New-York tribune., 1900-02-08
CRITICISM OF THE HOLLAND BOAT.
SECRETARY LONG DEFENDS THE NAVAL
CONSTRUCTION BOARD.

Washington Feb. (speciaD.-secretary Long
has received many letters from cranks and other
enthusiasts on the subject Of submarine naviga-
ton assailing the recommendation OF the Naval
Bureau chiefs against the purchase of the Holland
beat, which ran nearly four knots an hour sub
merged on Long Island Sound last fall, but which
in the opinion of the experts is yet only an expert
ment involving some good principles which may
in time be embodied in practicable instrument OF
war To one of the most reasonable of the letter
writer's Secretary Long has made reply travers-
ing the whole subject, from which the following
extracts are taken:
The Department has given and will continue to
though this sort OF vessel is still in an experimental
stage it is entitled. in the interest Of naval con-
Indeed the Department made contract with the
no dolidno eOsPanH GS o1s & ~ ,te s1bra rine hoafS
the Plunger, which has not yet been finished. al
though the time for its completion expired several
During the spanish-American War the Depart
ment had an examination made Of the Holland, and
with its request in a letter to it, dated May g. 1895
to order a board to witness a trial of that boat
In accordance with the recommendation OF the
named which the boat ought to fulfil. 1t was
found however that this trial coqId not Pc made
of fact it was not made until November g. 1897
bers Of the Board on Construction to which this
E6oe a[Ier 5 was bsti I ~ The adp0tion
Of any form of submarine boat for the naval ser
them. and Of their faithful discharge Of any duty
assigned 10 them YOU will gladly recall your sug-
gestion that they have made an unfair and un-
just report. They are cautious not to. recommend
haste in this matter until the interests of the Gov
ernment properly guarded by securing the best
practicable development The report of the
jority OF the Board which is less favorable to the
company than that Of the Chief Constructor. who
is member Of the Board, simply recommends that
further contract be made until the company
shall have made some satisfactory settlement con-
cerning the delivery the submarine boat Plunger
above referred TO- the contract for which required
It's completion within twelve months from March
r. 1895. Under that contract the of 800 TI6 30
has already been paid. The majority report sug-
that when the Plunger matter shall have
been satisfactorily adjusted il will be time enough
to consider the companys present proposal, and
that in of such adjustment the Department
Will be justified, If the law permits, in making
contract. under proper guarantees and SDecifca-
Cns for vessel Of the larger size offered the
company, and in thus aiding in the development of
the submarine boats.
The question raised by the Board Is simply one
as TO the wisdom of making contracts for more
than one Of these boats under present circum-
stances In this connection 1t should be borne in
mind, appears from the above quoted extract
from the Departments letter of June 10 1898. that
the requirements suggested by the Department for
of agreement to accept her if she should meet
them. and that, therefore, the Government is not
only under obligation to buy her because of her
performance of them but is not in any way
nitted to such obligation
The majority of the Board on Construction pur-
posely refrained from any criticism discussion Of
the merits OF the Holland of the possibilities of
escape their conclusion that II would not be profit
able business transaction to buy the Holland the
price (S17O,000) for which the company offers
to build new and larger boats.