Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1877-04-25
A NEW TORPEDO BOAT.
INTERESTING EXPERIMENTS WITH A WON.
DERFuL ENTIoN-LAUNcnING TOR
PEDoEs PROM SHIPS IN FULL SAIL.

INTERESTING EXPERIMENTS WITH A WON
DERFuL INVENTION N--LAuNcHIN0 TOR
PEDoEs FROM SHIPS IN FULL SAIL.
Some very interesting experiment,
were made few days ago at Cher
bourg with the little submarine vesse
called the Thorneycroit. 1t was the
first occasion of testing in French wa
ters whethera torpedo could be launch.
ed from u ship in full sail. According.
ly, Admiral Juarez, who commands
the squadron, ordered a disabled ship,
the Bayonnaise, during u rather rough
sea, to be towed out by a steamer be.
longing to the navy. A second lieu
tenant, NJ. Lemoinne, was sent for,
and informed that he had been select
cd to make the experiment of launch
ing the Thornoycroit against the
Bayonnaise, both being in full sail. He
accepted the mission without heslta-
tion, picked ont two engine men and a
pilot, and went down with them into
the interior Of the Thorneycroft OF
which only small part was above
water; this visibleportion being paint
ed OF a grayish color, so as 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 la
teen sail-yards about two metres in
length. The towing steamer then
took up its position in front of the
squadron, and the Thorneycroft also
assumed the position assigned for it,
an interval of three or tour marine
miles separated the torpedo and the
bayonnaise. On a signal being given
both were set in motion, the steamer
advancing in straight line, and the
Thorneycroft obliquely so as to take
the Bayonnaise in flank. The steam
tug went fourteen knots an hour, 60
ing at full speed in order to escape the
Thorneycroft. The latter went at
nineteen knots an hour, rate not at
tanned by any vessel in the squadron.
rhe 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
between the Thorneycroft and the
Bayonnaise had sensibly diminished,
and at 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 iDfallibly destroy the little
vessel which bore IT, 1t was feared
that the lives of the second Lieuten-
ant, Lemoinne, and his three com.
panions were absolutely sacrificed.
However, the two vessels got visibly
nearer. All at once the Thorneycroit
put on last spurt, and struck the
Bayonnaise with its whole force on the
starboard bow. The sea was terribly
deafening report heard,
and the Bayonnaise, with a rent us
big as house, sank with wonderful
rapidity. As for the Thorneycroit, 70.
bounded by the shock about fifteen
metres of, even before the explosion
occurred, it went round and round, for
q few moments, and then quietly re-
sumed the direction Of the squadron.
No trace remained Of the Bayonnaise
it was literally swallowed up by the
seq.
Unanimous plaudits greeted the
sailors as they joined the
Admirars squadron TO report ON the
mission they had accomplished. The
experiment was repeated two days
later, under the same conditions, with
another disabled ship, and with the
same success, and in the opinion Of
men, this is one of the most
decisive torpedo experiments which
have yet been made. The little tor.
pedo boat, with its lateen sailyards,
resembles a small grey lizard, and is
scarcely discernible in the water. 1t is
evident that single boat of this enc.
mics ship unless ut dusk, or when il
would be impossible to distinguish it
at a distance, for had such an attack
been attempted in broad daylight the
Thorneycroft would manifestly have
been knocked to pieces by the guns Of
The threatened ship before Il could
have carried out its project.
On theother hand, il would be quite
impossible tor one or even several
ships to defend themselves against
simultaneous attack, say by twenty
Or twenty-five Thorneycroits; andeas
lhese cost only the fiftieth part of the
expenses OF man-of.war, this expert.
nent presents formidable problem to
State navics. What is certain is that
hose who witnessed the affair were
greatly impressed by it, and are per.
'uaded that 1t is the starting point of
IN inevitable Transformation in naval I
,actics.--Paris Correspondence of the !
London Times.
Tho prosecution of Ex. Secretary ,
Robson for his alleged misappropria. |
ion of the funds Of the Navy Depart
nent will be a leading feature of Dem. /
'cratic policy in the forthcoming ses- {
non Of Congress. All the facts are ,
icing collected, ut the instance of ,
prominent Democrats in the North, /
md together with the law and parlia- ,