Engines of Destruction

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Nov 8, 1910

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 37, No. 44.

Engines of Destruction

As one reads almost weekly of the invention of some process, instrument, engine, for the destruction of human life, he can readily believe in the apocalyptic statement that the denizens of the bottomless pit are stirring the people to madness and war. General Sherman uttered a terse truth when he said, "War is hell;" and a modern poet, in describing a battle, has supplemented the old soldier's pronouncement:

"There are weapons formed by demons belching forth their bolts of pain,"

by which is meant that the germ of the war fever, the incitement to ever greater engines of death, is demon-inspired. Here are some of the latest developments:

1. The Krupps of Germany have invented what is called "the bomb gun," which will fire a huge, brittle, hollow shell loaded with 160 pounds of chemicals so deadly that when the bomb explodes the poisonous gases engendered will destroy all life within a radius of 500 yards. Tried on animals the fumes killed them and colored them green.

2. The aeroplane shows tremendous possibility in spying out the enemy's position, and incidentally of dropping bombs.

3. To meet this danger new guns must be invented. The Japanese are experimenting with a bomb that will explode over or near the flying-machine, and kill all on board with deadly gases. Germany has invented an automobile gun for the purpose, which fires straight up into the air.

The French hope to devise a way of bringing down the aviator by a lightning-like discharge of electricity directed at the metal parts of his machine.

4. An announcement has been made that an automobile gun has been invented in the United States that will pour out 2,000,000 bullets an hour.

5. The effectiveness of a whole battery of horse artillery is contained in a new German invention that shoots 200 bullets a minute, and can be taken apart and carried by two men.

6. A new devilish submarine has been invented in France, with a great projecting horn like that of a swordfish. The object is to run this great horn into a ship, and break it off, upon which poisonous gases are released which suffocate those on board. Similarly, the United States is working upon a torpedo fish, which contains a gun that fires on striking the ship aimed at.

7. Now inventors are working on a "wireless" torpedo which can be controlled and directed without contact, by electricity, for six miles after its discharge.

8. Harbors are to be so thoroly mined that it will be impossible for the most powerful fleet to enter and not meet destruction. Invisible fortresses and guns are to defend our harbors, these fortresses mounting a dozen or more 12- or 14-inch guns, and mortars, sighted with deadly accuracy, the position of the ship being accurately marked on a chart in an underground room every fifteen seconds.

9. Among the sea-monsters are the ever increasing battle-ships. The British Admiralty has decided upon a battle-ship with gas engines of the internal explosion type, a ship which will surpass all others in speed and effectiveness.

This new type of battle-ship, already demonstrated in small craft, will add to the already fearful burden financially. Great Britain alone has invested nearly $850,000,000 in war-ships since 1900. Her ships the present year will cost her $183,914,980. A month ago she launched a new 26,300-ton battle-ship cruiser of 75,000 horse-power at a cost of $8,000,000, the Lion by name.

The gas engine ship will be of an altogether different type, less exposed, less vulnerable, more compact, more powerful. It will be able to focus all its guns on one center, and it can carry bigger guns than the present type. Germany is working on the same problem. One battle-ship of the new type, it is estimated, could successfully meet a fleet of six modern Dreadnoughts.

Still another type is suggested — the partially submersible ship, with only her guns above water, hard to find, harder to hit.

How it all demonstrates the truth of God's prophecy in the third chapter of Joel with reference to these times! How it demonstrates the prophecy of the demons of war predicted in Rev. 16: 14. Beyond wait Armageddon and the world's destruction.