Transcriber's note:
In this plain text version, underlined text in the original
is surrounded by =equals symbols=; italic typeface is
surrounded by _underscores_; bold typeface and small caps
typeface are represented by UPPER CASE.
The oe-ligature appears as [oe].
Changes to the text (to correct typographical errors) are
listed at the end of the book. A few cases of missing
punctuation have been regularised in the advertisements
without comment.
All advertising material has been retained in the same
position as it appears in the original book. There are
extensive advertisements before and after the title page,
following the index and in a sixteen page publisher's
catalogue at the end of the book.
THE ROMANCE OF WAR INVENTIONS
* * * * *
THE IAN HARDY SERIES
BY
COMMANDER E. HAMILTON CURREY, R.N.
_Each Volume with Illustrations in Colour. 5s. each_
Ian Hardy's career in H.M. Navy is told in four volumes, which are
described below. Each volume is complete in itself, and no knowledge of
the previous volumes is necessary, but few boys will read one of the
series without wishing to peruse the others.
IAN HARDY, NAVAL CADET
"A sound and wholesome story giving a lively picture of a naval cadet's
life."--_Birmingham Gazette_.
"A very wholesome book for boys, and the lurking danger of Ian's ill
deeds being imitated may be regarded as negligible in comparison with
the good likely to be done by the example of his manly, honest nature.
Ian was a boy whom his father might occasionally have reason to whip,
but never feel ashamed of."--_United Service Magazine_.
IAN HARDY, MIDSHIPMAN
"A jolly sequel to his last year's book."--_Christian World_.
"The 'real thing.' ... Certain to enthral boys of almost any age who
love stories of British pluck."--_Observer_.
"=Commander E. Hamilton Currey, R.N., is becoming a serious rival to
Kingston as a writer of sea stories.= Just as a former generation
revelled in Kingston's doings of his three heroes from their middy days
until they became admirals all, so will the present-day boys read with
interest the story of Ian Hardy. Last year we knew him as a cadet; this
year we get _Ian Hardy, Midshipman_. The present instalment of his
stirring history is breezily written."--_Yorkshire Observer_.
IAN HARDY, SENIOR MIDSHIPMAN
"Of those who are now writing stories of the sea, Commander Currey holds
perhaps the leading position. He has a gift of narrative, a keen sense
of humour, and above all he writes from a full stock of
knowledge."--_Saturday Review_.
"=It is no exaggeration to say that Commander Currey bears worthily the
mantle of Kingston and Captain Marryat.="--_Manchester Courier._
"The Ian Hardy Series is just splendid for boys to read, and the best of
it is that each book is complete in itself. But not many boys will read
one of the series without being keenly desirous of reading all the
others."--_Sheffield Telegraph_.
IAN HARDY FIGHTING THE MOORS
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writes of the Navy and the sea with knowledge and sound sense.... What a
welcome addition the whole series would make to a boy's
library."--_Daily Graphic._
"The right romantic stuff, full of fighting and hairbreadth escapes....
Commander Currey has the secret of making the men and ships seem
actual."--_Times_.
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THE ROMANCE OF SUBMARINE ENGINEERING
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AUTHOR OF "MECHANICAL INVENTIONS OF TO-DAY"
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THE ROMANCE OF THE WORLD'S FISHERIES
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_With twenty-four illustrations_
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THE ROMANCE OF MODERN MECHANISM
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THE ROMANCE OF INSECT LIFE
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THE ROMANCE OF EARLY BRITISH LIFE
PROF. G. F. SCOTT ELLIOT, M.A.
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BY JOHN LEA, M.A.
_With thirty illustrations_
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THE ROMANCE OF MODERN INVENTION
BY ARCHIBALD WILLIAMS B.A., F.R.G.S.
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THE ROMANCE OF EARLY EXPLORATION
BY ARCHIBALD WILLIAMS B.A., F.R.G.S.
_With sixteen illustrations_
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THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONARY HEROISM
BY J. C. LAMBERT, B.A., D.D.
_With thirty-nine illustrations_
"A MOST ENTRANCING VOLUME." _Expository Times_
THE ROMANCE OF PLANT LIFE
BY G. F. SCOTT ELLIOT, M.A.
_With thirty-four illustrations_
"INTENSELY INTERESTING." _Leeds Mercury_
THE ROMANCE OF THE ANIMAL WORLD
BY EDMUND SELOUS
_With sixteen full-page illustrations_
"A VERY FASCINATING BOOK." _Graphic_
THE ROMANCE OF MODERN GEOLOGY
BY E. S. GREW, M.A.
_With twenty-five illustrations_
"ABSORBINGLY INTERESTING." _Scotsman_
THE ROMANCE OF MODERN MANUFACTURE
BY C. R. GIBSON, F.R.S.E.
_With forty illustrations_
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as any ordinary book of adventure. Mr. Gibson has a first-rate
scientific mind and considerable scientific attainments. He is never
guilty of an inexact phrase--certainly, never an obscure one--or a
misleading analogy. We could imagine him having a vogue among our
young folk comparable with that of Jules Verne."--_The Nation._
"Mr. Gibson has fairly made his mark as a populariser of scientific
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_JUST PUBLISHED_
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"Told in simple and remarkably clear language, and with such
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THE GREAT BALL ON WHICH WE LIVE (Vol. II. SCIENCE FOR CHILDREN SERIES).
With Coloured Frontispiece and other Illustrations. 3_s._ 6_d._
"Capital."--_Field._
"A most fascinating and suggestive story of the earth. Mr. Gibson
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THE ROMANCE OF MODERN ELECTRICITY. Describing in Non-technical Language
what is known about Electricity and many of its interesting
applications. With 41 Illustrations. Extra crown 8vo, 5_s._
"Admirable, clear and concise."--_Graphic._
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"A book which the merest tyro, totally unacquainted with elementary
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THE ROMANCE OF MODERN PHOTOGRAPHY. Its Discovery and its Applications.
With Illustrations. Extra crown 8vo, 5_s._
"There is not a dry or uninteresting page throughout."--_Country
Life._
"The narration is everywhere remarkable for its fluency and clear
style."--_Bystander._
THE ROMANCE OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. A Popular Account of the most
important Discoveries in Science. With 30 Illus. 5_s._
"The most curious boy of mechanical bent would find such a book
satisfying."--_Westminster Gazette._
THE ROMANCE OF MODERN MANUFACTURE. A Popular Account of the Marvels of
Manufacturing. 5_s._
"A popular and practical account of all kinds of
manufacture."--_Scotsman._
"Just the sort of book to put into the hands of senior boys as a
school prize."--_Sheffield Telegraph._
HEROES OF THE SCIENTIFIC WORLD. An Account of the Lives, Sacrifices,
Successes, and Failures of some of the greatest Scientists in the
World's History. With 19 Illustrations. Extra crown 8vo, 5_s._
"The whole field of science is well covered.... Every one of the 300
odd pages contains some interesting piece of
information."--_Athenæum._
THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF AN ELECTRON. With 8 Illustrations. Long 8vo, 3_s._
6_d._ net.
"A brilliant study."--_Daily Mail._
"Quite a unique book in its way, at once attractive and
illuminating."--_Record._
THE WONDERS OF MODERN ELECTRICITY. With 17 Illustrations and Diagrams.
Extra crown 8vo, 2_s._
THE WONDERS OF MODERN MANUFACTURE. With 22 Illustrations. Extra crown
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SEELEY, SERVICE & CO. LIMITED
* * * * *
THE ROMANCE OF WAR INVENTIONS
[Illustration: A TANK.
These weird-looking engines are literally moving forts, and are the
evolution of a peaceful agricultural machine fitted with "caterpillar"
wheels, that is, a broad band encircles the driving wheels, and so the
whole construction moves as it were on its own revolving platform and is
thus prevented from sinking into the soft ground. The principle itself
is not new, as it was adapted to transport carts during the Crimean
War.]
THE ROMANCE OF WAR INVENTIONS
A Description of Warships, Guns, Tanks,
Rifles, Bombs, and Other Instruments
and Munitions of Warfare, How
They Were Invented & How
They Are Employed
by
T. W. CORBIN
Author of "The Romance of Submarine Engineering,"
"Mechanical Inventions of To-Day,"
&c., &c., &c.
With many Illustrations
London
Seeley, Service & Co. Limited
38 Great Russell Street
1918
* * * * *
THE LIBRARY OF ROMANCE
_Extra Crown 8vo. With many illustrations. 5s. each._
"Splendid Volumes."--_The Outlook._
"The Library of Romance offers a splendid choice."--_Globe._
"Gift Books whose value it would be difficult to over-estimate." _The
Standard._
"This series has now won a considerable & well deserved reputation."
_The Guardian._
"Each Volume treats its allotted theme with accuracy, but at the same
time with a charm that will commend itself to readers of all ages. The
root idea is excellent, and it is excellently carried out, with full
illustrations and very prettily designed covers."--_The Daily
Telegraph._
By Prof. G. F. SCOTT ELLIOT, M.A., B.Sc.
The Romance of Savage Life
The Romance of Plant Life
The Romance of Early British Life
By EDWARD GILLIAT, M.A.
The Romance of Modern Sieges
By JOHN LEA, M.A.
The Romance of Bird Life
By JOHN LEA. M.A. & H. COUPIN, D.Sc.
The Romance of Animal Arts and Crafts
By SIDNEY WRIGHT
The Romance of the World's Fisheries
By the Rev. J. C. LAMBERT, M.A., D.D.
The Romance of Missionary Heroism
By G. FIRTH SCOTT
The Romance of Polar Exploration
By CHARLES R. GIBSON, F.R.S.E.
The Romance of Modern Photography
The Romance of Modern Electricity
The Romance of Modern Manufacture
The Romance of Scientific Discovery
By CHARLES C. TURNER
The Romance of Aeronautics
By HECTOR MACPHERSON, Junr.
The Romance of Modern Astronomy
By ARCHIBALD WILLIAMS,
B.A. (Oxon.), F.R.G.S.
The Romance of Early Exploration
The Romance of Modern Exploration
The Romance of Modern Mechanism
The Romance of Modern Invention
The Romance of Modern Engineering
The Romance of Modern Locomotion
The Romance of Modern Mining
By EDMUND SELOUS
The Romance of the Animal World
The Romance of Insect Life
By AGNES GIBERNE
The Romance of the Mighty Deep
By E. S. GREW, M.A.
The Romance of Modern Geology
By J. C. PHILIP, D.Sc., Ph.D.
The Romance of Modern Chemistry
By E. KEBLE CHATTERTON, B.A.
The Romance of the Ship
The Romance of Piracy
By T. W. CORBIN
The Romance of Submarine Engineering
The Romance of War Inventions
By NORMAN J. DAVIDSON, B.A. (Oxon.)
The Romance of the Spanish Main
SEELEY, SERVICE & CO., LIMITED.
* * * * *
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I. HOW PEACEFUL ARTS HELP IN WAR 17
II. GUNPOWDER AND ITS MODERN EQUIVALENTS 27
III. RADIUM IN WAR 39
IV. A GOOD SERVANT, THOUGH A BAD MASTER 49
V. MINES, SUBMARINE AND SUBTERRANEAN 61
VI. MILITARY BRIDGES 75
VII. WHAT GUNS ARE MADE OF 92
VIII. MORE ABOUT GUNS 108
IX. THE GUNS THEY USE IN THE NAVY 120
X. SHELLS AND HOW THEY ARE MADE 135
XI. WHAT SHELLS ARE MADE OF 146
XII. MEASURING THE VELOCITY OF A SHELL 159
XIII. SOME ADJUNCTS IN THE ENGINE ROOM 164
XIV. ENGINES OF WAR 169
XV. DESTROYERS 184
XVI. BATTLESHIPS 191
XVII. HOW A WARSHIP IS BUILT 202
XVIII. THE TORPEDO 215
XIX. WHAT A SUBMARINE IS LIKE 223
XX. THE STORY OF WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY 240
XXI. WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY IN WAR 252
XXII. MILITARY TELEGRAPHY 264
XXIII. HOW WAR INVENTIONS GROW 276
XXIV. AEROPLANES 284
XXV. THE AERIAL LIFEBOAT 297
INDEX 313
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
A TANK _Frontispiece_
PAGE
MACHINE-GUN VERSUS RIFLE 32
AN ITALIAN MINE-LAYER 64
AN INCIDENT AT LOOS 80
AN 18-POUNDER IN ACTION 96
A GERMAN AUTOMATIC PISTOL 112
BOMB THROWING 136
BOMB-THROWERS AT WORK 160
THE TRIPOD MAST 208
LISTENING FOR THE ENEMY 248
DIAGRAM SHOWING THE PRINCIPLE BY WHICH THE AERIALS
ARE CONNECTED TO THE APPARATUS 251
THE PARENT OF THE TANK 280
THE "GUARDIAN ANGEL" PARACHUTE 304
THE ROMANCE OF WAR INVENTIONS
CHAPTER I
HOW PEACEFUL ARTS HELP IN WAR
In the olden times warfare was supported by a single trade, that of the
armourer. Nowadays the whole resources of the greatest manufacturing
nations scarcely suffice to supply the needs of their armies. So much is
this the case that no nation can possibly hope to become powerful in a
military or naval sense unless they are either a great manufacturing
community or can rely upon the support of some great manufacturing ally
or neutral.
It is most astonishing to find how closely some of the most innocent and
harmless of the commodities of peace are related to the death-dealing
devices of war. Of these no two examples could be more striking than the
common salt with which we season our food and the soap with which we
wash. Yet the manufacture of soap furnishes the material for the most
furious of explosives and the chief agent in its manufacture is the
common salt of the table.
Common salt is a combination of the metal sodium and the gas chlorine.
There are many places, of which Cheshire is a notable example, where
vast quantities of this salt lie buried in the earth.
Fortunately it is very easily dissolved in water so that if wells be
sunk in a salt district the water pumped from them will have much salt
in solution in it. This is how the underground deposits are tapped. It
is not necessary for men to go down as they do after coal, for the water
excavates the salt and brings it to the surface.
To obtain the solid salt from the salt water, or brine as it is called,
it is only necessary to heat the liquid, when the water passes away as
steam leaving the salt behind.
Important though this salt is in connection with our food, it is perhaps
still more important as the source from which is derived chlorine and
caustic soda. How this is done can best be explained by means of a
simple experiment which my readers can try in imagination with me or,
better still, perform for themselves.
Take a tumbler and fill it with water with a little salt dissolved in
it. Next obtain two short pieces of wire and two pieces of pencil lead,
which with a pocket lamp battery will complete the apparatus. Connect
one piece of wire to each terminal of the battery and twist the other
end of it round a piece of pencil lead. Place these so that the ends of
the leads dip into the salt water. It is important to keep the wires
out of the solution, the leads alone dipping into the liquid, and the
two leads should be an inch or so apart.
In a few moments you will observe that tiny bubbles are collecting upon
the leads and these joining together into larger bubbles will soon
detach themselves and float up to the surface. Those which arise from
one of the leads will be formed of the gas chlorine and the others of
hydrogen.
It will be interesting just to enumerate the names of the different
parts of this apparatus. First let me say that the process by which
these gases are thus obtained is called electrolysis: the liquid is the
electrolyte: the two pieces of pencil lead are the electrodes. That
electrode by which the current enters the electrolyte is called the
an-ode, while the other is the cath-ode. In other words, the current
traverses them in alphabetical order.
Now it is familiar to everyone that all matter is supposed to consist of
tiny particles called Molecules. These are far too tiny for anyone to
see even with the finest microscope, so we do not know for certain that
they exist: we assume that they do, however, because the idea seems to
fit in with a large number of facts which we can observe and it enables
us to talk intelligibly about them. We may, accordingly, speak as if we
knew for a certainty that molecules really exist.
Now when we dissolve salt in water it seems as if each molecule splits
up into two things which we then call "ions." Salt is not peculiar in
this respect, for many other substances do the same when dissolved in
water. All such substances, since they can be "ionized," are called
"ionogens."
Now the peculiarity about ions is that they are always strongly
electrified or charged with electricity.
At this stage we must make a little excursion into the realm of
electricity. You probably know that if a rod of glass be rubbed with a
silk handkerchief it becomes able to attract little scraps of paper.
That is because the rubbing causes it to become charged with
electricity. In like manner a piece of resin if rubbed will become
charged and will also attract little pieces of paper. A piece of
electrified resin and an electrified glass rod will, moreover, attract
each other, but two pieces of resin or two pieces of glass, if
electrified, will repel each other. This leads us to believe that there
are two kinds of electrification or two kinds of electrical charge. At
first these two kinds were spoken of as vitreous or glass electricity
and resinous electricity, but after a while the idea arose that there
was really one kind of electricity and that everything possessed a
certain amount of it, the electrified glass having a little too much of
it and the electrified resin a shade too little of it. From this came
the idea of calling the charge on the glass a "positive" charge and that
on the resin a "negative" charge. Recent investigations seem to show
that we have got those two terms the wrong way round, but to avoid
confusion we still use them in the old way.
It will be sufficient for our purpose, therefore, if we assume that
every molecule of matter has a certain normal amount of electricity
associated with it and that under those conditions the presence of the
electricity is not in any way noticeable. When a molecule becomes
ionized, however, one ion always seems to run off with more than its
fair share of the electricity, the result being that one is electrified
positively, like rubbed glass, while the other is negatively charged,
like rubbed resin.
Thus, when the common salt is dissolved in water, two lots of ions are
formed, one lot positively charged and the other lot negatively. Each
molecule of salt consists of two atoms, one of sodium and one of
chlorine: consequently, one ion is a chlorine atom and the other is a
sodium atom, the latter being positive and the former negative.
Now the electrodes are also charged by the action of the battery. That
connected to the positive pole of the battery becomes positively charged
and the other negatively. The anode, therefore, is positive and the
cathode negative.
It has been pointed out that two similarly charged bodies, such as two
pieces of glass or two pieces of resin, repel each other, while either
of these attracts one of the other sort. Hence we arrive at a rule that
similarly charged bodies repel each other, while dissimilarly charged
bodies attract each other.
Acting upon this rule, therefore, the anode starts drawing to itself all
the negative ions, in this case the atoms of chlorine, while the cathode
gathers together the positive ions, the atoms of sodium. Thus the action
of the battery maintains a sorting out process by which the sodium is
gathered together around one of the electrodes and the chlorine round
the other. Those ions, by the way, which travel towards the _an_-ode
are called _an_-ions, while those which go to the cath-ode are termed
cat-ions.
Thus far, I think, you will have followed me: the chlorine is gathered
to one place and the sodium to the other. The former creates bubbles and
floats up to the surface and escapes. But where, you will ask, does the
hydrogen come from, which we found, in the experiment, was bubbling up
round the cathode. Moreover, what becomes of the sodium?
Both those questions can be answered together. The sodium ions, having
been drawn away from their old partners the chlorine ions, are unhappy,
and long for fresh partners. They therefore proceed to join up with
molecules of water. But water contains too much hydrogen for that. Every
molecule of water has two atoms of hydrogen linked up with one of
oxygen, but sodium does not like two atoms of hydrogen: it insists on
having one only. Accordingly the oxygen atom from the water, together
with one of the hydrogen atoms, join forces with the sodium atom into a
molecule of a new substance, a most valuable substance in many
manufactures, called Caustic Soda, while the odd atom of hydrogen,
deprived of its partners, has nothing left to do but to cling for a
while to the cathode and finally float up and away.
The sum-total of the operation therefore is this: when we pass an
electric current through salt water, between graphite electrodes,
chlorine goes to the anode and escapes, while caustic soda is formed
round the cathode and hydrogen escapes. Let us see now how this is
applied commercially.
For the production of Chlorine the apparatus need be little more than
our experimental apparatus made large. The anode can be covered in such
a way as to catch the gas as it bubbles upwards. In times of peace this
gas is chiefly used for making bleaching powder. It is led into chambers
where it comes into contact with lime, with which it combines into
chloride of lime, a powder which is sometimes used as a disinfectant,
but the chief use of which is for bleaching those cotton and woollen
fabrics for the manufacture of which this country is famous throughout
the world.
The Germans, however, have taught the world another use for chlorine.
Those gallant Canadians who were the first victims of the attack by
"poison gas" who suddenly found themselves fighting for breath, and a
few of whom, more fortunate than the rest, have reached their homes
shattered in health with permanent damage to their lungs, those brave
fellows suffered from poisoning by chlorine.
We cannot obtain the other product, the caustic soda, by the same simple
means. In our little experiment we succeeded in manufacturing some of it
in the region around the cathode, and had we drawn off some of the
liquid from there we would have been able to detect its presence. But it
would have been mixed up with much ordinary salt, and for commercial
purposes we need the caustic soda separate from the salt. The principle
is, however, just the same, as you will see.
Imagine a large oblong vat divided by vertical partitions into three
separate chambers. These partitions do not quite reach the bottom of
the vessel, so that there is a means of communication between all three
chambers. This is closed, however, by filling the lower part of the vat
with mercury up to a level a little higher than the lower ends of the
partitions.
Thus we have three separate chambers with communication between them but
that communication is sealed up by the mercury.
The two end chambers are filled with salt water, or brine, while the
centre one is filled with a solution of caustic soda. In each end
compartment is a stick of graphite, both being electrically joined
together and so connected up that they form anodes, while in the centre
compartment is the cathode.
When the current flows from the anodes it carries the sodium ions with
it, just as it did in our little experiment. But its course, this time,
is not straight, since in order to travel from anode to cathode it has
to pass through the openings in the partitions, in other words through
the mercury.
On arrival at or near the cathode the ions of sodium cause the caustic
soda to be formed just as in our experiment, but in this case, you will
notice, the formation takes place in a chamber from which the salt brine
is completely excluded by the mercury.
Brine is continually fed into the outer chambers and the solution of
caustic soda is drawn from the centre one, while the chlorine is
collected over the anodes.
And now we can go a step further on our progress from common salt to
explosive.
In the soap works there are enormous coppers in which are boiled various
kinds of fat. The source of the fat may be either animal or vegetable,
many kinds of beans, nuts and seeds furnishing fats practically
identical with that which can be got from the fat flesh of a sheep, for
instance. To this fat is added some caustic soda solution and the whole
is kept boiling for some considerable time. This protracted boiling is
to enable the soda thoroughly to attack the fat and combine with it,
whereby two entirely new substances are formed.
At first the two new substances are not apparent, for they remain
together in one liquid. The addition, however, of some brine causes the
change to become obvious for something in the liquid turns solid, so
that it can be easily taken away from the rest. That solid is nothing
else than soap. It remained dissolved in the water which forms part of
the liquid until the salt was put in, but as it will not dissolve in
salt water, as you will discover if you attempt to wash in sea water, it
separates out as soon as the salt is added.
But still a liquid remains: what can that be? It is mainly salt water
and glycerine, that sticky stuff which in peace times we put on our
hands if they get sore in winter, or take, in a little water, to soothe
a sore throat. That it has other and very different uses was brought
home to me when, during the war, I tried to buy some at a chemist's,
only to learn that it could not be sold except in cases of extreme need
under the orders of a doctor.
The mixed liquid is distilled with the result that the water is driven
off and the salt deposited, which with other minor purifying processes
gives the pure glycerine.
The next step takes us to the explosives factory, where the glycerine is
mixed with sulphuric and nitric acids. Now glycerine, as you will have
observed, comes from the animal or vegetable sources and therefore is
one of those substances known as "organic," and, like many other of the
organic compounds, it consists of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. Nature
has a marvellous way of combining these same three things together in
many various ways to form many widely different substances and if, to
such a compound, we can add a little nitrogen, we usually get an
explosive. Thus, the glycerine, with some nitrogen from the nitric acid,
becomes nitro-glycerine, a most ferocious and excitable explosive, the
basis of several of those explosives without which warfare as we know it
to-day would be impossible.