New-York tribune., 1899-11-17
IN FAVOR or THE HOLLAND.
THE REPORT sUBMITTED-cHIEF EN-
GINEER LOWE THINKS A SUBMARINE

SERVICE SHOULD BE OhDh.'i~b|'
Washington. Nov. 1.-THE report OF the bos'o
OF Inspection and Survey the recent onlcia .e'e
OF the submarine boat Holland In Peconic Bay has
been made public by the Secretary OF the N..s'
The Board reports that after thorough Inspection
OF the plans and of the vessel It was impressea
with the excellent condition OF the BOAT ana 80
its appliances. All the requirements OF the De
partment we're fulfilled by the performance OF 'ns
Holland this trial
The official reports on the Holland boat were made
public here yesterday. Chief Engineer John Lowe.
who the Holland boat at the time OF the
official test. the particulars OF which were published
in The Tribune the time. among other things
In his report:
Throughout the trial the air IN the living spaces
was entirely pure to breathe, being refreshed from
the steering engines and from that used in dischsrg-
report my belief that the Holland is a successful
and yeritabe submarine torpedo boat. capable 0.
making veritable attack upon an enemy unseen
and undetecta6e. and that, therefore. she is an
engine OF warfare OF terrible potency which the
Government must necessarily adopt into It's service
In giving reasons why he thinks a submarine
service should once be organized Captain Lowe
says that I'VE must not permit our hands 10 be
tied behind our backs by any Hague conference or
pusllanmous humantarlanlsm forbidding such ap-
pliance Any powerful enemy" he adds. would
not play at war by attacking distant dependencies
but would strike In the vitals. An eight day dash
ships to Montauk Point. where they would
counter the American feet, which. being destroyed
by force OF numbers the remainder OF the enemy's
ships could pass and anchor in Long Island
Sound In perfect security. and very shortly Long
Island would become foreign possession. We need
right on and right now fifty submarine torpedo YES
sells IN Long Island Sound TO the peace and
10 give potency 10 our diplomacy.
Captain Lowe notes that the French at the end
q tnis year Will have spent In round numbers $780,
900 on submarine boats.
All the mistakes which have belallen the
French he adds. will pass by our Government,
our Government has not spent cent, nor has IL
bestowed anything more than scant encoura cement
! upon the private company which has large
| sums OF money. The Holland people. by means OF
the Holland, are In possession OF ripe experience.
which the Government should possess. and
else
1T seems to me quite a necessity that this Gov
ernment should not allow this skill and knowledge
10 pass out OF its own hands from native foreign
lands. but should forestall such "A catastrophe By
al once purchasing the Holland and putting the
Holland people under ban whereby they will
be prevented from disclosing secrets to the disad-
vantage OF the United States"
Concerning future Improvements to be made, he
says that instead OF doing much with one
vessel each OF several vessels should be distinct.
Thus there should be submarine torpedo boats
submarine gunboats submarine observation and
channel draggers etc. each kind complete I'm ITSELF
| but not combining more than office.
1T must be remembered he adds that this
class OF vessel cannot possibly have the comforts
| OF a roomy vessel. For example. there Is room
! for bodily exercise apd recreation. There only
| be limited cooking facilities. They must, there
! fore always be attached 10 some base. either on
| shore ahoat"