The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-12
TORPEDO BOAT TALK.
a. .. Harrsv. the Eneiish BuIlaer. Setns tho
ntseua.ion sT oar Naval hrchitecta.

piscus.ion or Our Naval Architects.
AT. Yarrov. head Of the firm OF Yar1oy A
Co, the English torpedo boat builders, was
present at the meeting Of the Society OF Na,a
Architects and Marine Engineers. held yes
tcrday at tho library Of the Marine Engineers
Society, IL West Thirty first street. Naval
Constructor II. G.. Gillmor. u. S. ". read a
paper on torpedo boat design.
He reviewed the history Of torpedo boats
from the time Of their appearance in the civil
war. and described the products OF the firms
which are engaged in building. small. light YES
sells for torpedo service. He said that in his
opinion torpedo boats should be of two classes,
sea-going boats and harbor or coast defence
boats. The sea-going craft, no said. must be
larger and heavier than the harbor boats,
which should be able to cruise In the shallow
est parts of the harbor. A general discussion
of the paper followed. and Mr.. Yarrow said:
I'VE have great difficulty In arriving at n
conclusion as to the Value or capacity OF tor
podo boats. on account OF the absence OF a
definite standard and the difference in condi.
tions under which trials and tests have been
made. In the development OF the ideal torpedo
boat in the yarinus points Of construction,
there is no doubt but we have found water
tube boilers to be superior to tho locomotive
1T is also n fact that the elastic portions Of
boats should not be Joined directly to the hard
plates, but that tho change from rigldity to
elasticity should be gradual in order to obtain
the best results
Mr.. Yarrow said that n torpedo boat built by
his firm for the CHILEAN Navy crossed the
ocean. a distance of 1000 miles, under her
own stoam, without replenishing her coal bunk
ers. The trial test of tho boat for the Govern
ment was made two days after her arrival in q
CHILEAN port, before her boiler was cleaned.
She stood the test in o most satisfactory man
ner. Speaking on the subject OF high speed. Mr..
| Sarrow said:
ut is ID serious question to me whether ex-
IRENE speed should not be sacrificed for the
factor OF safety to her crew. For example, a
sheathing of steel of, say. one-hnlf inch thick
would be a protection against the small arms
OF an enemy. with the com para lively trifing
sacrifice Of from one-half knot TO one knot in
speed. Another feature that must be consid'
cred is the extremely high cost of an ultra fast
with power TO drive her at the rate of twenty.
seven knots, the cost to evolve a thirty-lnot
boat will be at least so per cent. greater"
Lewis Nixon read a paper on the "Regula'
tions for Loading Vessels and Naval Con
%structor Cowles, C. 4. Wheeler, Prof. c. II.
Peabody. and Prof. W. F. Durand also contrib
uted papers. The meeting will continue to-
ico's.
Clement A.. Griscom Of Philadelphia was re
elected PRESIDENT; Commodore F. NJ. Buncc OF
the United States Navy was elected Nice-Presi
dent, to succeed Admiral Meade. deceased. The
other officers were reelected, and w. NJ. McFar
land and c. II. Peabody were added to the Coun'
Gil Board.
The society adopted resolutions banking the
British Institution of Naval Architects fol
courtesy extended on the occasion OF the Queens
Jubilee, and resolutions relative TO the death Of
Admiral Meade.