The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-11-25

A Prospect CT the Early Construction Or
the Very Promising HoiIuad Cran.

WAsHISGrOS, Nov. many delays
the building Of the submarine torpedo boat an
thorized by the last Congress has been resolved
upon. The result thus reached is satisfactory
on two accounts. In the first place, IL would he
impracticable otherwise to use the money ap-
proprlsted. IL having been settled tina. money
set apart for a submarine boat would not be
avails BILE for an ordinary torpedo boat; and Just
now. with so little new construction going on,
even SO small an addition is welcome. Again,
an advantage OF the design furnished by tho
John =. Holland Torpedo Boat Company OF
New York Is that a good part OF the reliance for
work Is ON a merely partial submergence. which
is obviously practicable.
The difficulty experienced In submarine con-
s%t-uction has always been that of getting a boat
able TO run a long distance wholly under water
and fnd the object aimed at, while also furnishing
air enough for It's crew. But when for this dlf-
hcult task 10 substituted that OF submerging the
main part OF tho hull. leaving above water q
t~nlerably spacious armed coming tower. with an
air shaft and smoke stack, it is obvious that
there Is no mechanical difficulty In the way.
And II TO this is added the possibility OF com
plete submsrsion, and OF proceeding under the
water for . short time. rising TO take the neces-
sary bearings. the craft may be ranked distinct
lively as q submarine boat. In the present case
these are the results aimed at.
Several years ago the submarine boat OF Mr..
George c. Baker OF Chicago was brought to the
attention Of the Navy Department. and Com
mander FolGer. when Chief OF the Ordnance
Buresu. personally examined h. He found that
this craft indicated a fair promise OF success in
the future, although his request that an at
tempt should be made to steer a course OF one
mile, submerged, at six knots, could not be
satisfied. A~fterward, in November. 1902, a
Board consisting OF Commander Converse aud
Lieut.. Bradbury saw the same boat tried, and
reported that 1T satisfactorily demonstrated
the practiCability OF It's development as a
weapon OF warfare" When Congress, early
last year, voted 5000, 900 for a submarine boat
and experiments herewith. both Mr.. Baker and
Mr.. Holland submitted plans. besides others
whose designs did not fulhl the conditions. A
Board consisting Of Commander Sperry, Prof.
Alger, and Constructor Caps set forth the va
TiOus advantages OF both boats, but considered
that the design OF the Holland company most
nearly met the requirements OF the depart
ment's %ciTcular, and recommended the accept
present CHIEF Of Ordnance, In bis turn recs
commended the construction OF the Holland
ment against loss In case OF failure.
Secretary Herbert however, decided. before
made OF the eject Pr6;dSoe Sf' UPON asss sEs esss
OF a submerged boat by the explosion OF its tor
a. Newport In the early part of this Year and
resulted most faVorably, Il heing shown that no
danger need DO appreheEded on that score.
Then the subject Was referred 10 the Board OF
Bureau Chiefs. who duly recommended the
award OF the contract 20 the Holland cumpany.
However, the Secretary seemed inclined. IN the
lack OF money for surface torpedo boats, 10
postpone the submarine device and use tie ap-
Precipitation for the former. This, however, was
found imPraoticable. and a short time since Tie
bureau chiefs renewed their recommendation,
10 that Il Is now likely 70 10 followed.
The promIslng ,fsaturss of ths Holland boal
are thai IL will bS1ble 70 run very fast near the
surface Of the water with Only It's aTmored bar
bstts expOssdi that thLs Y sgfueienty protected