The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-31
LEnrERs no rms EDIroR.
sub.srins Boats-whst Bss Beer Accom-
pIishrd BY the Latest IaNentor.

1
To the EDrroR OF The sUN-Sr; In tn,
short articls in TIE Sun Of Dec "a discussing
the torpedo experiment lately made in New
port in connection with the Holland sub
marine boat, the references made to the latter
| although written evidently by a person excep
tionally we'll informed. were ineKact In few
pointa Without Intending to do 80 he leavet
the impression that my design was not full
up to the Governments requirements. The
writer made mistake in asserting that II Ia
not easy to fulfil the Governments require
ments Lieut.. HooEaard. an Acknowledged
expert said that it was impossible to fulfil
the half Of them.
Mr.. Nordenieldt ignored them entirely and
made laws for the mannuvring OF sub
marine boats But nature ignored his lave.
ss illustrated In his boats. and they failed
owing to neglect OF elementary precautions.
Although the requirements demand condl-
lions and an efficiency unthought Of by
European designers. yet 1 have the reports OF
the Board on Submarine Boats testifying that
my designs have full! satisfied them.
by the Government in 1854 aud 1889. in both
OF which my design was victorious. The
which the design falls short OF the require
ments lie will IND. upon inluirinK. that the
T TeS.s weEs the hl I that e1Sa
available. and that the desl9n exceeded them
In Important features oil which no notice has
To insure success for boat OF my design in
attacking an enemT's ship 1t is by no means
boat be fully sub@ D Ny boat V can CONS me
TO the surface. take the ships bearing, and
disappear again within 1--WE seconds thus al
fordtng but small chance for the rapid IRE
guns OF the enomy; and Its armored turret is
~ the opinion OF the highest ordnance au.
thick enough to Justify its pilot In Ignoring
thelr procedures altogether; The hull In this
ease. Is out Of their reach being protected w
three feet OF water that covers il.
Having power enough to run faster than a
battle ship Il is not quite clear to me- why the
latter should he at anchor In order that my
boat may have chance OF making II success
ful attack. The writer appears to confound
s!Rners who propose o accomplish the impos-
sible feat OF finding ana attacking n moving
p ntss n WITH totally sI6merge1 boat ny
chiefly on the surface Of the water. and that
dives only when compelled to do SO and for ms
to rise and disappear in five seconds. and to
do so as rapidly or at as long intervals as may
be desirable. This being so. why is It neces-
sary that tho ship be at anchor2
The writer concludes his notice by what
appears to be an apology Tor the inscIuts6le
disappointment; that two ordinary torpedo
In his opinion. for defensive and offensive pur-
Doses would be substituted. and that we
,no, have the inSstima6ie advantage OF hay
what L. believed at present to be quito SUM-
cient-for constructing really serviceable sub
marine boats sOmo time in the distant future.
III surface torpedo boats arc INDISPENSABLE,
why not consider this rs n surface boat pos
sessing an equal armament. speed enough,
and what IL quite out OF the question with
ordinary torpedo boats effective protection,
that renders 1t invulnerable to the largest
rapid fire proIectilesf A well-appointpd bat
tie ship capable OF beating oil or destroying a
dozen torpedo boats together. can neither re-
pei nor injurs this one
My designs were rejected in 1875 because,
In the opinion OF the examiner IL would be i'm
possible to get mon to operate my boat
They wero rejected again in 1888 oven
though they fulfilled ali tho requirements,
because was sold out to one OF nv opponents
by the contractor Notwithstanding this in
'ident l was assured. 10y way 81 consolation.
that my designs had defeated oil the others
AT the next competition in 1881, my plans
wero approved and recommended for con-
But change Of political parties
occurring NJ the came time. II was discovered
mat tho money set apart for the boat was
wanted to complete the Monterey in San
Francisco.
Aiter winning again In tho last competltlon,
am told TINT the money is now wanted for
wo torpedo noats..and that eXporlments will
ne made for tho information OF those who will
have courage enough to spend $1,000 nre-
Mating designs that must meet some unknown
condition not mentioned In the Governments
;lreu!ar' JOHN l.. HULLAED>