The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-11
THE HOLLAND A SUCCESS.
Captain loves Report on the Sub
marine Craft.


Capt. John Lowe, L. 5. y. has made a
report to the Secretary OF the Navy on
the availability OF the submarine boat Hoi-
land. saying in part:
4 report my belief that the Holland Is
successful and vertically a submarine
torpedo boat. capable of making a eerit-
able attack upon an enemy unseen and I'M
detachable. and that. therefore she is an
engine OF warfare OF terrible potency.
which the Government must necessarily
adopt into its service
Concerning the worse than worthless
ness OF the present above-wa torpedo
system its methods. theories and appii-
ances, the need for deliverance from It's
absurdities and from the fools paradise
OF its false security, and instead thereof
the absolute need OF real torpedo system.
In addition, however. l would like to
give further reasons why a submarine
service should at once be organized as a
matter OF public necessity and security.
I'm the first place. we must concede that,
notwithstanding The Hague Conference.
the time has not yet arrived Tor nations TO
disarm. On the contrary. tEs' nation which
is not ready to fight. that ceases TO study
war, that ceases to use the Ssost fright
full warlike appliances when war Is made,
has already placed itself In a position Of
inferiority and has ceased to possess those
valuable attributes which are well de-
scribed by the term manhood Such ma
ton Is already in the position OF China
prey to the weakest and the most rapa-
cious. and disturbance to all the rest Of
mankind
III. then, we propose to fight. we must
Hsht when we fight with every fighting ap-
piiance. and. therefore If there is any-
thing valuable in submarine toruedo war
fare, we must not permit our hands to be
tied behind our backs by any Hague Con-
ference or pusilanimous humanitarianism
forbidding such appliance.
Let US not. ostrichlike, hide our eyes
In the sand. but if we see danger let US
look upon it,
We have distant dependencies-the
Philippines. Hawaii, and the like. viii an
enemy seek to bring us to terms by attack
ing these? Perhaps so; but II So the move
would be weak one, exceedingly weak
In fact. we could afford TO offer these az
gambit upon which the enemy could
waste It's strength while we were Develop
ing counter moves.
a
ertul enemy would not play at war after
that fashion. They would strike us in the
vitals An eight-day dash across the At
Iantic would bring their ships to Montalik
Polnt. where they would encounter the
American fleet. which being DESTROYED by
force OF numbers, the remainder of the en-
emys ships could pass on and anchor in
Long Island Sound in perfect security, and
very shortly Long Island would become a
foreign possession
DO not consider this scheme a fanciful
one 1t is not original to my mind. So
many have spoken of il that am satisfied
1t has been considered and digested In for
eign councils and is part of their pro-
gramme
Our last Spanish war convinced me that
our own people were at that time awake
70 ms fact, for we saw the army diligently
certifying against what? Phantom ships.
In our next war it will not be phantom
ships, for there are at least two nations
which can do this thing single handed
I'VE need right off and right now fifty
submarine torpedo vessels in Long Island
Sound TO preserve the peace and TO give
potency 10 our diplomacy.
The French in this matter are much
more alive to their needs than are we.
What We have left TO private company
the Ferneh have taken up as a national af-
fair.
1t seems TO me, therefore. quite a neees-
sity that this Government should not al
low this skill and knowledge to pass out of
its own hands from native 10 foreign lands
but should forestall such a catastrophe by
at once purchasing the Holland and putting
the Holland people under some ban where
by they will be prevented from disclosing
secrets to the disadvantage OF the United
States.
How keenly foreign governments are
alive to the Holland | have shown in my
facts reported concerning the presence OF
foreign officers upon her"