Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-20
FOR TORPEDO BOATS
HOUSE COMMITTEE LISTENS TO
WAINWRIGHT.
Other Naval Officers Give Opinions
The Purchase of Govern
ment Craft.

A nearing was given by the House COM
mittee on naval affairs this morning to
representatives of the Holland Submarine
torpedo Boat Company and to United
states naval officers who have made a spe-
ciai study of submarine navigation and it's
relation to warfare, and who. as the result
of such Investigations. have reached the
conclusion that the Holland type Is the
best in the world.
An attempt vas made during the brief
time given to the hearing to go into the
subject of submarine navigation very thor
oughly, and Commander Richard VAIN
wright. superintendent of the Naval Acad-
envy, and noted for his gallant work In de-
stroying the Spanish torpedo boats at San
tiago. was questioned very closely as to
the relative merits of the Lake. the Rea-
gan, the Burger and the Holland boats.
Commander Wainwright was positive In
his assertion that the Holland boat was
far superior to any other boats projected
or completed by American inventors. He
drew the distinction between the Lake and
the Holland boat by saying that the Lake
was a subsurface boat and its utility de-
pended almost entirely upon it's work be-
meath the surface, and the great objection
to its use was that while submerged it
must necessarily feel its way around in
the dark, as there was at present no method
of seeing under water, nor did he ever
think there would be.
On the other hand the Holland boat pos
seSSes the faculty of rising to the surface
and darling below quickly, thus enabling
1t to get a clear view Of the enemy be-
fore discharging It's torpedo. and diving so
as to prevent a fair shot from the oppos-
ing vessels. There was no doubt in his
mind. he said. that the Holland boat was
a valuable adjunct to the navy even as
now constructed. While the Lake boat
would be of little value except to raise
mines. cut cables and countermine
Mr.. Wainwright Questioned.
Representative Dayton Of West Virginia
questioned Mr.. Wainwright closely ON the
necessity CT continuing the appropriations
for submarine boats with view of ascer-
| tanning whether it was not possible when
war should be declared between the United
States and any other naval power to step
IN and construct in short time all the
submarine boats which would be necessary
Commander Wainwright combated this
idea, saying:
IF you get I'm a war with flrst-class
naval power you won't have time to build
anything. for it will strike quick and hard.
You must buy your guns before you can
shoot them"
How many boats would you advise us to
purchaser" asked Mr.. Dayton
LAS many boats as necessary" replied
Commander Wainwright. IF we let go of
the Holland boat now we will have to take
it UP again and pay for all the experiments
made by other nations"
Commander Wainwright told the commit
tee that unless something was done in this
direction the United States would lose the
submarine boat. as they had lost the Hotch-
kiss Maxim guns.
Mr.. Dayton brought up the opinions OF
Admirals O'Neil and Melville, unfavorable
to the Holland boat. and questioned Com
mander Wainwright closely in regard to
their views. Commander Wainwright ex-
r. tod,
ing opinions opposite to those held by Ad.
mirals Melville and O'Nen.
The only submarine boat In the world
which he considered approached the Hol.
land boat in it's efficiency was the new type
of French submarine boat.
Lieut.. Lawrence Spear followed with teen.
nical testimony.
No action was taken by the committee