New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-09
FRENCH SUBMARINE BOATS.
THOUGHT BY EXPERTS TO PRESAGE
REVOLUTION IN NAVAL WARFARE.

Paris, March ~
Naval enthusiasts in France have expressed
tho ir confidence that submarine torpcdo-boatS
are destined to be the starting point for reVo-
luton in naval warfare. At the commencement
Of the discussion Of the French naval estimates
Saturday in the Chamber Of Deputies. NJ.
Lockroy, Minister of Marine, stated that sub
marine navigation had secured for France an IN
contestable advantage over her rivals, and in
the course of his speech he thus related how the
idea was developed so as to assume practical
shape:
During my first tenure of Office" said NJ.
I.ockrOy Il instituted competition for the best
submarine boat. That competition resulted In
lhc construction OF an off alsiVc submarine yes
sci. At the moment the question was con
tested l broke down all resistance and caused
the GustaVe ZCde to be built on returning to
the Ministry | sought to solve the question. ana
now we possess an engine of war capable OF
rendering US the greatest service The expert
ments with the Gustave Zede proved eminently
successful. The boat was almost invisible while
maneuvring against ironcads. 1t rose in per-
feet security from time to time TO take its bear
ings Ii could not have been struck by the ar
lery fire from the feet and when two hundred
metres distant from the battle-ship Magenta 1t
tired torpedo which hit the Magenta, ana
would certainly have sunk her if the torpedo
lad been loaded AS to the seagoing qualities
II the Gustave ZedG, it went from Toulon TO
Marseilles. | to follow it, but while it was
getting ready for the wind arose and the
Maritime Project told the young commander OF
the submarine boat: L dare not give you the
lrder TO start. If you find yourself in. danger
take refuge in the little port Of La Ciotat' The
young officer replied, L promised the Minister TO
go TO Marseilles alone And he went.
II started myself few hours later on the
Pothuau. The rough. ON the voyage l
asked the signal stations whether the Gustave
Z6de had been seen. The first replied Yes the
others No was uneasy. l sent two torpedo
boats ahead. which We found arriving at
Marsces They had not seen the submarine
boat My uneaslness greatly increased. We met
the pilot boat and were told that the Gustave
R6de was at the further end of the port l
Jumped into the pilot boat. and, reaching the
ipot where the Gustave Zedt was mOored, saw
The voting officer, spick and span, emerging
from the manhOle. / shook hands with him and
said: Z thank YOU and congratulate you in the
hame OF the Navy, the Government and of
France.
THE submarine boat at that moment still had
a great defect-it was blind. To-day ii can see.
It has been fitted with an optical apparatus, re-
Gently discovered, permitting it to attack the
enemy while remaining invisible, and Of striking
without revealing its presence What will re-
suit from these discoveries? Perhaps reyOlu-
ton in naval warfare In the mean time France
has terrible Wcapon-the very instrument she
requires"
The Gustaye Ztdt is built Of bronze She is
sc tons, and measures $50 metres in length.
The is propelled 10y electrical accumulators. Her
Is smaller anu Of somewhat different build
The Narval, now being built at Cherhourg, will
measure LOG tons. and will be Of steel instead Of
bronze. She will have four torpedo tubes, and
will be propelled by steam when on the surface
and by electricity produced from her own
dynarnos when navigating under water. Six