Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-01-05

come into play. Naval scientists nave
been working ON this problem for years
and II Is believed that each one or the
great nations has submarine boat capa-
bic OF doing efficient work Such pos
session would be treasured as secret
Of great value, and every possible means
adopted to prevent other nations from
learning the details of its construction.
The fact that NJ Goupet. French in
ventor. has, after four years % work
completed q submarine boat which has
been satisfactorily tested is proof that
this deadly vessel will figure In the next
war
The qualities which distinguish sub
marine vessel, and without which II
would be useless, are habitableness. Sc
curity. rapidity OF immersion and ener-
gence. stability, immobility at given
depth, ready response 10 the rudder,
and the possibility OF the crew being able
TO manoeuvre from the interior OF the
boat
For the first necessity. and. in fact.
the most essential Of all-vlz.. habitable-
ncss--the crew Of the Goubet Is provided
with air by means OF compressed oxygen,
which Is carried on the vessel IN steel
tubes. exhausted under n normal pres
sure In these conditions a crew con-
posed OF three men could exist In the In
terror OF q submerged vessel for eight
hours at least. and II necessary for
fifteen hours, without suffering any in
convenience resulting from foul or rare
fed air.
SAFETY ASSURED.
Its safety has been assured by extra
ballast. Should an Unforeseen accid Mt
,ccur TO the machinery the ballast
thrown overheard would right the boat
md IT would rise to the surface like n
piece OF cork The weight Of the Goubei
is so calculated that, armed. loaded, and
carrying its crew, 1t will easily float.
leaving but small portion OF its upper
ahell and it's alright dome visible. which
latter is used az a lookout as it glides
through the water.
To submerge the boat II Is sufficient
10 augment its density. and the boat is
furnished with interior reservoirs for this
purpose. certain amount OF water IS
introduced by means Of a suction and
force-pump, ard this quantity can be
augmented or diminished at Will. To
Ink the boat the suction-pump draws
n enough water for the purpose: while
TO bring the boat to the surface the force
Jump is put in requistion. The Goubet
an sink or rise I'm a vertical position.
The principal obstacle so far to the
'ropelling OF submarine vessel has
oeen its want Of stability. In fact the
equilibrium of a boat once sunk hts al
vays seemed 10 be at the mercy OF the
lightest displacement In Its Interior
should the ballast slip TO the bow O.
stern. the boat is apt to take more or
ess marked inclination, which makes II
impossible for q man to remain In II with
safety. Owing to its mechanical con-
struction, the Goubat rises or descends
Without incliring to the bow or stern.
nd It's oscillations never displace its horl-
nntal position more than five or six CEN
'u'etres.
The motlve-power given to the Goubet
IS furnished by Schauschifs electric-bat-
terry A small amount OF power only is
needed when the boat is completely sub
merged. The whole secret Of managing
the Goubet lies in the variations of its
specific weight once submerged its
WEIGHT Is almost exactly equal 70 the
weight OF the volume Of water which
il displaces-that is to say, its weight is
nothing. Ii acts in the water es a piece
of cotton acts in the air, tossed here
nd there at the mercy OF the slightest
'mpulsion. This explains why with one
IT two-horse power. a swiftness Of seven
" eight knots NAV be given to this mass
II bronze whose weight surpasess ten
tons This is also WIN. in coming In con-
tact with an obstacle. II rebounds like
rubber ball. and does not lose its shape.
Two torpedoes are fastened under the
copper wings which are attached 10 the
hull. These torpedoes can be discharged
by very clever contrivance bv the per-
son seated in the interior. 1t is also pro-
posed to attach a steel rod to the vessel,
working a pair Of large shears with
which 10 cut the wires OF the onemy's
tornedoes.
In shape the Goubet is round In the