aiming is so great that at a distance of several miles a shot can be landed within a few feet of any designated point, and that when both vessels are moving at full speed. TORPEDOES AND SUBMARINES A hundred years ago the torpedo was a cask filled with powder, which drifted or was thrust against a vessel and SUBMARINE TORPEDO-BOAT OF THE HOLLAND TYPE a, a, storage-batteries; b, b, main ballast-tank; c, gasolene tank; d, torpedo compensating-tank; e, forward trimming-tank; f, torpedo-tube; g, g, torpedoes; h, conning-tower; j, water-tight hatch on top of conning-tower; k, steering-compass; 1, ordinary steering-rudder, the horizontal diving-rudder not shown; m, screw-propeller; n, after trimming-tank; o, air-compressor; p, combined dynamo and motor; q, gasolene engine; r, r, periscope motors; 8, ventilating-tube; t, auxiliary ballasttank; u, adjusting ballast-tank; v, air-storage tanks; w, forward water-tight hatch. was exploded by percussion caps on contact. Today the torpedo is an elaborate mechanism capable of being dispatched with unerring aim for a great distance. It can LINE OF TRAJECTORY 111 BURSTING POINT OF IMPACT penetrate the hull of an enemy's ship at the range of a mile, and it may explode on contact or be exploded by a time mechanism at the THE GROUND COVERED BY SHRAPNEL IS ELLIP- designated second. TICAL, ABOUT 200 X 25 YARDS Such projectiles are now discharged from submarine vessels. range in size up to 5,000 tons, and are capable of cruising A photograph of the French submarine fleet taken during a series of naval maneuvers, in which it was demonstrated that the submarines could have annihilated the entire force of battleships. This destroyer escaped a torpedo from a hunted submarine by quick turning. Generally the torpedo travels at about fifteen feet under water. across the Atlantic and back, or around the world. Some of them now carry in addition to torpedo tubes cannon of as much as six inches caliber, for use when they are not fully submerged MANY INVENTIONS War in the air comprises the use of vast dirigible balloons, and of swift and agile aeroplanes driven at almost incon Fig. 1.-Shrapnel shell, packed with bullets that spread. Fig. 2.-A French quick-firer shell, like an enlarged rifle cartridge. Fig. 3.-The "Universal" shell, combining the action of shrapnel and high explosives. Fig. 4.A fuse-setting machine. ceivable speed. Bombs and rockets are used for signaling and for illuminating purposes on a scale never before known. Poisonous gases are employed, blown against the enemy through pipes from vast retorts. These gases are sometimes asphyxiating and life-destroying, sometimes they are calculated to destroy the sight of the enemy, and some |