with a hugs
grain of salt."
At last, when they had returned to
the office and "Steve" was feeling limp
and tired, the little man held out hi
hand and said:
"I am exceedingly obliged to you. I
don't know much about the electrical
trade. I am a barber. If you ever come
to Chicago, look me up."
onnets on Hame.
. Chicago News.
Ah, borne, sweet home! My home is dear t
me;
It is my kingdom; there I am King.
There to the winds my troubles I mar
fling
And feel from all dictation I am free.
There none with my opinions .disagree.
Right from the moment I my doorbell
I canlwy what I choose yes, anything
Do -what I pleaae. whatever it may be.
Thra I can be myself without dissulfte.
Without restraint; tlie bonds that held me
tight
Are loosed. For me home .hasn't any tie;
I'm quite unfettered, which Is only right.
It wonldn't be home were It otherwise.
At home I do not have to be polite.
H.
Away from home I am compelled to smils
' Though in my heart Is bitterness and gall.
Be nlf-e to people I don't like at all
And speak quite softly, though I rage the
while.
At home I freely manifest my bile.
If things don't suit me you hear some
thing fall.
Yes, there they all come running when X
call
And meekly listen if I should revile.
I'm bosssupreme. Who shall dispute my
away
Or talk beck when upon some fault I
pick?
When I demand, who dares to say me nay?
I'd settle a rebellion mighty quiek.
Ah. home, sweet home! I love It. I must say.
It's just the one place where a man caa
kick.