The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-03
THE LATEST SUBMARINE noAr
In Combinntton with - Costroiied Torpedo
My no ~ onders.

DETROIT. Mich. July Com mcdoro Folgcr.
chief OF tho Bureau OF Ordnance at Washing
ton. has directed W. Scott Sims. the inventor
| OF the Sims Edison torpcdo boat. to make
experiments with tho submarine boat that
| was built In this city recently by George c.
| Baker OF Chicago. Mr. Sims visited Detroit
| this week for an interview with Mr.. Baker and
| to Inspect tho boat. 1t was undergoing re-
! pairs that wore rendered necessary by damage
| to the storage battery coils. and he could not
witness its practical workings.
Commodore FoIcr." Mr.. Sims said. is
greatly Interested in tho Baker boat. and he
considers that the conjunction OF the subma-
rinc craft with my torpedo will furnish all the
| requirements for n perfect destroyer. The
combination furnishes all the deadlness. to.
| gethcr with a minimum risk which forms the
ideal element ofnssault The reason why tho
Baker boat. II successful. will provo to DO an
invaluable adjunct to naval warfare Is in It's
| ability to dodge around hore and there. ap-
| Fearing whore you least EXPECT to ind II.
| From 1t my torpedo boats can be manipulated
| with terrible effect on IN ironclad or battery.
! Mr.. Bakers boat is particularly adapted for
tho use. With 1t We can take our point OF
| attack anywhere or in any port. The enemy
will be powerlcss to prevent its hidden mean
behring's under the water and by means OF 1t
port can DC governed perfecty-madc impreC-
hooics WIN an uttWck Ill pOTt Wy VI tuS
Baker submarine boat and tho Sims-Edison
torpcdoes, the most powerful ironclad is rem
dercd useless. ltcnnnot DO fred at because 1t
can be submerged and. therefore, no target is
to keep away any cruiser to the limit Of Ilve
milos. Work Of obstruction can be carried on
with 1t almost without risk.
" take tho lyeliest interest in the new Do
troit craft, for the reason that consider 1t to
NE inc sa hs d. Of % M
about under the water. like II fish. has some
fnscinntlnG interest about i. and probably the
submarine boat Tor tho pnst 200 years, Tho
ncnriy every instaHco ' With tragedy. ali
have have ESne down and could not be made to
to % syfH we eSnd d
pumped out. oven bv hand. rs has been shown
by sess st hnd the NnfoFnnate nav
however, fool confident that the problem has
been solved satisfactorily. Ie has the first
keel Its submergng powers depend to n
large e. extent On its prorelicrs; It Il navgablc.
Concerning tho demands OF the Govern
ment for u submarine boat. om1modore FolEer
said recently IN ninterview; consider the
clear fyths boat that IN eiilcicnt boat can be
with nothing but loot OF the coming tower
above the surface OF the, water. A Sims tor.
from such a vessel to a distance OF a mile. and
directed at night by means Of range lanterns
would be moro effective than by day. The
submerged vessel. equipped with such a tor:
pedo. could remain at q point where she would
be completely invisible TO an .enelny's ship:
Tho submarine boat will be further armed
with the subfnarino gun and proJcctile. tests
OF which haye already been nude. with salts
factory results. during the past week at New
port. Tho Navy Department has been moro or
less interested in submarine navigation. and
since the failure to secure funds for such
work the matter ha, lain dormant
According to tho notion OF experts. the
most desirable qualities to lie possessed by a
submarine toat while approaching q hostile
snip under way arc speed. certainty OF dircc-
fire. Within the danger zonea part of the
speed or approach may be given IN for the
sake Of obt aininG water cover: The success
ful submarine boat must DO able to run at any
tack. The boat should be capable OF making
fifteen knots an hour on the surface. and a
mean speed of eight, knots She should
be able TO run for thirty hours ut full
water. She should carry ninety days provi-
sions. be able to turn in IL circle not greater
than twice her length. and maintain any do
p rrsa dSbS WITHIN h1 Limit OF srsfnE
70 Withstand a water rrcssure Of 100 feet
depth. There is no doubt that Mr.. Bakers
heat has many imperfections. but they are Of
nature that Gan DO remeded as experiments
continue. Tho boat has not enough speed at
present. and in many NJ inOr particulars altera-
tons are to be made. But as an experimental
contrivapce 1t is n great success. As soon as
REPAIRED the boat viii be taken to Newport
nent officials for experiments. Tho cxpcri-
ments cannot b" conducted at Detroit because
the, city Is too far distant from Washington;
here. Experiments will 10 made with my tor
redo boat in conjunction with Mr. bakers
submarine beat"