The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-06-24
TORPEDO-BOATS.
They iWilI Make 1t Uncomfortable
for WarShiOS

1t does not much matter what may be the
character of the armOr of the modern battle
ships, whether the defensive plates be steel or
Harveyized, free from blow holes, plugged or
otherwise, they are all vulnerable 10 the action
OF direct conclusion, as exemplihed in the
naval torpedo. During the recent disturbance
in Chile Whitehead torpedo, fired either from
the Almirante Lynch or the Almirante Con-
del, II is uncertain which, sunk the armOr. lad
Blanco Encaada. and prOiectiIe of the same
character destroyed Mello's flagship only a
short time ago. But the defenders of the huge
ironclad battle craft are now advocating a
most unique means of defense against the
troublesome torpedo. and one that one cannot
help thinking is altogether in line with the CON.
ceptiOnS OF the great armOr-clad themselves.
1t is now proposed TO drop a heavy steel
netting around the warship. allowing this
screen TO extend say 20 feet below the surface,
and with proper bOoms. held 20 or 80 feet out
from the ships sides. This steel netting, &C
cOrding 10 the brilliant naval Imagination of
ex-Secretary Whitney, carried at a distance of
20 TO 30 feet, or even less, from ships side,
furnishes an effective protection against tor.
pedO attack"
II this is to be accepted as a fair sample of
the modern naval conception, as ii relates to
conclusions In explosive physics, then we have
the entire KEY that unlockS the mysteries OF
modern naval architecture. Then 1t becomes
clear why 1t Is that the IDEAL warship. as re-
CARDS gravity, is planned like pyramid, with
It's apex downward. when even the handling of
the guns on the high-storied structures subjects
the vessels TO dangerous careenng.
Nudl the sun would % the SlRHlu-
canoe OF dozen of piles of such netting,
whether 20 or 200 feet away from the sides OF
the shlp-0f what avail would this be as de-
tense against a number OF cheap, Seit-pr0pel-
ling dynamite or nitro-glycerine laden vessels,
equipped for great speed and hurled toward
one of these eyatbanS with time apparatus to
explode the destructive cargo not necessarily
within a quarter OF a mile OF this netting? Ten
tons OF nitro-gtyceriDe could be exploded at
small financial cost and the modern battle
ship within league would fare but little bet
ter than ii in the crater OF VesuviuS.
This steel netting thai the ex-Secretary pro-
poses would not have one whit more efficacy
than one of those wheel spider webs thar one
sometimes sees spun across the corner of some
clubhouse. Verify. there are days when mere
wealth seems TO have thrust criminal Ignorance
into high places aud the lalnt seems TO be
everywhere on its own recOenZance. Those
who imagine that the armored battle-sh is
secure until aerial navigation becomes prac-
tcabiltv are nursing deusion.
A mere 1.-THE OF the cost involved 10 modern
coast defense would suffice TO equip fleet Of
swift-prOpelling lnitro-glycerine boats capable
OF keeping at bay all the navies OF the earth
and just as capable of destroying a fleet of
irOnclads as single one, as destruction does
not imply the hitting of any given target, but
In operation over wide radius. There will be
some revelations in what may be termed
scientific and economic destruction when the
time comes for its application.
me present battle shps are the most gro
tesque caticature OF modern times. EXerIing
tnelf most capable defense, and 3 per cent OF
tnelr cost In direct conclusion would wipe
them all from the waters.-Pittsburg Dispatch.