Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-01

One torpedO-DOat Wnlch VIII eJeOI
Whitehead torpedoes by means OF either
compressed air or gunpowder; two sub
marine projectile tubes or guns, each
of which carries a projectile in the form
of thin shell charged with gun-cotton
to the extent of 50 pounds This latter
is 4 new method of offence, and great
things are expected of it in action.
How the naval war Of the future,
fought with such strange craft as these
submarine-boats, will be managed, and
what the outcome will be, are questions
that the men who make study OF such
matters find it difficult TO come 10 a con-
clusion upon. The more they study the
problem the more the naval experts iv.e
convinced that the submarne-boats VII
bring the millennium nearer, for they
cannot see how ii will be possible to
wage war under such remarkable con-
ditions as will obtain when battles are
fought under the water, instead Of In
the water.
The first difficulty encountered by
those who study the subject is how on
earth-or rather, on sea-it VIII be
possible 10 locate u boat that travels
under water. Even though the vessel
that seeks 70 find her with hostile in
tent is able herself to sink beneath the
waves, how can the great depth or the
ocean be searched successfully for such
a tiny thing as a 5O-foot boat that may
be fathoms deep, or may be within a
few feet Of the one who seeks her with
out either knowing of the close prox-
unity? Warfare under such a state
of things would seem to be almost an
irnpossibility. but some think the days
OF ocean fighting will not die with the
construction Of the submarine nayies.
According 10 the builder of the Holland
submarine-boat, John +. Holland. IL is
possible. by the use of a water-telescope,
an instrument devised TO correct the re-
fracting power Of water that prevents
the human eye from seeing anything
except i'm a very limited range, or the
occupanis of the submarine-boats 10
make out an enemy when so far away
as 10 leave a chance for them TO find
each other when the crews OF these
boats are cropping for fight. III II Is
possible to do this it makes submarine
fighting a probability, and it is In order
To discuss the outcome of battle that
would he fought under these conditions.
The thought is sufficiently appalling to
make the neryiest hesitate before en-
barking on such a trip.
one feature Of such encounters, awful
10 contemplate, is that no inkling Of
the fate that befeI the boats would ever
come TO the surface in the event of an
encounter proving fatal. Beneath the
surface OF the water the hostile sub
marine craft would fight 1T out with
only the fishes as witnesses OF the duel.
and should both be blown up, as Will
be not unlikely where the weapons are
so destructive and so easily used, the
boats will sink TO the bottom without
a ripple having appeared above 10 IN
e he. f.fA of r.
ers A submarine-bOat's crew will say
good-by TO friends with the knowledge
that they may never be heard Of again
after they dive beneath the waves on
hostile errand.
II is difficult to imagine more terri
BILE encounter than this one. There Will
he none OF the noise and grandeur or
a battle under the coalitions OF a naval
fight ON the surface of the ocean. The
crews OF the submarine-boats, shut III
a hermetically- case, Will near
nothing and probably see little OF the
effect OF their onslaught, on the enemy.
There will be no cheers of victory To
make dying less bitter to the fatally
wounded. War will be robbed OF all
the Domp and ceremony with when ro-
nance clothes II, 10 the disgust OF those
who have experienced it's realities. be-
meath the waves the submarine uuei
will be a silent. swift. and terrible en-
counter, with escape from death depend
ing Oh hairbreadth chances Tor all en-
gagged ia the fight.
IL Spain does acquire the Russian
submarine-boat, there will be plenty OF
heroes among the United States havai
men who will be willing to sacrince
their lives I'm either the Holland or the
Plunger In tackling Spain's new craft
I'm a fight beneath the waves
In the submarine torpedo-poat hoiano
the United States possesses. Is p'oo
able, the most dangerous craI. VI INC
SORT I'm existence. What she really can
accomplish In the way OF damage only
actual warfare will demonstrate. SUI