Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-09-07

mtted to view the progress OF the WORK,
merely knowing that a submarine vessel
OF enormous strength and great p0sslDlll-
ties had been begun by the bacHers Oh Tue
inventor. These foreign powers are lhe
governments OF China, Russia, ana GER
many BY all OF which OVertufes nave
been made looking To the purchase OF the
invention China sent 50 lar a. 10 make
definite PROPOSE zion, but those VINO con-
troll the pntenU are SO confident OF big
bonanza that they resolved to hOld on
to 1t, at least for the present.
In many respects the American BOAT
suggests the description AT 1rst gwen by
seamen of Jules Nerne's famous Nautilus,
50 powerfully written about In his inter-
esting book, Twenty Thousand Leagues
Under the sea-" especially az 1t is not an
enormous thing certainly "mysterl-
Gus object, spndle-shaped, and il not
Larger, more rapid in its movements than
a wheel" The American boat as now
constructed consists mainly Of wood. II
is 80 feet long and feet in diameter. The
crafts shape suggests a cigar, being
pointed at one end-tbe head-and blunt
at the Other-the tail The head IS de-
signed 10 constitute sharp ram, which,
when driven by the prodigious strength
contemplated in the power OF the boat,
VIII periorate the iron plating OF a snip
and then by a retrOgrade motion quickly
withdraw itself. This ram looks Ike the
snout Of hog. 1t is built Of steel, and
has peculiar edges Of sharp surfaces, In
tended to facilitate its operations.
On the top Of the craft and in its centre
Is a small iron turret, surrounded Win
little electric lights TO aid In steering. Be
tween this turret and the ram at the mead
is an aperture, at the mouth u which is a
dynamite gun, this being hidden from
view. Directly over the gun and situated
on the neck Of the vessel Is sharp, INN
piece Of steel. It ia intended 20 use this
TO cut hole in small craft or other tOrpe-
do boats by rising suddenly from under
meath them and piercing a hole in them.
The inventor claims that be can destroy a
boat by rising rapidly in the manner de-
scribed rs easily as by darling along b0rl-
zOntally and puncturng its side. Inc
rear OF the boat is constructed Ike
an ordinary propeller. It's machinery is
10 every sense double, there being twin
screws and twO engines, etc.
After punching hole in the side or
bottom Of an enemy it is claimed for the
torpedo boat that 1t can, after retiring to
such distance as may be desired, "bob
up serenely" and fire dynamite into the
other vessels as often as may be neces-
sary. To discharge or project dynamite,
the boat merely shows its turret for few
seconds, and never coming up at the same
point twice, it will be impossible TO bear
a gun on TO it successfully, even if it was
exposed in its entirety.
In the new vessel three features Of es-
pecial superiority are claimed. These
are accuracy Of movement and certainty
of destruction, safe concealment from the
view OF the enemy when desired, and an
ability to move faster under water, make
greater distance without rising TO the sur
face, and project dynamite further than
ever heretofore demonstrated. 1t is also
asserted that the vessel may run under
water and out of sight for an indefinite
period. This is accomplished by the
unique character and capacity OF the ma
chine which furnishes the air supply, the
exact construction Of which the inventor
prefers TO keep secret. The launching
of torpedOes so that they may be ais
charged automatically IS also accom-
plished by a new secret process. The
most important feature of the vessel, be.
sides its capacity to run under water In.
definitely, Is that from 300 TO 500 pounds
/ of dynamite may be projected from 500
wards to half a mile with perfect accu
racy. 1t is not essential to show above
water for the purpose Of firing a shot
which may be projected over the surface
/ of the sea when the turret al the de
! strOyer cannot be observed 100 yards dis
/ tant.
A lone fisherman who has known o
what is going on in Fort Lafayette ex
pressed the opinion that the new boat will
fall over on her beam ends when IL is at
/ tempted to float her.
I'VE have anticipated that" remarked
one Of the gentlemen most interested.
"Did you put lead on her keelY
"No. but the boat will not turn over, mol
will it right on its beams ends"
How have you fixed her, thenT put in
the inquisitive fisherman.
"Ah, that's our secret"
The fisherman seemed uncertain still
and will remain at a safe distance wheI
the launch is tried.
Lieut.. Zalinski is a very bright man
and am certain he win not be disap-
pointed In the successful operation of the
boat" said gentleman VINO is watching
the experimental test with interest. "TC
be sure two attempts in Russia, when a
boat somewhat similar to this one was
put in the water, resulted in its turning
over and drowning the crew. but Zalinski
has taken precautions TO obviate the pos
sibilitv Of this sort of disaster, and ii by
any unknown defect such an accident
should occur there will be ample help at
hand TO save the two men who VIII test
the craft.n