Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1897-07-10
DEFENSE AGAINST ToRpEDoEs,
APrsblem That Must Re solved In the
Next Naval War.

, = EE0nACW GHAk AHAN bE 49,
Next Naval War.
The recent alarm of the fleets In
Cretan waters lest Greek torpedo boats
should attack them, and the elaborate
defensive measures adopted in suda
bay give certain interest TO torpedo
boa; attack and defense generally-to
the latter especially.
4 ship is most exposed TO danger
when lying in a harbor, and it is then
that defensive precautions become Of
the greatest urgency. The sea is a big
place, and a hotilla OF boats hunting
bljndly for a feet in the open are only
likely TO encounter it by its rushing
right into them. Then, the probability
is that the lookout cruisers and de
srroyers will drive them off or sink
them before they get their chance to
run the gauntlet of fire from the large
| battleships. There is but n quarter
from which they have any chance OF
successful attack-from ahead, because,
though their speed may be 100 yards a
minute, the battleships are probably
doing 500 yards in the same time, and
an attack from astern would mean be-
ing under fire for possibly ten min
utes. Approaching from ahead, the
combatants nearing each other al the
combined speed of 1900 yards a minute,
there is a strong appearance of the
boats being able to get within two
cables and fire her torpedoes before she
has been much more than a minute un-
der fire. Yet this is appearance only as
have seen a good many end attacks in
maneuvers, and the big ship has always
had time to turn and present her bow
or stern to the boat. No torpedoist
would fire at a ship end-on; the chances
Of hitting the target are very slight;
while given a hit at all, no modern a
ship so hit is likely to be sunk or abso-
lutely disabled by the explosion. The
boat, is, in fine, compelled TO make a
detour, in doing which she will prob
ably be sunk,
In the next naval war very few ships
are likely TO be "bagged" at sta by tor.
pedo boats, and the boats are not likely
10 last long If they attempt the task.
For they cannot long keep the sea;
they must have shelters to fly to in the
daytime, and. the number of these shell
tiers being limited, they are easily
watched by catchers and ~destrovers
able to sink the boats at leisure MS they
return in the dawn. Yet all this does
not mean that feet attacks will not be
attempted, and now and again a dar.
ing man is bound to get home; in anv
case the possibility of such attack is
bound TO be a terrible menace to a fleet;
hence there is reason to believe that the
only boat lying idle in the harbor
might be a worse enemy than three ca.
reerlng about in search of something
TO sink. paradoxical though 1t may at
first sight seem.
The terrible part that torpedo craft
might play after a great feet action
amid the big ironclads rolling helpless.
y disabled On the swell hardly enters
into the scope OF this paper. 1t suffices
10 say that as each side will probably
q large cruiser and torpedo force
with II, one OF these VIII have to ami
the other before much can be
done, and the victor may then be too
enfeeDled 70 act.
When a feet lies in harbor MANY of
thu conditions are changed; the boats
know where TO find the ships, there is
no o blind seeking and there will bo
very little Of the h~aphazard in the at.
tack. It is true that in certain big har.
oors, strongly fortified, protected bv
oooms full Of deadly distractions. a
Feet viii be safe enough, but most har.
oors are not so protected; then de-
-enslye measures have TO be seriously
adopted, and woe betide the fleet if thew
IAN. The simplest OF all defenses is for
feet to put boldly out to sea.-PalI
Mall Gazette.