The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-05-21
Testimony of Ensign Ne'son,
Torpedo Expert.
APPROVES THE HOLLAND TYPE
The Naval Officer Explains the Relative
Value of This Class Of Fighting Craft
French Secrets Let Out-LiabiIity to
Accident Slight.

morning before the House Committee on
Naval Affairs, treating Of the work Of
the United States submarine boats IN ex-
periments and the possibility OF their
value in action. During the hearing Rep
Tesentative LessIer referred to an old re-
port from the Navy Department in which
it was stated that the British admiralty
did not believe in submarine boats
Mr. Nelson had previously stated that
he had discussed this matter with En-
glish officers stationed in Chinese waters
and they were very well in touch with
the subject and greatly interested IN It
British Opinion Changed
Mr. LessIer asked him to explain how
it was, then, that the British admiralty
stated that it had no use for submarine
vessels. This question from Mr. Lessler
brought President Rice, OF the Holland
Boat Company, who was present as
spectator, TO his feet with calm but
forceful interruption IN which he pointed
cut 10 Mr.. Lessler that since the report
from which he had been reading was is
sued the English government had ordered
ten boats of the Holland type and there
we're estimates in the pending naval bin
for four additional boats He pointed out
to Mr. LessIer that he had gotten hold OF
an antiquated document
French Secret Out
Another point which attracted consider
able interest was the statement by Ensign
Nelson that while in China an officer Of
H. N S. Powerful had shown him all the
and explained to him very thoroughly It's
workings All the English officers ap-
peared TO be very familiar with the French
beat, although the French naval authori-
ties made every effort 10 keep their plans
secret.
He stated that he had carefully examin-
ed the testimony in regard TO various
types Of submarine boats. studied the
plans and discussed the matter with
great many officers ard experts in the
United States and other navies and was
satisfied that the Holland boat was the
best up to date. He believed the French
boats were too long, as in coming up they
exposed the nose of the boat to q eonsid-
cradle length and rendered their most vul-
DeTabIe part liable TO destruction BY a
chance shot.
The Holland boat he considered very
easy to work in heavy seas, for It could
lie awash in a ten-foot sea with its ven
tiIators up and suffer no injury from the
waves, while IN a heavier sea 1t could bat
ten down the hatches. and, like the Ad-
IniTal in '-PinafoTe, when the storms
blow could always 90 below
O. To-
# it we're desirable. to economic in the
motive power he said the Holland could
20 down thirty or forty fathoms, which IS
the deepest water in which it would be
likely TO be used, and lie on the bottom
until the storm passed II carried enough
air, II used for breathing purposes only.
to last its crew for q month. He con
sidered the diving type vastly superior 10
the boats which required physical force
to drag them down horizontally
The great safety in the submarine
boat Of the diving type" he said. is that
she is held below the water entirely by
her horizontal TuddeF, and the moment
there IS an accident the boat viii Imme-
diatcIy come 10 the surface In case this
happens IN the face OF an enemy-s feet,
however, there are several small tanks
which can be opened and she can 90 to
the bottom and lie there
Of Great Moral Effect.
The moral effect Of a submarine boat,
he claimed, was of even greater value
than its destructive ability. The appear
ance Of a Holland bcat at sundown in a
harbor where an cnemy's fleet was lying
would cause the feet to put to sea i'm
mediately rather than take chance On
losing one or more vessels by submarine
night attack, from which it would be al
most poweTless to defend itself He re-
ferred TO the great excitement along the
Atlantic coast during the Spanish war
from fear of possible attack on our
coast cities and saii that the fear would
not have been so prevalent had the har-
boTs been protected by submarine boats
Battieships were all right, he said, but
their business was to fight at sea and he
considered It a useless extravagance to
keep q s., SOC, ,000 battIeshjp cooped up il
an harbor where a half dozen submarine
torpedo boats would answer the same pur-
pose.
Advisabiiity Of Experimenting.
In reply 10 questions from Representa-
tive Dayton as to the advisability of ex
peTimenting with different types OF sub
marine boats, Ensign Nelson said: You
know the Holland is q good boat and the
qualities Of none other have been proven
do not believe we should delay until
everybody is through experimenting.
Representative LessieF asked: '.As an
oficeT Of the navy dF you feel that we
should expend the money OF the United
States TO develop a coat TO be built by
private enterprise2"
Ensign Nelson replied that he did, as
it would enable the United States to get
3 better boat The fact was also devel-
oped that the British government was
paying S175.000 apiece for its boats where
the United States vas getting them for
sJT9,oe
Ensign Nelson was questioned very
closely by the members Of the commit
tee as to the liability of the submarine
boats 10 accidents and as to the c0mpaFa-
tive danger of serving on submarine
boats and battIeships. He maintained
that there was no more danger on one
fighting machine than another and said
that officer he would prefer to serve
On a submarine boat.
Troops Returning From Cuba,
The War Department is advised of the
sailing from Cuba May q at l O'Clock on
the Seguranca. of Colonel whiteside. on
Gers and men OF squadron OF the Eighth
Cavalry.