Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-09

secret mechanism 1t was some years ago.
owing principally to its general adoption by
nearly all naval powers: and its inside
workings are commonly understood by all
wel-versed military and naval men. A
knowledge of how to work it, thoughts an
other matter; and, briefly, it may be said
that every torpedo of the Whitehead type
has its own individuality, it's own idiosyn-
cracieS; and it is the duty Of every quail
fled torpedo officer to learn the character
istics of these steel babies that, some
day, may win him glory.
The Eighteen-Inch Torpedo.
The largest of our torpedoes-the 1S-inch.
so known because that is its greatest di-
ameter, is a blunt headed, cigar-shaped
body of steel trifle over sixteen feet long.
propelled by miniature engines. capable of
developing within the limited space of an
average size cheese box driving energy
of thirty horse power. With that force
turning its twin screws, the miniature craft
can be driven for distance of a mile and
half at the rate of quite thirty-five miles
an hour Compressed air Is the motive
power. and 1t is crowded into the ten-foot
boiler of this small boat till a pressure
ninety times that of the air we breathe is
reached. The explosion of that boiler is a
dangerous possibility to be guarded against.
Besides the boiler compartment and the
engine compartment, there are four other
subdivisions-one for the carriage of that
murderous load of 900 pounds of gun cot
ton at the head, and the others for regulat-
ing the air supply to the engines and for
maintaining the torpedo at any determined
dc pth of submergeEce.
When attacking vessels at anchor and
likely to be protected by torpedo nets the
nose of the torpedo is fitted with a cutter
and no ordinary fabrication of steel rope
and chain could Withstand the ripping
force of that instrument backed by the
rushing force of nearly 200 pounds. The
| &c ha f1,l,o Inv hn
discharge of about four ounces of powder.
In passing out a little trigger or clip turns
on the power for the engines and, by the
time the torpedo has diVed, the engines
without jar, are running at full speed.
When clear of the boat a few yards n
safety device drops from the nose and
leaves the plunger barred to detonate the
friRhtful charge within. Striking a shin
line, it will tear a wound with SUCH awful
force that the heaviest OF armor must
yield.
A Terrible Menace.
In the hands of either the ignorant or
needless the modern torpedo is a menace
to friend o. foe; but in the hands of the
skilled and resolute 1t is the wickedest
implement of warfare-wicked in threat
and wicked in deed.
+ 1t is to bear the modest burden of a half
dozen such babies that the largest of
Cur torpedo boats are built.
The torpedo boat or the destroyer is any,
thing but thing OF beauty. Their sea-
green hulls. the absence of bright work,
the presence of those torpedoes and
knowledge of their somber mission of
stealth and destruction stamp them with
the impress of something akin to official
piracy. There sre TO odds offered the
enemy. 1t Is not struggle between equal
powers where skill and facility Of handling
may win with open honors The weaker,
though many times more agile, cannot take
the chances of equality, but, instead must
creep upon the adversary and compel his
surrender only when the sense of his dying
condition is borne in upon him with the
force of that one conclusive blow. What
are the chances Of succor offered In return?
The torpedo boat has done its frightfuI