National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-05-24
ERIcssoN,s TORPEDO SYSTEM.

Letter OF tho Secretary OF the Navy
Urging an Appropriation for Building
"a Vessel, Gun, and Torpedo.
The secretary Of tho navy yesterday trans
mitted TO the senate papers from Capt. John
Ericsson calling attention to his system Of
submarine torpedo attack. as exomplified in
the Destroyer, and urging congress TO appro'
pirate 100000 for the purpose of building q
vessel, gun, and torpedoes, embodying his ideas
on tho subject.
In submitting the report tho secretary OF
the navy says 1t is generally known that
Capt Ericsson has constructed q submarine
gun and mounted IL on O small vessel, which
he calls the Destroyer. This gun discharges
q subaqueous projectile torpedo about 25 feet
long. weighing 1900 pounds, and probably
capable Of carrying IN explosive charge oil
800 pounds. Ii on tho discharge Of this gun
tho torpedo can DO made to pursue It's in.
tended course with safety, accuracy, and
good velocity 70 reasonable distance, with
assured explosion when in contact with the
enemy, 1t will DO a formidable weapon, as 1t
is much heavier, and also carries heavier
bursting charge than the other movable
torpedoes now in vogue, and il would be To
tho advantage of tho United States to
possess IL.
1t would DO prudent, the secretary says, to
determine the value of tho weapon itself be-
foro accepting Ericsson's proposition to ap-
propriate 100000 for vessel gun, and tor
podo, because if tho gun and torpedo should
fail the boat itsolf would probably prove Of
no value. Capt. Ericsson Informed tho do
partmont that he has made many experiments
with the gun and projeotile of the De-
stroyer with satisfactory results. Tho de-
partment, however, has had no opportunity
Of obtaining official knowledge of the per-
10 ..ENI H..
naval board was assembled to witness q
trial of the system. In this instance the
flight of the projectile was not satisfactory as
regards accuracy.
Capt. Ericsson has since announced that all
difficulties have been overcome, but he has
not sgniied his willingness to demonstrate
this fact before naval torpedo board,
although he has boon invited to do 80. The
department, therefore, Is unwilling to take
tho responsibility of accepting this as an &C.
complishcd fact. Nevertheless its high ap-
probation of Capt. Ericsson's past service to
the country, and its respect for his standing
in tho world Of scionce and useful invention
prevents its appearing adverse to the proson.
tation OF his views to congress norto tho trial
Of his present plan Of torpedo attack at reason
able expense to the government, aud hence
submits his proposition.
The secretary expresses tho opinion that II
would not be wiso to appropriate 100000 fol
the construction of torpedo boat until aftoi
fuller experiments TO ascertain tho practical
value Of tho gun and torpedo. He says II II
the belief of the department that with Tho
Destroyer, as at present arranged, tho merit!
of the system may DO readily exhibited, pro
vided that two or moro service torpedoes are
manufactured, and this he recommends.
In conclusion the secretary says: "Out o
regard, also, to Capt. Ericsson's high reputa
tion and to his services to the country, Il
would be appropriate action for congress t,
purchase from him the Destroyer, at
reasonable price, not as q perfected torpod,
vessel, but as an experiment. tho cost o
which ought to DO borne by the public and no
by any private citizen"