New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-25
SUBMARINE WARFARE.
JOHN p. HOLLANDS INVENTION. AND PER
HAPS CTHEI;S TO BE TESTED.

APPEARANCE. PROPOSED ARMAMENT. AND
METHOD OF MANAGING THE SUBMERGED
BoAT-NETTIYG WILL NOT AVAIL.
Washington, April "a Speciality provision OF the
Naval Appropriation act. which goes into effect on
July l. 100000 will be available for experiment with
submarine torpedo boats Secretary Herbert recognizes
the great value OF an effective practicable vessel OF
this type for both offensive and defensive purposes,
and conformaby with the active, progressive policy
Of the Department. will lose time in inviting plans
and proposals fer such beats from the inventors OF
the country. Commodore sampson, Chiei OF inc
Bureau OF Ordnance. has prepared circular to In
ventors, embOdying the general requirements or
service submarine boat ard within the next few DAYS
Secretary Herbert Is expected to make public Ms di'
rectOns in the matter Such early action In the case
will enable the Department cc-efuy TO consider all
suggestions and plans received from designers before
July 1, and be in readiness to begin operations with
whatever model is found to be acceptable or about
that date. 1t is believed that tho DEPARTMENTS
efforts in the matter will have the effect OF bringing
10 the front inventions or suggestions which will
fully satisfy modern conditions AM requirements In
the recent past the inventive genius of the country
has promptly and successfully responded to the de-
mands Ct the Navy, Is shown In the superiority OF
American ships, guns and armor and the confident hope
OF secretary Herbert IN the present Instance seems
In every way reasonable. Excepting France which
has three ana spain. which has one. the great naval
powers OF Europe have no satisfactory submarine
boats. Aside from It's Importance the field for such
boats Is vast and valuable. In other words, tie
future has In store for the person who invents a
practicable effective vessel which can be propelled
while submerged both fame AMI fortune.
II Is known that the ID partments I rthcomlng cir
cular will be responded 10 by at least one American
inventor John =. Holland OF Newark, y. j.. who
has recently revised and improved and brought TO the
attention Of the Department pans OF Submarine
boat designed by him some time ago. The new de-
sign IS intended TO provide vessel for coast ard
horbor defence that cannot be prevented from goaS
close enough 10 a la'tIeslp to apply submarine pro-
iecics with certainty incurring at the same time bit
little risk TO Itself in the operation with TINS OBJECT
m vie,r hc b)at Is 10 be more completely protected
than any vessel In existence, being proVlaed with
steel armor much heavier than that OF most 0attl2-
ships and having while in action, six feet OF water
covering the submerged hull TO use the words Of the
designer As further advantages, IT is climef thaS
the boat is capable OF attacking from distance Of ono
mile that il, projecies cannot be stopped oy he'hS'
that IFS speed Is greater than the average Da'ieshp'
that 1t operate In water rough enough ID prevent
the sncc, ssful employment OF ordinary TORPEDO b]as'
and that II can in an emergency be built AMI male
ready for service In six months al cost oi aoons
one-twelfth the price Of q frst-class cruiser
The general dimensions OF the Holland boat Will he
s follows Length 1875 feet breadth, is feet depth
OF hull 1913 feet displacement, light, 2Jo IONS as
Placement when submerged to water nne. 80. 'ons'
weight Of water ballast SO tons. AS protection me
boat will have twenty four inches OF steel ormor IN
'front.' and four and a half inches on the sides ana
hack of a turret situated the upper part or the
vessel The surface OF The hull above the light water
line viii b. OF inch plating. layer OF Cocoa
ccllulose will be worked in between the inner ana
outer she'll, extending outside the lower edges of The
urrct down TO the light water line. Tile haf lehgth
Of the boat forward Of the engine room Is TO be pro-
teccd by water ballast and bunker spaces against
damage from an enemy's torpedoes. Besides this,
from four six feet OF water will cover me enlire
boat. except the exposed parts Of the tnrree when
submerged and ready for business when gong
to an attack, ysix tons OF water are admitted TO
chambers provided in the vessel causing II 10 sink
four feet deeper than its usual l'vel. Horizontal
rudders tilted upward cause the vessel 10 incline
downward. the buoyancy Of the urrets suspendinS
the downward motion at fixed level
The tnrret incloscs a pilot house I'm front an air
shaft and smoke stack ut its centre and companion
way at Its after end. Air for ventilation and to
support combustion IN the furnaces Is drawn down
through the air shaft and Is discharged with the
products OF combustion through the smokestack The
vessel being designed to attack head only the for
ward part Of the turret Is heavily armored The
round shape of the tnrret in front reduces the chances
Of normal impact. Under the 2iinch armor forward
Is another plate. SIX Inches thick with an inclination
OF eighteen degrees from the horz )2tal. which with
lis water covering l. equal 10 protection II
two feet. Below the SIX feet OF water over the hull
l.
lection. should the forward part Of the boat be
struck BY torpedo 1t Will not he disabled, a. the
section which may be broken into is already filled
with water ballast.
The armament q The Holland boat consists Of two
submarine guns placed one in the bow and one In
100 pound charges OF high explosives loo yards. Two
aerial orpeic Guns poin,iinS forward az an angle
tirret. and one pointing aft rises abaft the trret.
after part OF the turret. The bow torpedo gun IS
situated 10 feet b'.ow the water line 1t is 30 feet
within 1000 yards OF the enemy the water tanks
are filed and The he. boat sinks to the desired level
charges being cmployed when the range l. about
leo yards Two TO -four Of ,hC,s PR Prosr rt can
disastrous the bow submarine gun is brought into
play when AZ sufficiently close rang. Four thon-
land boat. Thornycroh Mosher. locomotive other
types of boiler quay be used The fuel may be either
of either can be Carried In the bunwrS. Inc engines
are horizontal iw9 triple "Span''Gn Spaols n Of IN
eighteen knots when light and over fifteen knots
So"rd @ sp can be- FOR fifteen SoTs
Ten knots can BE- kept up for eight days, enablln,
s DUn 10 sovT for ean OF snd viii S
provided. The stability OF the Holland seems 10 b.
centre Of bnoyancy is 35s feet beneath the waters
surface the 'smrs OF gravity GSGs Ih' b feet n a6svs
shape Of the central sections aS,ve the water line
these conditions should give sradiness and ease in
rSs %d r of S ase n
above the position described when light. and the
Of gravity Is at the same time lowered 4i4 feet.
thus securing great stability in the longitudinal di-
rcction.
With reference to the plans and specifications Of
the Holland submarine boat submitted 10 him for
port by the House Committee on Naval Affairs in
February last, Secretary Tracy said. In letter ~
the chairman Of the committee. the present Secretary
OF the Navy; 9TH" system proposed by the accom-
panvng plans Possesses features Which, II developed.
would provide u powerful auxiliary for purposes ~
coast defence. The development of the most prom
ising OF the proposed systems Of submarine warfare.
Of which this Is one. should. in the opinion of tho
Department. he undertaken by II powerful addi-
lion 10 the defensive armament could be- provided
ut moderate expense
AMATEUR THEATRICALS FOR CHiRITr
MI I'M LILY liz ~ liz.