《New Dimension》作者： - A. Bertram Chandler【EPUB】

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New DimensionNOT LEAST AMONG THE effects of the Australian Revolution was the suddenmodernization of the art of warfare. In 1880 there were already in existencemany weapons or potential weapons which thanks to the conservatism ofthe admirals generals and politicians were either derided or completelyignored. There was for example the steam-operated Gatling cannon withits rate of fire far higher than that of the hand-operated models. There wasthe Andrews Airship a dirigible that flew successfully with a crew of fourover New York in 1865. Quite fantastically its inventor Dr. SolomonAndrews was unable to obtain the backing of either military or commercialinterests. Todays readers of course will be familiar with the Andies thesmall unpowered airships that are now used only for sport and pleasure.It was the Andrews Airship that added an extra dimension to warfare.Nonetheless it cannot be denied that chance played a great part in thehistory of our infant nation. Had it not been for the severe injuriessustained by Ned Kelly at the Second Battle of Glenrowan as a result ofwhich his days as a horseman were finished it is unlikely that even thoughhe was an innovator he would have taken the interest that he did in whatmany of his lieutenants referred to as quotnew-fangled contraptions.quotAs it was however he took personal command of the first of the armoredtrains—although it is said that he wept openly when his quick-firing Gatlingguns mowed down Colonel Sturrocks cavalry in the action just south ofWangaratta. He never took kindly to the painfully slow armored tractionengines effective war vehicles though