The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-01

The gnat Of the navies Of the world is
undoubtedly the modern torpedo toat. It's
usefulness IS an engine Of aggression is
just beginning to reach a proper degree
Of appreciation. Torpedo boats have en-
tered the lists OF destroying engines on
the ocean and the presence of a few Of
these yeritabic terriers in a harbor men
accd By the naval greatness OF a foreign
fee has depressing effect upon the in
ysder that is entitled to no little consid
GRAFTON.
The recent war with Spain has given an
impetus to the general impression that the
usefulness OF torpedo boats and torpedo
boat destroyers. both Of which belong to
The same family OF naval craft, has not
been exaggerated. Had Spain been pos
sessed OF number of them when Cervera
was bottled up in Santiago Bay, with Off
GERS and crews competent for their eff
Gent management. there would have been
possibility Of greater glory attending
defeat than was met by the Spanish Ad
miral when the flower of the Spanish
modern Armada paled in the lustre of
American naval prowess.
The world is just beginning to place a
proper estimate upon torpedo boats, al
though they have been practical figures in
naval history for nearly. If not quite, hale
a century. Their merits in naval warfare
seem now to be reaching a proper degree
of appreciation Probably they are in
strength OF construction the Aimsiest ma
riue warshins that float upon the seas.
What the TORPEDO boat lacks in a perfec-
ton Of strength. however is well met in a
marvellous speed that can be brought into
play either in attack or retreat The COM
paratiye thinness OF construction render
ing them easily vulnerable to a sharp dis
charge of musketry is more than counter
balanced by the rapidity by which they
can get beyond the danger line. When
it is necessary for a torpedo boat to take
to her heels and get beyond the line OF
capture or destruction the NEUROLOGICAL
god Of the winds himself would find a prob
lem 70 solve in overtakiug her.
The American Government is now en-
gagged in the construction of numbers of
these 'serpents of the sea-" as they have
not inaptly been described. In almost ev-
cry prominent navy yard from Brooklyn to
Mare Island their frames. in various de-
grees OF completion are observable. In
with the great battleships near
by the torpedo boats look like bicycle
side by side with locomotive
When the Government gives an order
for a torpedo boat or destroyer the first
thing done is to design a working model
of the boat, complete in every particular.
With this model the speed trial of the boat
takes place. The speed that the model at
tains will. provided the mathematical cal
- . 800 "a
the model built correctly according to
scale be the speed of the boat when it is
ready to try for a place in Uncle Sans
Navy. An error Of even thousandth Of
an inch viii throw the whole work out,
so il can be seen how much care must be
taken in the making OF these boats.
When the small model is passed upon |
and found to be correct and up to the re-
quirements in every particular, il is COM |
paratively easy 10 make the boat full size. |
II the small boat be true in every detail, |
as it must after it has been tested and |
proven. the larger boat will be true also. !
The initial stage OF the work is to make |
the skeleton framework OF the boat. |
This Is done by placing sectional drawings |
on the floor OF great room used espe- |
cially for this purpose and then bending /
the frames to correspond with these lines. |
After the frame has been shaped in ac- |
l0I4alCe Win the Designs Tue EetElCOs are /
TO the shed where the boat is to /
be finished and are there set up to form /
the network Of the future torpedo boat. |
II sounds strange to talk Of bending the |
steel frame to shape. The shell OF a tor
pedo boat. however. is made Of steel only |
)ne-siXteeuth of an inch thick. The-Aull /
IF enc OF these boats can easily be pierced |
by a rife bullet. They are built for speed |
and not for resistance, and weight must !
le economical just a. 60 is with the racing
ikifis Of one Of our college crews.
When the framework is set up the plates
are riveted on and the hull is completed
'eady for the internal fiXings.
The most important part OF a torpedo |
,oaJ Is its internal arrangements. With
lut these IL is like a watch ease without |
Is works. It's armament is inc0nsequeu-
isl compared With its prodisious internal |
Engine power. which is capable OF forcing
he boat through the water al wonderful
ipeed The boats require only a few
months for their construction. Their cost,
n comparison with the building of an or
linary cruiser or battleship. is incense
luential. but as commercial destroyers.
aking everything else Of an aggressive
haracter out Of consideration. their place
S in the very height OF naval importance.
And vet, torpedo beats and torpedo
iestroyers are in the infant class. The
cme Of their Importance awaits Develop
lent.