New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-18
FIFTEEN MILES UNDER SEA
THE ADDER GOES THAT DISTANCE
WITHOUT COMING TO THE
SURFACE
SURFACE.


Greenport N Y. Nov. 17-With eleven men
in her hold the Holland submarine torpedo boat
Adder went through the most severe test to-
day OF all her trials in Peconic Bay. She
travelled under water for fifteen miles without
coming to the surface. She also fired torpedo
which struck an imaginary ship square amid
ships II officially designated as three
hour submerged trial and the boat and her crew
went through 1t with flying colors. The crew
gave a demonstration of the excellent training
they have received for when the Adder touched
the bottom while going at seven knot speed
there confusion whatever One Of the
amdship tanks was quickly blown out and two
men were ordered aft. The boat responded i'm
mediately. Her bow and she shot to the
surface IN few seconds. She remained up only
two minutes Then. diving again with her tank
reilled, she continued her trial. The discipline
of the crew was splendid" said Naval Con
structor ]. J. Woodward, who had been down in
the boat. 1t was the longest trip that has ever
been made under water in this country. 1t
shows that the crews Of these boats must be
men of more than ordinary nerve and thor
oughy drilled in this type of boat The air dur
ing the run was all that could be desired. It
might have been what you would call 'stuHy'
in the last half hour. but no worse than the air
in any room with the door shut for the same
length of time"
Manager Lawrence Spear said: we were run
ming with the boats bottom about eighteen
feet below the surface when the water shoaled
and she sucked down until she struck. We
never stopped her. but kept going not to
delay the trial. She rose as soon as we blew
the water out of the midship ballast tank"
Besides the Naval Board of Inspection and
Survey. who witnessed the three hour trial
from the deck of the lighthouse tender Cactus.
there a delegation OF army officers sent
from Fort Totten CWillets Point 10 witness
the test The officers were Major Arthus Muir
ray, commandant Of the school OF submarine
defence; Captain c. ]. Bailey OF the same de-
partment and Captain G. F. Landers. instructor
in the department OF electrical mines and me-
chanics. all officers of the coast artillery. They
were the guests OF f. B. Frost. on the steam
yacht Mindora. throughout the trials. These
officers and those OF the naval board expressed
themselves surprised and pleased with the
result Of the test.
The submerged trial to-day began at 2:39
p. m when the boat had reached clear water
midway between New-Suffolk and Cow Neck.
Fifteen minutes after sinking below the sur
face and after rising twice for observation,
not more than forty seconds each time, the
Adders bow shot the surface like the nose
of a whale. and the torpedo was discharged
straight at the target Had the target been a
ship she would have been struck fairly amid
ships in the wake of the engine room. The tor
pedo, after il had travelled about quarter OF
a mile, was picked up by the tender Kepe and
towed in. The Adder dived again and continued
on her course remaining under water for two
hours and five minutes. In this time she trav-
elled fifteen miles. including six turns, Captain
Gable handling her by means Of the periscope
and the compass. It was really a wonderful
achievement. After taking a brief observation
the boat continued under water until the end
of the three hours. Her speed for the first two
hours was II knots the revolutions OF the
propeller being 1719. and for the last hour 6.SS
knots. This decrease in speed was accounted
for by some slight arrangement in the electric
battery, by which the boat is run in all her
submerged trials. Captain c. J. Train and
Captain Rocker, who left for Washington to-
night, said they entirely satisfied with
the performance of the Adder and the Moccasin
Naval Constructor j. ]. Woodward and Captain
w. c. Cowles will remain to witness the trials
OF the Moccasin tomorrow. when she is 10 make
her submerged torpedo trial and another test
There are also to be twelve hour endurance
tests for one boat at full speed. These will
probably take place Wednesday.