Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-25

The British Admiralty Decide to Build
Torpedo Rams of Her Type.
FROM a Herald Cabiegram.


/ LONDON, July 21.-The Admiralty has
/ decided 10 cons truct several torpedo rams
/ similar to the Polyphemus, owing to the
/ latter's effective service during the recent
eyolutions in Bantry bay.
| DREAMING THE BOOM IN BANTRY BAY.
/ The Polyphemus carried OF the honors
during the recent naval "battle Of Bantry
bay" The Polyphemus is not a pretty
craft; indeed, her pictures give one the
idea Of long transport ferry boat loaded
down with boiler engines Of various sizes
set on end. But she did effective service
IN crushing through the great ''bOom,"
one Of the several which Rear Admiral
Nhyte had built to protect his YES sells in
I the harp0r from attacking squ0drOus I'M
der Vice Admiral H0sklns. The boom"
was Il formidable affair with bristling
spars, entang ement Of wire hawser and
cables and ropes placed in such a manner
as 10 foul the screws Of the advancing
houlla. 1t was also supported by fields Of
mines laid down in the outside waters.
1t proved practically impregnable to the
wasp" squadron Of naval ''wasps" that
assailed IT. On the day following the sham
naval tight it was determined to try what
a lirstclass steam ram could do against
selected for the work. How she did it is
thus described:
THE SEA MONSTERS ATTACK.
"Eler Majesty's ship Polyphemus went
out alone to try what effect n ias. steam
ram of her class would have going at
highest speed ful! tilt against the boom.
| ms was guarded by line OF torpedo
boats mOored so as 10 eniilade the boom,
| Just within effective rifle range. The
Polyphemus had to run the gauntlet of
this formidable array, and one would have
! thou Eht her chances almost hopeless
Going mile or two outside the harhOr
mouth she gradually got uD speed, as
she clrcled round and round like an eagle
in flight ready to swOop on us prey. AS
her speed increased up TO seventeen knots
or more, pointing straight for the defen-
| slVe works, she seemed to skim over the
water. As she passed across the subma-
/ rlne mines several electric contact bat
| terles exploded, showing that they had
| been well laid, and had sustained no in
jury during their long immersion in the
| water Gathering way as she went, the
| Polyphemus shot clear Of two tODedOes
| well aimed at her, aud ran for the boom.
| A moment of anxious suspense, and then
| she crushed through the obstacle as if it
/ nad been OF paper, seyering the 5-inch
| steel wire haWser without the slightest
/ difficulty, or any shock or pause, so ire
/ slstIole was the force Of her rush. A
! third torpedo was aimed at her, but Capt.
! Jeitreys, who handled his ship with great
! skill and GOODNESS. merely ordered the
! helm to be put hard a-starbOard. She
| swung quickly round, and the frightful
| missile instead of striking the POlyphe-
mus, fell on her quarter, and passed harm
| lessly astern. while those on board raised
hearty cheer for the clever manpuvre
| by which this shot had been avoided.
| Then perfect armada Of steam launches
carrying tOrpedoes swarmed about her,
dlschar9ing those engines as they came,
so that they crossed the tracks Of each
other. Pursuing similar tactics through
out, Capt. Jetfreys turned his ship now
right, now lett, stopped her dead. or went
ahead full speed, as occasion demanded,
and avoided all except one with wonder
full deXterity. Whether even that one
struck the snip is doubtful. There We're
many skIlfulEseamen who expressed great
| admiration for the way in which the Poly
! phemus was handled by her able COM
mander."
The account reads like the real thing
IN truth, but it was only pretending" as
the children say. cit may be useful for
alarmists to know" wrote an eye-wit-
ness to a London illustrated paper, ''that
| POlyphemus would have had very little
chance of ever reaching the boom, as
she was blown up at least three times by
tue contact mines before she attempted
to cut through the defenses."