The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-07-24
sUs-loUAr1o TORPEDO osAEE
tn, MERITS or the Holland sna beher
sx.,.,.. one of witch Will BE Chosen.


tn. merits OF the Holland saa Becker
srstsr,s, One Of witch VIII ne Sno'eh'
WASHINGTON. July 23.-It seems clear from
the action taken on the recent BIDS lot tne oon.
struction OF submarine boat. that there mus.
be- still another delay In reaching ionR-uesileu
result. This, however. has now become
familiar experience Fully half q dozen years
ago Secretary whitney. who was much inter-
Gated in such devices, for the reason that ne
distrusted the ability OF surface torpedo poats
to resist destruction by rapd-firo ana machine
guns, called for proposals to build atubmarihe
boat He had procured the authority OF
Congress for the purpose. and the result was
an offer from the Cramps Tor one boat OF tne
Nordenfeldt design. and second oil the hoi-
land pattern while still another proposal was
that OF Mr.. g. c. Baker. which, however. was
not a formal offer. These Communications
we're dated May !. 1885, The Navy Depart
ment was not satisfied. and called Tor
second series OF proposals, having taken the
precaution in the mean time, to Issue q circu-
lar showing what 1t desired In detail. In an
swer to this second call tho Columbian Iron
Works proposed an improved boat on Mr. Hoi-
lands plan. while Mr.. Baker this time APP
peared with formal bid. Then 1t was discov-
ercd TINT tho funds for the sub-nIuatic torpedo
boats, which were to be taken from those pro-
sufficient to build the latter
Now, after the lapse OF years. Congress- has
voted S200,0 expressly for n torpedo boat
and experiments Herewith and out OF the de-
signs submitted only two conform to the re-
auirements while decision on these two is
relocated to still another competition prac-
ticaly the fourth In the series.
But II these delays are q little discouraging
there is really good reason to believe that we
- 49, l....z AL. hnnf
The two designs which are to compete again
are those Of Mr. Baker and Mr.. Holland: and 1t
must be remom bered that both these bidders
have actually built and operated submarine
boats. tho latter fourteen years ago. while the
former constructed a boat more recently which
was regarded as very promising by the ord
nance Bureau Besides. the Board which re-
Gently examined both systems found merits In
Of the propeiers on the transverse axis.
through the centre 81 gravity, with device ny
as to be used Tor mergence as well as pro-
pulsion. The drawbacks which the Board dis
the lack detailed 70 Rs
exrosed position OF the propeIers. and the
small provision for surface speed;
rudders are used to submerge 1t when not In
motion. an important feature is the use Of
board as more speedy and efficient than sup
volving n risk OF reaching dam erous depth.
although this In turn seemed to be ob S 6y
tud i'i trim The Board. theretore. recon-
mended the construction Of the Holland boat.
whose strength II found sufficient to resist the
pressure in continued submergence at seventy
sampson. advis ed instead that the two bidders
deserip.ens t and c%c " ations this being lack
IN MIR; Bakers proposal He also pointed out
feet feet and Sir Holland at only r. 50 that there
the formers disadvantage. Hence he proposed
that Mr.. Baker should revise his design. so as
o th she
should assume the same unit Of efficiency in
the storage batteries they propose 70 use, Ac-
rival systemr. Secretary Herbert having APP
proved the recommendation Of Commodore
sampson; we may expect that submarine
Certainly America ought not to be back ward
10 years ago Bushnell contrived his famous
device for moving beneath the surface OF the
powac Which he soaid ssten To eshp ana
give fire to 1t In time sufficient for his return
1s sna ey hs
at Paris with IT. I beat that descended into the
i in LAKE MichSa Mv and Lake Epis During the
civil war. the attack on the Housatonic may be
came the experiments Of Mr.. Tuck and others.
It would be strange. therefore, II our country
should not do It's part In this interesting form
t. whsh ether
practical attention.
That there are very great difficulties In
practical submarine navigation Is certainly
true. successful torpedo boat must have.
OF course. an adequate system OF prompt sub
mergence. with buoyancy enough to bring 1t to
keel and certainty Of direction toward its OBJ
IeSSt, must have motive power enough.
maintain itself beneath the surface long
enough to secure the invislbility required.
or course curse. It must have. the means OF supply
dicuties in fully iii solving the ee'v submarins
problem 1t has been proposed that partial
submergence should be- attempted. That is,
the small cupoIa alone would be left In sight
and provided with thick armor. This would
practically settle questions OF motive power,
the supply, OF fresh air. the securing Of
ton. IN ali these ALTERS dl fiicuities Would no
longer be insuperable Such boat could also
take along with 1t a ontrollahle torpedo. like
sims Edison. and send 1t ahead against an
enemy when within range. But, Of course,
the cuDola would destroy the great feature OF
total inyisibility and furnish a mark for the
rapid IRE sSns SSshopgh very small one
weather or on q dark night No System can be
deemed really satisfactory unless It provided
also for total submersion during o very long
distance When this Is secured there will be
NO difficulty about the torpedo part OF the APP
pliance. and. IN fact. reliance might, perhaps.
be had on the submarine gun.