The Submarine Torpedo Boat
Its Characteristics And Modern Development

196 THE SUBMARINE TORPEDO BOAT another American, evolved a means of exploding mines under water by electricity. This latter development was the forerunner of our present system of mining for coast defense work. The effectiveness of the submarine mine was first dem- onstrated in the Civil War when they were used extensively by the Confederates. As the Southerners had hardly any Navy, the Union gunboats were constantly ascending their rivers and inflicting considerable damage. To put a stop to this the Southerners began to mine their streams and harbors with kegs and beer barrels filled with gun- powder and by so doing succeeded in destroying many Northern ships. Mines were again used in the Franco-Prussian War by Germany, who made good use of them in protecting her coasts. England had also used them in the Crimean War but with little significant success. In spite of what had been accomplished with mines European naval experts, however, refused to place much confidence in them and were but little interested in the subject. In fact at the time of the Russo-Japanese War, England and other countries had about decided to cut them out entirely from their defense equipment. The Russo-Japanese War, however, changed naval opinion on the subject. During its many engagements the real value of the submarine mine was substantially proven. Up to this time mines had been used almost entirely for the protection of harbors and points of strategic value, but now for the first time they were used in the open sea for offensive warfare. It was by the use of mines that the Japanese were enabled to enfeeble and so demoralize the Russian fleet