The Washington times., 1901-09-01
A SUBMARINE BOAT TEST.
Experiments With the Morse in
Cherbourg HarbOr.
A Description of q Recent Addition
to the French Navy and How She
Acted While Under the Water
Eight Hours Beneath the Waves.

In Notes on Naval Progress Just
issued by the Navy Department, appears
an account of a trial in Cherbourg Har-
Dor of the French submarine boat Morse,
which was witnessed by VI. de Lanessan,
Minister of Marine, and General Andre.
Minister of War. After description of
the crew and their uniforms the report
says:
THE Morse has a displacement of 14s
tons, and is cylindrical in shape, with
length of thir.y-six metres QlS feet,
and a diameter of 20 metres eight feet
three inchesj. The forward end is fitted
up with a torpedo discharging tube and
at the after end is the propeller. From
the tube to the motor extends long pas
sage, having at the sides two rows OF
accumulators superimposed. In the CEN
tire, under the captains coming tower,
which is reached by an iron ladder, are
all the levers and handles for work.
ing the machinery which moves the boat
in both a vertical and horizontal direc-
tion- Above the two manholes, one COM
municating outside with a narrow plat
form of latticework raised about thirty
centimetres eleven inches) above the hull
of the vessel, and under which the water
is free to pass; the other with the con-
ming tower. which itself has also a man
hole communicating with the outer air,
besides three small glass scuttles. all of
which can be hermetieally closed from
the inside
When the Minister of War had em-
barked. on the Morse, orders were given
to get under way, and she proceeded from
the dockyard basin out into the harbor. "A
considerable sea was running outside.
sufficient to make the steam launch which
behind and in which the Minister
of Marine had taken his seat pitch and
roll considerably. The Morse, however.
was wonderfully steady, rolling very
slightly only. After crossing the h.. -. !
she steered toward the Impregnable hulk,
which serves as workshop and quarters
for those engaged in adjusting torpedoes.
Here she awalte, orders to submerge,
which were soon after given. The ballast
tanks then commenced to I'LL. and in a
charge were heard reporting forward
tanks full after tanks full .midship
tanks full The manholes were then closed
and the Morse commenced to sink. The
finally over the coming tower. allowing
only a blush light to filter through the
glass. The whole operation of submerg-
ing does not take more than two minutes
to complete and all that can then be seen
of the Morse above the surface is the
which, having diameter of
only 10 centimetres (39 inches), is quite
at short distance.
The feeling experienced at the moment
the vessel is making her descent is most
peculiar. 1t is one of expectancy, but
nothing happens. One is astonished at
The quiet-the absolate calm. There is
70 movement; net even a tremble. The
waves wash overhead without causing the
east vibration. The motor works silent
y, and the vessel glides through the
water without causing any bow wave or
eaving any track AieRe the voice of the
captain is heard, who. standing by the
periscope, gives his orders for so many
iegrees of helm and so many revolutionS
lf the engine. The little vessel is now
almost iii equilibrium, and would sink
ieeper or rise to the surface We're il not
'or the 'ailettes' on each side. which serve
% prevent this. Before an instrument
which indicates the depth stands a petty
,fficer with his eye fixed and his atten-
ion concentrated on the pointer, and by
.ui ming a wheel he causes the 'afletteS
@ act so as to maintain the vessel at the
equired depth. Should she for any rea-
On continue to descend or refuse to as
end, pig of lead ballast can be detach-
ID, which would cause her Immediately to
Use to the surface; but after this the
luoyancy woulc be so much increased
hat she could no longer be. submerged.
wen with all the ballast tanks full
Orders had been given to remain a
Iuarter of an hour under water. and at
he expiration OF the time pumps are set
n motion and the water was forced out
If the ballast tank and the Morse COM
nenced to rise The coming tower and
he small platform emerge, and the man
ioles are opened. No commotion takes
,lace at the entry of the external air. and
10 Inconvenience has been felt by those on
)oard during the dive. the act of breathing
,eing as free and regular as in the open
lir. Trials to ascertain the habitabiiity
If the Mcrse had already been made, and
he has remained for eight hours under
water, the crew experiencing no difficulty
n breathing and no buzzing sensation In
he ears, no excitation or inconvenience
# any sort. and it was considered they
ould have remained double the time IL
ecessary the chemical analysis of the air
howing also that 1t would have been
'ossible to considerably prolong the trial
{ required"