_Torpedoes employed by the Paraguayans._--During their protracted struggle with the Brazilians, the Paraguayans employed submarine mines for the protection of their river forts, &c.
_Loss of the "Rio Janeiro"--Brazilian Fleet entrapped._--On the 2nd of September, 1866, the Brazilian ironclad _Rio Janeiro_, after being well-battered by the guns of the Curupaity fort, was sunk by a torpedo. Later on, near the same place, a whole fleet of Brazilian war ships were entrapped by the Paraguayans, between two rows of submarine mines, but owing to faulty arrangements they escaped unharmed.
_Venice, Pola, &c., protected by Torpedoes._--During this war, torpedoes for the defence of Venice, Pola, &c., were extensively used by the Austrians, under the direction of Baron von Ebner, but as in '59 no opportunity was afforded of proving their practical worth, though morally they were of great value, the Austrian harbours so defended being considered impregnable by the enemy, and therefore no attempt was made to force them.
Little or nothing in the matter of torpedo operations was attempted by the Germans, and on the part of the French nothing whatever.
_Germans employed Submarine Mines._--Electrical and mechanical mines were placed in several of the German harbours, the former containing about 200 lbs. of dualine, the latter some 80 lbs. of gunpowder. The only attempt to destroy French ships by means of offensive torpedoes was made by the German vessel the _Grille_, off Rügen, which resulted in failure.
In laying down and in picking up after the war was over their mechanical mines, several exploded, killing some ten to fifteen men.
_Boats necessary._--Towards the end of the war, the Germans were constructing special torpedo boats, believing that such were necessary for the complete defence of harbours. This war added another proof of the moral worth of submarine mines; the French fleet not daring to approach German waters _supposed_ to be defended by such means.
_Superiority of Turkey to Russia in the matter of Ships._--On the Danube, in the Black Sea, and Mediterranean, where the principal naval portion of the war was carried out, Turkey was possessed of a fleet of ships infinitely superior to Russia, both in point of numbers and strength, and therefore, to enable her to hold her own against this vast superiority of the Turks, the Russians resorted to an extensive employment of torpedoes, for both offensive and defensive purposes.