The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-10
BAD READING FOR SPAIN.
THE SUBMARINE TORPEDO YES
Sell HOLLAND.
Now Having her Triai-if she WORKS
spain Might as Well 60 out OF
Basfness-Nany Fake Rumors
ExpIoded-Preparat for War.

run under water. and. while submerged.
70 attack a vessel with her dynamite
guns
For a few days she VIII be run upon
the surface until her machinery has been
shaken down: then she VIII be tried be-
meath the surface.
Tn. Holland was ACCOMPANIED down 10
point near Sandy Hook by tugboat to
carry supplies for her crew and AFFORD
them sleeping place. She was followed
by a launch filled with detectives.
A force of detective has lowered day
and night about the shipyards, watching
every movement on the strange ntJ5
craft which Is designed TO move beneath
the surface of the sea and destroy vessels
hundred times its size. II has not per-
formed these feats yet, but IL is expected
that il viii prove its ability TO.
The boat was completed within the past
week Then the Nizcaya came into the
harbor. The government had fully decid-
ed that IL anything happened 10 the big
Spanish cruiser it must be able TO show
that every preeaution had been taken 20
prevent nlishap having its origin outside
the vessel itself.
1t was decided that r the Spaniard blew
up, il would be unpleasant 20 have had
beat In the harb0r that possessed power
10 navigate unseen and unheard fifty fee.
under water. carrying three dynam.td
guns and enough explosive TO blow up a
| city
The COVER ment has an interest In the
4 Holland. inasmuch as il intends 10 buy
her II she proves success There was an
element of the ridiculous in watching her.
but the administration decided 10 leave
no room for reflection.
The submarine torpedo boat which was
designed by John p Holland and built
al Lewis Nlxons shipyard. was launched
on May l. of last year, and at that time
attracted worldwide attention. 1t was
then expected tina. she would be tried by
the end OF June. but series OF several
slight accidents occurred which delayed
her completion, and then. when she had
made several runs the surface, II was
found advisable TO make several changes
I'm her construction.
The work has occupied the past six
months. Owing 10 the dangerous charac-
ter OF the work for which she was de-
signed. every detail had to be thoroughly
gone over that she might be perfect.
i}er submersior will be gradual. The
Holland Is designed to navigate 10 a depth
Of fifty feet but her first submarine trial
will consist OF series OF short shallow.
dives
One Of these viii tell the tale II. when
the man in her coming tower pushes the
button that throws her fn-lke horizontal
rudders down. she pokes her nose deep
INTO the water. sinks beueaJn the waves.
and then at the command OF her rudder
rises again 10 the surface. a new and
powerful factor will have entered into
the problem OF marine warfare. and the
United States government Will receive q
powerful addition to It's sea force.
WhGe the construction OF the Holland
was purely n private enterprise. It has
been understood from the first that II she
proved q success the government would
buy her at once
The navy department several years ago
awarded contract 10 the John =. IIol-
land Submarine Torpedo Boat company
for a submarine boat. and that vessel was
recently launched at the yards Of the CO.
lumbar Iron Works at Baltimore and
IS now nearly ready for her trials. Con-
gress passed bin providing for the con-
structlon OF two or more boats like her
provided she proved success. and the
company anticipated this contingency by
building the Holland a the Crescent ship
yards From the day the Holland was
planned the navy department has been
watching her.
Recent events have Increased the inter
est In Der. and her trials are looked for
ward K with unusual interest
Great precautions have been taken TO
Keep secret the details Of her mechanism
and TO protect her from inqulring eyes
7 Is also probable that her trials will be
made Is secretly as possible.
The Holland Is about fifty-six feet long
and somewhat resembles a cigar I'm shape
She is propelled by a single screw, aud
when on tho surface derives her motive
power from n gas engine which VII drive
her at eight knots ar hour. Under water
she VIII get her motive power from an
electric storage battery and an electric
motor. and she IS designed IA make from
twelve 20 fourteen knots and TO continue
thus running for FIVE hours To dive
horizontal rudders. acting like the fins OF
a fish. are provided.
The boat can also be submerged bv the
admission Of water into ballast tanks.
The boats armament consists OF an
e.ghteen-'nCh torpedo expulsion tube for
ward ana lying on the axis Of the boat.
For this she Will carry three automobile
torned0s
Above this tube incl.ninE slightly up-
ward from the center IS an etght-irrh
aerral torpedo gun which viii throw an
eleNty-pound dynamite she'll over a mile
and ha.f. Just above the axis and par
aflel 40 tt. pointing aFt = a submarine
gun capable ~ hurting au eiehtv-pound
dynamite SHE'LL 9a Yards under water with
a high velocity These guns nre = i u~a,,
ma'ic and before being placed IN the boat
We're carefully ard successfully tested nm
der the conditions under which they will
be- used The beat WI have room Tor
twenty dynamite shells.
The great value Of the Holland boat -
she proves successful VII be her abilI.,,
20 carry on hep work a destruction he
Meath The surface ~ The SEA f,rev- a..
Hve r7en W.T. he needed % operate her
oce Of these vii Do the commander. who
standing 20 th~ central and main COM
raFtm*nf. his heaa I'm the l,'je coming
tower vii direct THE operations.
: second WI Na the man who win 81,
q ; .l.l-' ar--