New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-09-06
THE TORPEDO IN WARFARE.
APPROPRIATENESS MADE AT NEWPORT. =


NEwPoHr, Sept. 2.-The experiments carried
on to-day the torpedo station during the Inspection w
the Secretary tho Navy made one OF the grandes as
pays and gave the highest proof OF the value
OF the Institution showing they din what dependence
can be placed the knowledge and skl OF tue young m
val officers In providing efficient DEFENSE Tor tS coast
In time OF war. At about 10 M tho guests began 10 10
senble and Mr. Robson showed the example OF pronP
Mesa Among the guests were Admirals Porter ana
Rogers Gen. Burnside, Gen. Warren, Senator 'faoh,
Commodores letters and Davis, Capt Jones Of tho Roy 81
Navy Prois Rodgers and Cook and many OF the pIom-
uent Newport Summer residents. Every thing was re-
ported IN readiness and promptly at IL ocioch 'e OK
peiments began with salute OF nineteen lorpeuoeS'
These were exploded IN regular succession b. means
of an ingenious electrical contriyance, the h'eH'i'h
Of Prof Farmer. The torpedoes consisted OF cases con
tau,nr ten pounds OF powder each SUNK IN ABOUT FIX
feet Of water and well they placed hat as eac"
exploded 10 threw column OF water MY lec' III n""'
torpedo containing % pounds or powder Was heA' eA
Uoded ut "A distance OF 200 yards to snow tLc uiy Vi
Farmers dynamO-elcc;rc machine, such as IS uS'u ~
shps boats. This little machine, contained In box
scarcely two feet square, IA marvel OF ingenuity and
smDlicty II is CONNECTED vita the fuse OF the torpedo
by a sin dc wre and the operator, by turning CRANK
touching stop, rings bell IN the box, which assures
him that all is right. Thus he IL enabled III any 'is 20
test tho connections OF his torpedo and Know "Ae1Acr
will explode or not second stop when pressed releases
into the torpedo exploding 1t instantlneousiy rhe
Eoxt experiment was made with weapon intended 10
ba used from the shore In defense OF haroor entrance
In tie Lay torpedo the climax OF mVestNe ecii"9
seems TO have bcca reached This weapon OUT u "d4
presents the appearance 0f long cigar having a' po'
ends screw propeller and iudder, as the only cN'c
means Of distinguishing The bow from the STEM She Is
boiler iron and IS about thirty feet long by i"ur
feet greatest breadth OF beam In the waer tEe top %
hr bacl; Is barely visible, and IN experimenting the only
Nay by which her motors may be followed Is by ihe'hS
~; inv g,cs hoi,oG at either end. II Nj Lay were qes-
toned as to what her internal arrangements WeIc' ne
would in all probability, tell the inquirer tHac ,nc
couiJ carry 500 pounds OF explosive hd'eii"i'
thas she held engine for WORKING the pro
urller and ludder, q number OF cases containing
c,ron!c acid gas bottled up under high pressure 10 run
the engino WITH and reel OF electrical WIRE bo!oh"
s an must be conjecture and one could nus look WIN
anazcmcnt at the working VI the little cra't' enc lay
like syamped boat alongside the wharf, heid oh5 ny
,,igo rope ready TO be let 90 at moments "aTnias
ro opetcr on shore touched key and she started OH
at full speed unreeling the wire, aud laying IL uo" Oh
m b,to IA she went so that Il in way hindered hcr
movements. Making long turn, she headed ioi inc
TARGET under as perfect control a. mans mana "oro
81 ia. filler turning to starDolrd or port, stopping OF
GOING ahead, by the touch OF Key from thc oic'"
for at mia lookout station ashore Let any ono
who doubts mans control OF lightning bur see
mia niece Of work and ne will be Convinced
rbcro il only a single wire communicating WIN
the boat and along this 20 the orders ahead'
,tog sarboard o. port and The boat oDeys as feuy ~
II thinking mind were IT the helm. Striking her target
,e exploded a small torpedo fixed 10 her Dow, pio"hS
away tbe obstruction, and then, unframed hcrselT'
,urn,d about AID ran back stopping obedcntly aiOhg
ollie boat which took her IN tow and mcOrcd her safely
All ready for another trial This boat kept under cover
~ a suitable point and her fittings may be examined Up
10 tha last moment before use On me approach OF an
enemy the little craf IL launched, and waits quietly
until her opponent is within range once started on ef
eiraud and there is avoiding her she can Sthe pu'
single blow but the ship has not yet been built that
can viii stand the shOcA OF explosion Vi A'o N"
pounds o. dynamite
TIE ERICSSON TORPEDO.
This pretty exhibition was followed by the maneuVe,
ing OF = rival craft-tIG Ericsson tOrpedOboa'-"Cb IL
not hit behind the Lay an exhibition OF IN 5enuy.
It's share Is entirely different from the othcl, behs hot
unlike that of a coffin 4 large scale THIS Doat mas
double screw propelled by en- ne whose motor Is air
Tie air Is pumped into il through hose which the boat
lrlqs astcr and by regulating the supply through ths
single tube tie little craft may be- stored IN any oiiee
tln dove to any depth. or brought to the surface
long rod w small round target on It's end serves 10
snow tle position Of the torp Co. lis exploding charge
il carried in forward compartments and tie operator
-, nocs her with srl lever IT his arpump shore.
d.niclt matter t. judge between Lcse two boats
which IA The more sCryiceabr Both possess the power
OF uancuycling at long distances "a mile or moie WITH
ONT r,ng the life Of Tire operator The Lay must keep
near the surface aud II thus exposed 70 tne On noes GI
h.uv disabled by a shot LcfOrc she finishes htr NVtk'
The Ericsson, hy her diving power. IS made sac nom
fiIFwny hamper; her movements and presents yu!-
nrDlo pou, enemy, while the Law rdS Ler'eI %
A cai on "a tn 6o.tom Afier this experiment SIX
pel0rs forty pounds each, placed al distance Oh
OF he lcs btis inyiiei touch the hrne keys.
Following tiis was m explosion 81 lho'hd Iuses ~
In sIl
p.'l.s,a. a SLAM ~ I.ir @Iy"ridr, n, 10 a sroat
electro -ur - the hainmer Which %As d5"h up 10
AID detached u lul rs ruS,uIc ~ maAIie anu AZ
.t tts,efcd attention. Is means " this little inStrl-
MAJ he measured 81 each second OF its Night from te
lime III leaves the Iln until IL strikes the ground.
Tnis Is the invention oi Prof. Farmer, and when II Is
taken into consideration that ine starting Nt,O'y
tGs instrument not only this exact number OF feet are
measured bu that by proper Arrangement tne can Ds
recorded 10 the hndredth part OF eecond me skill Oh
this the small steamer Nina SHOW al the specta,
what is meant by the bag Of pow der on Tue end
OF pole" Wiu iOOpOund torpedo at'.ied 10 Z i9is
spar projecting from her side she ran at iit sa ,e
torpedo under ana exploded IT, reducing ths solid mass
TIMBER TO sawdus Next tie class of oDceis uhueI
instruction manned one Of tue steam launches ana
showed how the spar torpedo is used from IT, as was
dome ny Lieut.. Gushing IN MS famous attaCA OF he ram
Automatic The i00-roamier vas exploaea h.l!Nessy
wIon 20 e' of the launch Inc secretary Oh the ~
4on c,cd upon one OF he officers to rig up torpedo
from anything that hc cou!d get An ou Ih Oh Gun ahu
"A tWO-giliOn dcmii0hn wcIc soon found ana III ioW
minutes lied @lh powder, fusei, eorkju anu dAioWn
overheard; q few seconds more ara Inc column
of water shot up nigh as 1t would nave dome
frnH the most scientifically constructed missile.
The Nina was then pat III Iequ 'hon again to
xhbil the working Of The Harvey t. lO Tins ID me
invention Of English naval officer, and. properly
handled dangerous customer To deal WITH Ii Is III
tended 10 he Used swift small vessels nose OBJECT
world b. III time VI action 10 TIT at the heaVy rOnca5
OF the eney sending them 10 the bottom at blow The
torpedo simple rect angular box, win the corners cut
Oh mat h0rzJntal section IS iaptzOH ihIs Dox
is le1ey lled with powder fuse projecting nom
the top with levers attached 20 it, which on coming IN
contact with any heayy OBJECT explode the torpedo IL Is
lowed from the yad5trm Oi the vessel, ana It's Jow-le Is