New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-09-30
THE SUBMARINE FIGHTER.
INTEREST TAKEN IN THE HOLLAND
AT NEWPORT-NO LIQUOR
ABOARD OF HER
ABOARD OF HER

The submarine torpedo boat Holland lately
transferred to the United States Navy by her
builders was the centre of attraction to the
Army and Navy officers who visited Newport
last week TO witness the naval maneuVres.
Although the conditions were such that the
Holland did not have an opportunity of show
ing her ability underwater naval weapon
she did prove herself able to run consider
able distance to sea, 20 keep out of the way of
swiftly moving torpedo boats and to get along
side a batteship without being seen. even
though running only partially submerged
The Holland is now attached to the Govern
ment Torpedo Station at Goat Island Newport
Harbor and will probably remain there during
the winter. An ordinary torpedo boat Slip be-
tween the torpedo boats Porter and Dahlgre--,
has been assigned her, and there the visiting
officers found her. She looked much like
sleeping turtle with wart on her back as she
lay in her dock with nine-tenths of her pecul-
iary shaped hull under water The wart was
the diminutive coming tower. from which the
boat may be steered and made to dive.
wicked looking torpedo tube could be in
dim outline under the water, and at the stern
there was slight evidence of a propeller
Most of the visiting officers did not like the
Holland They realize her terrible efficiency, but
it rather goes against the Navy and Army
I'D as soon 60 back to fighting Indians in the
old days of the scalping knife as to fight against
her., was the way one Army officer expressed it.
She may be all right" said a naval officer
but lighting man cannot admire a thing
mat strikes one in the back and gives you
run for your life or chance of getting revenge
She will never be hero ship like the Olympia
No; rot even if she had sunk a whole Spanish
fleet"
The men who are serving on the Holland feel
differently about her. They are in love with
her All of her crew. from Lieutenant IL H
Caldwell down to the single oiIer were picked
from volunteers. 1t nervous work at first
but they were broken in gradually, and the
Submarine Boat Building Companys men were
dropped off one by one. Now the naval men do
rot give second thought to taking the deepest
kind of dives and long open sea runs
Inc temperance women of the country will
be glad to learn that there is one beat in the
Navy on which liquor of any kind even NAVY
sherry, is unknown. This boat is the Holland
and, what is more, none of her officers or crew
think of taking drink days when she is to
make a run Some of them have given it up
altogether.
Come and have drink" said one of Gun
ner Hills friends the other day
I've quit drinking, thank you," he replied
"A man that goes down in the Holland has no
business to touch drop"
I'D have been N her myself" said another
gunner if it hadn't been for my whiskey drink
ing"
The men on the Holland say that the feet ran
fway from them on Tuesday night because they
were afraid to give the boat a chance to show
her ability. The officers of the battleships are
not very strong in their denials of the charge
They realize that the United States has no ex-
elusive rights to the Holland. and that boats
of her type will be built for every country de-
string them. Mexico will be the first to follow
the example of the United States according to
torpedo station rumor.
There will be several variations of the Hol-
land type ir the water before long if her builders
carry out their plans. much smaller boat
for lake service is to be built. The idea is to
keep the boat on flatcar and haul it to any
of our lake ports should the occasion demand.
Another variety will be built, which be
hoisted aboard a battleship and carried with
fleet