The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-27
new SUBMARINE BOATS
MUCH INTEREST IN COMING TESTS
OF TWO NAVAL DIVERS.
Several High Omcers Opposed 20 ves-
sells of the Moccasin and Adder
Type-MelviIIe's Views.
snanlai a. ,h. InaIananolis Innrnal

Special 20 the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON. Oct. 26-Much interest
is displayed by the officers OF the United
States navy. especially those in the bu-
reaus. il. the coming Official tests CT the
new submarine boats. Moccasin and Adder.
which will be held next month. Peconic
bay. Long Island sound. a beautiful sheet
of blue water. will probably be selected as
the ground, and the course will be of Shell
ter island. where the boats will be tuned up
for the occasion. Exceptional care has been
taken by the officers I'm charge TO make
these tests as comprehensive and as rig
orous as is fair to the contractors. The
tests will be for endurance, speed, sta
bllity. dirigibility. torpedo discharge and
general performance Much depends on the
results obtained, and the contractors are
confident they will demonstrate the prac-
ticability of the submarine torpedo. boat
beyond question and its necessity to the
complete navy. The Navy Department il
equally interested, for il is believed that on
the issue of the trials depends the future
attitude OF the Navy Department toward
the craft, so tiny and yet SO dangerous.
Heretofore the department has been neu-
trail, or even somewhat hostile, to the boats,
and some OF the officers prejudiced against
them believe their theories will either be
sustained by the failure or demolished by
the success of the boat.
Rear Admiral George W. Melville, chief
of the Bureau of Steam Engineering. who
Is the most pronounced opponent 10 the
diving type of the submarine boat, has
called the attention of the officers OF the
tests prove successful and has sounded a
note of warning In article, in which he
says: IF the boat has any military or
strategic value We should change our policy
of ship construction, for nothing could JUS
tify the building OF SO many battleships IL
the submarine possessed even a portion OF
the advantages that their advocates claim.
In the indifference of naval officers TO this
question there is great danger. The boats
are either valuable or they are worthless
for military purposes. From the time the
Senate and House naval committees look
with favor upon these boats" continues the
admiral, pointedly, there will be "a de-
creased construction Of battleships; and
| the action of the Congress in striking out
of the naval appropriation bill of 1901 all
authorization for battleships and cruisers
can certainly, in part. be traced to the be-
| lief that the submarine possesses many OF
the qualities claimed by its advocates"
| The views SO cogently expressed by Ad-
miral Melville are undoubtedly entertained
| by other naval officers, which may, In part,
| explain the hostility which has been dis
| played by them toward submarine boats.
| The trials will be of interest, also TO for
eign nations. particularly TO England and
Norway, who have adopted the American
| model for submarine boats, and Portugal,
Brazil and a number Of other countries
who are awaiting the outcome of the trials.
! the Navy Department for officers OF the
| Portuguese marine and army to inspect
the boats. and, If granted, they will come
from Portugal to witness the trials.
1.-The smaller countries Of the world"
says Rear Admiral Hichborn. who was for
many years chief of the Bureau of Con-
1 II cfw.rr - IL ~,
''are greatly interested in the question OF
| submarine torpedo boats. You can easily
see what their success means to nations
like Portugal, Brazil, Venezuela. Mexico.
tries with seaports which they anxious
/ to protect, but without the necessary
means to either equip suitable navy or
to erect and maintain extensive land for
tifications. The cost of a modern battle
ship or armored cruiser of the first class"
sontinued the admiral. us about ss.ooooo.
marine boats, SO that for the equivalent
| of the cost of one of the great fighting
| machines almost any country in the world.
and especially the smaller ones, could Sc
cure enough submarine torpedo boats TO
| defend it's harbors. 1 consider thorough
blockade of a harbor defended by such
boats a practical impossibility. for the
most intrepid commander would not MAIN
tain his feet in the mouth Of harbor at
night exposed TO their attack. but would
| draw of to sea, thus enabling the defend
ers to get out or their friends to slip I'm.
l anticipate the trials OF the new boats
| with great interest. for they are the first
to be constructed under the direct SUPER
vision and inspection OF the officers of the
! navy and under contract with the United
States government The Holland, which
is the only one Of the kind in the navy,
| was built at her constructors risk and
afterwards sold to the United States gov
eminent. Many improvements have been
made over the Holland in the new boats.
| and have no doubt OF their ability 20 sue
| cessfully meet the conditions imposed upou
them. / confidently expect the trials 10
demonstrate the value OF the submarine
boats and to make their construction a
permanent part of the naval programme.