The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-04

ton on the upstream side of the ship to
be attacked.
The two classes of torpedoes which are
propelled and steered by interior mechan-
ism resemble each other in general appear
ance and proportions. They are cigar
shaped, several feet long, fifteen or TWEEN
ty inches in diameter, and are elaborate
pieces of machinery. They are equipped
with screw propelers asfern, and carry
from 200 to 500 pounds of some high ex
plosive Casually gun cotton in a compart-
ment in front. This is exploded when
torpedo strikes a vessels side. Those
which are intended 10 be controlled from
shore are connected Herewith by slen-
Ger wire cable, from 200 to $500 feet long,
and coiled up in a receptacle or wound on
a reel in the torpedo itself 1t is paid out
Sc easily as scarcely TO retard the prog
ress of the device through the water. Off
en- tiny float is adjusted few feet above
the torpedo, and shows on the surface of
the water for the guidance of the opera
tor on shore. A short, heavy pendulum
automatically controls a rudder which in
sures a horizontal motion and corrects any
tendency TO dive or come up to the sur
face. But the torpedo Is steered from side
to side by magnets, which are under the
influence of an electric current, controlled
by the operator The propeller is general
ly rotated by an electric motor and stor-
age battery inside of this complicated en-
CINE of war. A speed of twenty miles or
more an hour is attained Among the
best-known torpedoes of this class are the
Sims Edison, Nordenfeldt, Patrick Bren-
nan and Victoria.
The automobile or fish" torpedo takes
care of itself after it is once launched.
This is the kind of projecile which is car
ried on the torpedo boats and naval yes
oil frpI &c al a
special tube, called launching tube. The
best known torpedoes of this type bear
the name of Whitehead and Howell One
is English and the other American. The
Whitehead is propelled by compressed air
stored in the torpedo The Howell carries
a big ffywheel. which is set in rotation
at tremendous velocity, just before the
launch, by connection with an engine
outside Both of these torpedoes have
automatic steering devices, and both car
~ explosive charges of wet gun-cotton,
which are fired by a small primer of dry
gun cotton contained in a water-tight
receptacle. Automobile torpedoes often
have a speed at starting of thirty-fiYs
| knots.
In addition to the primer of dry gun
cotton in the nose of a torpedo, there is
also one of illuminate of mercury, which
is fired by a pin or other mechanism. This
4NettdiC' VI thC tOI BSuOs SSIieIdily CdilGu
the fuse, is often an elaborate contriv-
ance. A variety of such devices have been
| invented. They should be so constructed
that they cannot fire the charge by acct
dent nor prematurely, and yet shall not
fail at the critical moment
The launching tube in the Whitehead
system opens under water, and is there
fore guarded with a sluice door, which ex-
cludes the sea. The torpedo is thrust in
| from the rear, a door is closed behind it,
and then water is admitted, so as TO force
! the torpedo out without DETECTING it from
the proper course. In the Howell system
small charge of common powder is used
TO expel the torpedo, and the tube opens
! above sea level.
| Automobile torpedoes are usually
| launched from small, fast boats These
craft and torpedo boat destroyers develop
| higher speeds than other naval vessels,
| from thirty to thirty-five knots being con-
sidered the regulation gait nowadays ?