The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-04

french Navy-The American Tyne
aud Its Mechanism.
From the Baltimore Sun.
zv,shington, Jan. 25.-The decision of
n. NAVAL Board of Bureau Chiefs in op-
.,s.rg the purchase of the submarine boat
uo1and and in recommending that no
or,r Of This class be built until the Plung-
- ras been tested will no doubt be
.,trjed abroad as a severe blow to the
daysiopment of this type of boat here
u.h -e more attention has been given, per
hans 10 the system than by either Great
britain or any foreign power but France
T.s submarine boat first received the at
t,..on of the naval officials ten years ago
INT since a contract was awarded for the
hnrfing of a type boat a Baltimore there
seems 90 have been no further interest
ma-,tested by the experts in the subject
ard meanwhile, France has gone ahead
r,oidv in the experimental work with
much success.
THE latest reports from that country
s-ov that the flotilla of these boats viii
m doubt present as great a variety of
vines as the batteships and recent tests
with the Gustav Zede has proved the
,.r.sticability of the submarine boat, and
IN the hope of still further improving on
her tine naval authorities are now giving
attention to the somewhat despised GOu-
b. boat.
This vessel has shown a tendency in late
ta-is 10 dive to the bottom and remain
there. and the authorities are now begin
ming 10 predict that still another type
known as the Morse boat, is a superior
tvpe Of craft. Recent trials with her show
ed that as regards range of action she
had scarcely any advantage over the
Z.de and it had to be admitted by the
trial board that she could not be used
for any other purpose than harbor de-
Tense After all these experiments, how
ever it did not seem as if much Roadway
had been made, but the French navy de-
partment with praiseworthy optimism,
conveyed its favors to the Narval, sim
ply it is claimed, because nothing is
known of her type, and plenty of scope
was consequently allowed for the exercise
Of vivid Imagination.
This vessel is constructed of steel and
has a displacement of 100 tons. The mo-
tive power is supplied by an oil engine
which not only drives the propeller when
the boat is either navigating at the sur
face or with only her lookout and chin
ney exposed, but also operates dynamo
for charging batteries and accumulators
these being used to propel the boat when
she is entirely submerged and the chimney
unshipped.
Sailing on the surface at 12 knots, the
Narval promises a range of action of 252
miles and at eight knots the range is 625
miles When submerged, the accumulat-
ors are expected to propel the boat TWEEN
ty-fve miles at eight knots and seventy
miles at five knots. She is equipped with
four torpedo tubes and carries two officers
TNI.s-
the best type yet developed in France
But One Type in America.
There may be said to be but one dis
tinct type of the submarine boat in this
country represented by the Holland now
at Washington, and the Plunger build
ing for the navy at Baltimore While the
Holland seems to have fully proven her
capacity to fulfil all the requirements of
submarine navigation fer naval purposes.
the Plunger is said to possess, or will
have when finished, still further i'm
provements that will render her d most
capable craft.
l, does not follow that because the eX-
perts have opposed the building of fur
Their submarine boats a present that this
type of craft will not in all probability
be aionted by the naval service. The bu-
reau chiefs are by no means unfavorable
10 the boat, but simply believe the Plum
enters upon the purchase of other vessels
Of her cl3es
The Plunger represents the result of an
inquiry into the subject covering the last
u years, during which time the probleml
mas advanced from the theoretical to the
practical stage. There were many things
10 he thought of in connection with the
submarine boat the most important of
winch was the maintenance of life and
management of the craft beneath the
surface Of the sea. While intended for
offensive purposes solely, it's protection is
an interesting feature of the structure.
ms IS afforded by the body of water sur
sVuhdlug the boat. which is supposed to
l'e "NoW the surface to a depth of %
leet IN 20 seconds after the order is given
~ uISappear, the boat at the time float
i"s IEht and running full speed ahead
pulhs the period OF complete submerg-
eney with three feet of wafer over the
.uiIels' the pilot who guides the craft OBJ
'alns a view Of the surroundings by means
81 camera lucinda in a tube which pro-
ie.'S above the surface and which can be
naued in at moments notice
iHe pllot is located in an armored tur-
~ winch rises four feet above the hull
a-l Is eight inches in thickness. The up
per surface of the hull, covering the part
"efsed while running on the surface of
t ""er, VIII be of steelplate one inch
uiiyA' The arrangements for lightning
"lI 'entilating the interior are ingenious
~u complete. When the boat is on the
surface OF the water two large companion
I'1S the blower and the airshaft provide
ta''l0Aht ventilation. When submerged,
Us constantly allowed to escape from
'T reservoirs slightly above atmos-
p'-" pressure. Initiated air from near
'e "'llom is forced outward by a small
bump HriVen by an electric motor Light
" ~7 ou the surface is provided through the
Ion-ways and by eight four-incn
s, 'N "shts If not deeply submerged
m pii 'H clear water, light viii stiu be ad-
r1' through the eight dead lights. and
s'tr required. incandescent lights
s,, liI,a by the storage batteries, can be
Operation of the BOnt.
a method of operating the vessel is
fl 0leFesting. When the vessel is on
sr. ace of the water, with the smoke
ana the airshaft erected and run
Ia ahead full speed, and it is desired
In 's' the valves placed on the bottom
eg,a ~