Evening journal., 1900-01-30
REJECTION Of
THE HOLLAND
Regarded as d Blow 10 the
Perfecting Of the Submarine
Vessel.
THE MORSE BOAT SUPERIOR

AT BALTIMORE FOR THE NAVY,
WILL HAVE IMPROVEMENTS
WHICH MAKE HER MOST cAPA-
BILE.
A Washington dispatch says
The decision u the Naval Board Of
Bureau Chiefs In opposing the purchase
of the submarine boat Holland and in
recommending that no craft OF this
class be built until the Plunger has
been tested will no doubt be regarded
labroad as a severe blow to the develop
ment of this type Of boat here, where
Il more attention has been given, per-
haps, to the system than by either
Great Britain or any foreign power but
France.
The submarine beat first received the
attention Of the naval officials ten
years ago, but since a contract was
Awarded for the building OF a type boat
at Baltimore there seems TO have been
no further interest manifested by tire
lexperts IN the subject and, meanwhile
France has gone ahead rapidly in the
experimental work with much success
The latest reports from that coun-
try show that the flOtilla OF these boats
will no doubt present as great va
riety OF type as the battleships and re-
cent tests with the Gustaye zede has
proved the practicability Of the subma-
rine boat. and in the hope Of still
further improving on her the naval
authorities are now giving attention tc
the somewhat despised Goubet boat
This vessel has shown q tendency IN
late tests to dive TO the bottom and
remain there. and the authorities are
now beginning 10 predict that still an
other type. known as the Morse boat
is a superior type OF craft. Recent
trials with her showed that as regard.
I range Ct action she had scarcely auy
! advantage over the zede. and it had tC
be admitted by the trial board that
she could not be used for any otheV
purpose than harbor defense. After al
these experiments. however II did not
seem as II much Roadway had beer
b made, but the French Navy DEPARTING n
with praiscworthy optimism, conveyed
, its favors 10 the Narval, simply. IL Is
claimed because nothing is known Of
her type, and plenty of scope was con
: seauently allowed for the exercise Of
vivid imagination.
, This vessel Is constructed OF stee
, and has displacement Of 100 tons
The motive power Is supplied by ar oi
/ engine which not only drives the pro
/ peller when the boat is either navigat
ing at the surface or with only he
, lookout and chimney exposed but als'
operates a dynamo for charging batter
p les and accumulators, these being uset
, 10 propel the boat when she Is entirel,
. Submerged and the chimney unshipped
Sailing on the surface at ~ knots
, the Narval promises a range Of actor
Of 252 miles. and at eight knots th'
range is 625 miles When submerged
the accumulators are expected to pro
pei the boat % miles at eight knots and
! 10 miles at FIVE knots. She Is equipped
with four torpedo tubes and carries
two officers and nine men. Thil
boat is believed TO be the best typ
yet developed in France.
BUT ONE TYPE IN AMERICA.
. There may be said to be hut one dis
? tinct type of the submarine boat in thi
r. country, represented by the Holland
= now at Washington, and the Plunger
D building for the navy at Baltimore
. While the Holland seems to have full
q proved her capacity to fulfill all the re
o quirements of submarine navigation 10
o naval purposes, the Plunger lie said Il
d possess. or will have. when finished
- still further improvements that vii
. ender her a most capable craft.
i II does not follow that because tn
4 experts have opposed the building O
A further submarine boats at present tina
n this type OF craft will not In all proba
. bility be adopted by the naval service
The bureau chiefs are by no means un
= favorable to the boat but simply be
lieye the Plunger should be tried be
a fore the government enters upon tn
\ purchase Of other vessels Of her class
u The Plunger represents the result q
\, an inquiry into the subject GOVERN
the last ten years, during which tim
the problem has advanced from ID
theoretical to the practical stage. Their
were many things TO be thought Of I
connection with the submarine boa
r the most important of which was IN
maintenance Of life and Management
IT Of the craft beneath the surface OF IN
v sea. While intended for offensive pun
re poses solely, its protection is an intel
~ esting feature of the structure This
Afforded by the body OF water SUI
~ rounding the boat, which Is suppose
a. TO dive below the surface 10 a depth {
te 20 feet in 20 seconds after the orde
IN is given to disappear. the boat at N
he time floating light and running fu
o.; speed ahead.
e, During the period OF complete sui
g. mergency, with three feet OF watG
m over the turrets. the pilot who guide
the craft obtains a view OF the SUI
n roundings by means Of a camera Il
IT. cinda in a tube which projects abo,
k: the surface and which can be haule
ad in at a moments notice.
Or, The pilot is located in an armore
Isl turret, which rises four feet above Il
is, hull and is eight inches In thickness
Ct The upper surface Of the hull, GOVERN
IS the part emerged while running on Il
IS surface OF the water. will be OF stee
IS plate one inch thick. The arrang
ad ments for lighting and yentIlating Il
Interior are ingenious and complet
When the boat Is on the surface OF Il
water two large companion-ways Il
on blower and the airshaft provide abun
II