Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-04-11
NAVAL susnARlHe BoAIs.


WASHINGTON, April l0.-The require
mcnts OF the first naval submarine boat
have been decided upon. Commodore
Sampson, chief of ordnance, has held y
good many conferences during the month
ai,h those who believed they had ideas TO
offer regarding the problem of sah-aqustic
navigation. He has been the recipient of
many letters, mainly from sources which
could not be depended upon to contribute
much that WAS valuable. The circular
which Commodore Sampson has prepared
is ready for the secretary's approval, and
will be presented TO Mr.. Herbert any day.
The circular will be of great interest to
those who are concerned, practically or 9th
erwise, in anything novel IN navigation,
There viii be no mention of speed, no stip-
ulation that the submarine boat shall
attain certain rates on the surface and in its
submerged condition. II is felt that this is
a detail that is better left with the designer,
who will be allowed As much limit as posi-
BILE in preparing the plans for boat. 1t is
expected, of course. that the boat will have
speed, reasonable for her motive power,
on and below the surface.
The circular will insist that the boat shall
be capable of entire submersion. No part
VI tuc tIatt ifht ~ tAPVSNa. hu the ttSt'
of the boat invented by one submarine ex-
per, the coming tower and the turret are
exposed and the means of yentilating the
interior is through pipe, the upper end of
which must be above the surface of the
water. Such boat will not be acceptable.
The department will ask for craft capa
Bile OF good speed on the surface and instant
disappearance on occasion and navigation
below the surface at a decreased speed.
THIS entire submcrsion is requied AS pro-
lection to the boat, the speed of which does
not enable ii to avoid the pursuit by small
boats and the fire of small batteries.
When n submarine boat was called for
some years ago there was only the Norden-
feidt boat to base the requirements upon.
Since that time the developments in sub
marine navigaton--snch AS they amount to,
and they have mostly been within the
United States the requirement
that the new submarine boat for the navy
shall be capable of entirely disappearing,
The period which boat shall be able to re-
main in this submerged condition will be
left to the designer. as will the depth TO
which the boat shall be able to descend,
The boat will not be over $50 tons dis
placement and must be built within the sum
of $500 900. The department will not only
invite designs, but will ask for bids from
the designers for the construction of the
boat. The armament will consist of two
torpedo tubes in the bow. 1t has been de-
cided to place no tubes in the stern and to
make no use of the submarine gun, on
" hich great store was at one time placed.
The ordnance experts believe that the two
torpedo tubes will afford the boat all the
offensive qualities necessary for successful
operations.
The other requirements are secondary to
those here outlined. AL the departments
requirements will be mentioned in the order
to which importance is attached, and "A good
deal will be left TO the discretion of the de-
signer, in the hope that he may furnish a
boat lacking, perhaps, in some of the fea-
tures, but generally stronger than would be
the case if the circular were loaded down
with stipulations and exactions. So far
there are only two men who have exhibited
any practical intention of or ability to fur
nish designs for a submarine boat. One is
Mr. james II. Holland of New York, who
has been here during tie past month, aud
the other is Mr.. George C. Baker of Chi
cago, who had a long talk with Commodore
Samuson