The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-12-28

Changes in weapons cause change in land
tactics. and a corresponding modi6cation
Of implements Affects the modes Of naval
warfare. We lind the following description
Of q naval invention which was recently
tried BY q Naval Board appointed by our
Government
The account relates "a ]. L. Lays newly
invented submarine torpedo boat. Enough
particulars are given to make it appear
that American inventive genius has once
more probably revolutionlzed the art OF
naval warfare, and that we are now IN
possession OF uIacinnc which, -~hssa Per-
Iectsd, is likely to render US safe against
the attack ~ any iron-clad navy il is pos
sible To pui sfost, at least until some new
invention has provided an efficient defense
against this extraordinary and formidable
torpedo machine The Naval Board,
composed Of three Of our ablest Admiral +,
one Commodore, and six Captains, accom-
panied BY an Army Board IT five Gener-
ais. appears to have put the machine to y
very severe test.
This naval invention consists Of an iron
or steel torpedo boat, rugged to carry =
formidable torpedo-shell, filled with ter
rible explosive compound, upon steel
spar projecting from her bows. The boat
Is in the form of y cigar-shaped cylinder,
propelled 10y All ordinary prOpeller-wheel,
driven by small but powerful engine,
worked by compressed air. The boat runs
entirely beneath the surface Of the water,
at a liked depth, which is regulated before
she starts. Her great novelty consists in
the fact that she carries no crew, but is
worked by means Of galvanic battery,
stationed ON shore, and connected with the
boat by two fine copper wires, which un-
wind from reel On the boat as fast As she
rece,les. By means of these wires, the
engines can he started or stopped, and the
boat steered accurately, no matter At what
distance. Being wholly under water, she
cannot he seen by the enemy, or reached
by hostile shot while, If any accident
should occur. there Is no crew On board to
be lost Besides, not carrying any crew,
the b1at may lie made very light and
small barely needing enough noatAge to
carry the weight Of her engines and tor
pedo.
Ia the trial the small model boat WAS
required e. run down the bay three-quar
tiers 81 a mile then To return and make y
circuit, and strike with her torpedo ali old
hulk mOpred ln the harboT. destroying 1t :
then a. run a. a gwen point quarter OF y
mile off Ia another direction then to re
turn. uninlured. To the starting point, and
rise "a the surface, ready to take on
another torpedo. All these conditions
we're accurately fulfilled. The old hulk
Vas struck, and disappeared instantly IN
Thousand pieces. During the trial, the
operator nn shore stopped the boat at word
If command, started 1t again, steered 1t in
any course desired, and finally brought her
back uniEjured by the explosion, and ready
~ 10 some more The Board Of Naval
Officers, as well AS the army Generals, are
reported To have expressed themselves en-
tirely satisfied, and confident that the boat
can operate equally well at any distance up
to ten miles independent Of tide OF sea /;
and that IT can safely explode torpedo
sufficiently powerful to instantly destroy
any iron-clad ever built, even torpedo
containing five hundred pounds Of dy
mantle, or nltro-g lycerine, if necessary
without injury To the torpedo boat.
If these statements are fully borne out
by the official report, then, AS We said, the
art Of naval warfare, and OF coast and har-
Dor defense, is once more revolutionized ;
for this invention can be carried to sea ON
any large war vessel, and operated from
the deck u the vessel as well as from q
station nn shore. 1t can also be used to
blow up Instructions IN harbors protected
by forts on shore, and 50 open the way for
the passage II 4 fleet LIS use might have
Opened the way into Charleston OF Mobile
ia spite of the Instructions planted in the
channel. II W had pnssessed it during our
late civil var | sed upon the deck Of a
var vessel. anchored out If range of any
hari.sr the i.srts.,l.. might be sent into the
hart.pr q" destroy the shipping therein.
la sh"rt If 1t proves as completely sue
cessful A. the Geographic report mtImates,
II Is likely To- prove ons Of the most ter
nhly destructive engines Of war ever
dreamed q