Lincoln County advocate. (Canton, Dakota Territory, [S.D.]) 1876-1877, 1877-04-18
Interesting Experiment with Wonder
- full Invention. ~

hesltatlOn, plCKeu OUT TWO englHeH1eA
and pilot, and went down with them
into the interior of the Thorneycroft,
Of which only a small part was above
water; this visible portion being painted
of grayish color, 80 Is to be easily
confused with the sea. The torpedo
was placed so as to project from the
bow Of the vessel, at the extremity of
which were two lateen sailyards about
three metres in length. The towing
steamer then took up its position in
front of the squadron, and the Thorn.
eycroft also assumed the position as
signed for it, an interval of three or
four marine miles separating the tor
pedo and the Bayonnaise. On a signal
being given, both were set in m otion,
the steamer advancing in straight
line, and the Thorneycroft obliquely,
80 as to take the Bayonnaise in the flank.
The steam.tug went at ii knots an
hour, going at full speed in order to
escape the Thorneyc-aft. The latter
went at 10 knots an hour, rate not at
tanned by any vessel in the squadron.
The chase lasted about an hour, the
squadron keeping in the rear, so as to
witness the operations. At the end of
that time the distance of the Thorney-
croft and the Bayonnaise had sensibly
diminished, and at a given moment the
former, in order to come up with the
latter at the requisite distance, had to
slacken speed to eight knots an hour.
The whole squadron watched this last
phase of the struggle with breathless
interest, and people asked themselves
whether the shock of the torpedo would
not infallibly destroy the little vessel
which bore it. 1t was feared that the
lives of the Second Lieutenant,
Lemoinne and his three companions
were absolutely sacrificed. However,
the two vessels got visibly nearer. All
at once the Thorneycroft put on q last
squirt, and struck the Bayonnaise with
its whole force on the starboard bow.
The sea was terribly agitated, q deafen-
ing report was heard, and the Bayou
naise, with rent rs big as house,
sank with wonderful rapidity. AS for
the Thorneycroft, rebounding by the
shock about Is metres off, even before
the explosion occurred, it went round
and round for few moments, and then
quietly resumed the direction of the
squadron. No trace remained of the
Bayonnaise; it was literally swallowed
up by the sea. Unanimous plaudits
greeted the courageous sailors az they
joined the Admiral's squadron to re-
port on the mission they had accom-.
plished. The experiment was repeat
ed two days later, under the same con-
ditions, with another disabled ship, and
with the same success, and in the
opinion Of competent m en-, this is one
of the most decisive torpedo expert
ments which have yet been made.
The little torpedo boat, with its lateen
sail-yards, resembles a small gray
lizard, and is scarcely discernible in
the water. It is evident that a single
boat of this kind would be unable to
approach an enemy's ship unless at
dusk, or when it would be impossible
to distinguish it at distance, for had
such an attack been attempted in day.
light the Thorneycroft would mani
testify have been knocked to pieces by
the guns of the threatened ship before
it could have carried out its project.
On the other hand, it would be quite
impossible for one or even several
ships to defend themselves against a
simultaneous attack, say by twenty or
twenty-five Thorneycrotts; and as
these cost only fiftieth part of the
expense of man.of.war, this expert
ment presents formidable problem
to state navies. What is certaiu is
that those who witnessed thu affair
were greatly impressed by it, and are
persuaded that it is the starting point
of an inevitable transformation in
| naval tactics.