An item referred to the Army and Naval Journal reporting about a speech held by Hiram Maxim (1) in the Royal United Service Institution on 24 June in the topic blasting explosives. He compared the modern battleship with as building costs around 12 million Dutch guilders with the offensive means of 10 torpedo cruisers each costing 1.2 million Dutch guilders. His idea was to fit out a similar torpedo cruiser with 1-24” torpedo gun and 2 torpedo mortars. The shells [=torpedoes] were to be filled with Maximite (2), a blasting explosive which supplied the necessary speed and complete safety.
Notes
1. Sir Hiram Stevens Maxim (5 February 1840 Sangerville, Maine, USA-24 November 1916 London, England), inventor, for instance of the Maxim gun.
2. High-explosive bursting powder which was even 50% more powerful than dynamite. Excellent to be used in torpedoes with a delayed-detonation controlled by a special fuse also an invention of Maxim.
Notes
1. Sir Hiram Stevens Maxim (5 February 1840 Sangerville, Maine, USA-24 November 1916 London, England), inventor, for instance of the Maxim gun.
2. High-explosive bursting powder which was even 50% more powerful than dynamite. Excellent to be used in torpedoes with a delayed-detonation controlled by a special fuse also an invention of Maxim.
