The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-04-08

SPECIFIC Co., Atlanta, Ga
| spars that project from every part of
the ship. There is always a chance that
a topedo, which travels at the rate of
twenty-eight miles an hour, will break
through the net, but IT is not likely.
When the Gillian battleship Blanco En-
calada anchored in the lharbor of Val
paraiso, April II, 1891, she did not take the
trouble to put out her torpedo nets. Con-
loss OF life by torpedoes discharged at
her by two torpedo boats which happen
ed to come along.
TRAITS OF THE TORPEDO.
The Whitehead torpedo, which is the
weapon used by the Spanish torpedo
boats and d~estroyers, is a hollow steel
projectile, shaped like a fish. AT its front
end is fastened a SO-called warhead, filled
with gun cotton, and in place Of a tail it
has a small screw propeller. The inter-
ior is filled with machinery and compress
ed air. Discharged from the torpedo tube
this formidable projectile falls with a
splash into the water and sinks to a GER
tain depth; then it travels horizontally
toward the target, and is expected to ex-
plode on striking. The propeller is made
to reVolve at a very rapid rate by the
compressed air inclosed within the con-
~trivance
If the latter fails from any cause to
go off, it sinks harmless to the bottom
of the sea, and thus is not a danger to
AAt' "LNSl AU LIN - L
al sizes of these t~orpedoes. These ordi-
narily used by torpedo boats are twelve
feet long, and are provided with 1aO
pounds of gun cotton. The destroyers,
teen feet in length and containing 250
pounds of gun cotton. The cost of a
Whitehead torpedo is from So, 400 up, but
that is not much to pay for a projectile
that is capable of destroying a $5,OOO, 600
battleship.
Fish torpedoes acquire additional ter
ror, fro~o tH1o;- ;~-;z;11;1;{1, -L.1~ &L@,,
are running toward a ship. Travelling
under water, as they do, it is impossible
for those On board of an assailed vessel
to know just when a fatal blow is com
ing. If the projectile strikes, destruction
is certain; nothing; can resist the dis
charge of such a quantity Of gun cotton.
Half a dozen years ago the Brazilian in
surgent ship Aquidaban was struck by a
torpedo, which made a hole in her side
big enough to drive a hay wagon through,
a large part of her interior being trans
formed into a mass of wreckage.
1t has been suggested that one very
effective way of tackling a battleship
would be for two or more torpedo boats
to bear down swiftly upon her in differ
ent directions. Of course, this would be
done at night by preference. If there
We're three boats engaged in the attempt
at least one of them would be likely to
be able to deliver a well aimed shot be-
the advancing craft were described by
the aid of the searchlight, a storm of
shot and she'll would be turned upon
them. Being absolutely without armor
protection, they would quickly be rid
died, but one or more of the deadly fish
like missiles might be successfully de-
The relative efficiency OF the
battleship and the torpedo boat is yet to
become known; the problem is likely to
be solved in the coming war with Spain.
trouble about the Whitehead torpe- |
does is that they aTe hard to guide, and
are apt to go rocked. |
MAKING TARDY PREPARATIONS. /
During the last few days the govern |
ment has been buying a number of steel
which are to be converted into
torpedo boats. The largest CT them are
to serve as d~estroyers. Some OF
the revenue cutters also are being con- !
verted into torpedo boats. Unfortunate
ly. these vessels are far inferior to those /,
of the Spanish flotilla in respect to speed,
which is the most important attribute
for such craft, and the Spanish destroy
ers would be able to catch them and
burn them up in short order. 1t may be
mentioned incidentally mat each one OF
the Spanish destroyers has a complement
of seventy men, whereas the ordinary
torpedo boat carries only twenty men.
The destroyer, of course. is nothing
more than a very large torpedo boat. she
has no armor, and no protection what
ever, except such as is afforded by her
coal, which is in n abreast with
the boilers. A disadvantage of the de-
stroyer type of craft is hat she gets out
Of order very easily, and a big storm
might so damage the fotilla now on Its
way across the ocean as to deprive it of
offensive power. The destroyer is an ex-
ceedingly delicate piece of mechanism,
keyed up to such a high point that not
much is required to make it unservicea-
BILE. Such a vessel as the Pluton costs
about $500, 900, whereas an ordinary tor
pedo boat comes to only $4,000 of 100000.
If trouble with Spain is prolonged, 1T is
likely that Uncle Sam will build a large
lumber of destroyers, 100 of which could
be constructed and placed in commission
within six months. Naval experts say
that in a long conflict that type of vessel
will survive which is most easily repair
ed and replaced. Young officers will COM
mand our torpedo boats because reckless
daring is required in the sort OF work
they are called upon to do. Should the
Spanish f1otilla prove very destructive to
our ships. it is pretty safe to count upon
Yankee ingenuity for the invention OF
some floating c~ontrivance hitherto un-
thought of which would destroy even the
de~stroyers. AT all events, if hostilities
arrive. there is an excellent prospect
that, as Fighting Bob Evan says. Span
ish will be the prevailing language in
Hades for the next few years.
IRENE BACHE.