The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-02-25
ANEW TORPEDO soar.

How Gen. Berdan Proposes to Row
tho Biggest Nam Of War Out or the
Water.
There has been cn exhibition in this
city. says Gae NeU York EUenisg Post,
for tho past few days model for a
new torpedo boat the invcnton Of
Gen. Berdan. which |. Is claimed will
very effectively blow out of existence
tho largest ironclad afoat Contracts
have been made with the chief
European powers for the use of this
boat, and Gen. Berdau saws that il has
been practically accepted BY the Unit.
ed States government A stock COM
pany with capital OF $1,000. 600 has
been formed in this country for the
manufacture of this class OF boats.
Gen. Berdan said, in conversation
with a reporter: There always has
been a great number of difficulties lii
the way of the successful working of a
torpedo boat TIE netting having put
an effectual stop to the attack of
torpedoes. it was necessary to find
some way of circumventing it. 1t is a
well-known fact that in order to disable
a vessel it is necessary to attack her
from below. A torpedo put against
her SIDE would only injure one of her
compartments, and she might get
away. Shooting torpedo at vessel
would be a good deal like throwing a
knife at a man across the street. with
more chances of missing than hitting
him, and still fewer chances of hitting
him in vital part. The problem to be
solved was how to 60 up to the vessel,
place torpedo under her bottom, and
destroy her completely. This I have
solved.
IA heavily armored ram. of high
speed. a double.ender, is used. The
spur of the ram is only six feet long.
and the method adopted for Its pro-
lection is something quite new in the
construction of war-ships. A ram is
effective only with direct blow, a
glancing blow will bend or break the
spur and render the boat useless. 10
save the spur l have adopted the ordi-
nary ferry-boat deck; the glancing
blow will be against this and the spur
viii be saved. The great stability of
this deck will enable the boat to stand
q great shock without danger to it.
Underneath this deck there are four
screws for the propulsion of the boat
two on each side. These are connect
ed with shafts so that thoy can be run
in opposite directions and the boat can
be turned on her own center. In
order that she may not he obliged to
attack small boats that may attack
her, another and smaller boat of the
same design will 60 with her to protect
her.
The torpedo is attached to long
arm, which, when not iu actual use,
is run up against her side, under the
buffer deck. The boat is sent directly
against the enemy, and as soon as she
strikes this arm is swung down, under
the netting hung out around the ship,
and the torpedo exploded against the
bottom of tho vessel. One torpedo
will be quite sufficient to destroy any
war ship. This arm is run by shaft
which drives it against the bottom of
vessel at speed of thirty feet
second. The force Of revolving shaft
continues the pressure, and tho cart
ridge is exploded. After the explosion
the torpedo boat can back out the
arm can be sent back into its place
and another torpedo attached, and she
is ready for another attack. There is
one of these arms on each side of the
boat, so that both or either can be
used according to the need. l expect
before long to make tr al against
ship anchored out at sea properly pro-
tected by netting, and 1 will blow her
up at the first attack. We are all
ready to go ahead. the company has
been formed. and the money to build
will be forthcoming"