The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-08-02
Navy Department Interested in
 Submarine Boats
REGATTA IS TO BE HELD
Following This TrIaI Tests of the Fulton and Protector Will Take Place in October for the
 Government Contract.
nY wATTERsoN arEALEY.


 that the navy department has come into possession of the submarine torpedo boats constructed under the authorization of congress some years ago, the hostility toward this type of vessel which was so vigorously manifested by officers of the navy from the bureau chiefs downward, appears to be changing to more favor able feeling of friendly interest and determination to get the best there Is out of the new boats. Interest in the performances of the submarines has been stimulated at the department by the re- ports of the progress made by Lieutenant Pinney who is trying out the Adder and Moccasin at Newport, and by the recent achievements of the French submarines at Cherbourg. An account of the latter has just been received at the bureau of navigation. Two of the French sub marines were recently assigned to the task of ''torpedoing" the incoming and outgoing steamers of the French line at Cherbourg, one submarine being allotted to each vessel.
 Lying off the coast, the submarine which was to attack the incoming steam CT waited until its smoke was distin- gulshed on the horizon, and then sub merged. It rose to the surface A few hundred yards from the steamer and sig naled that it's mission had been success ruily accomplished. The other subma- rine, on watch for the outgoing steamer, calculated the point at which the two steamers would pass so accurately that it rose between the two without either having DaaN presence This performance was greeted with loud cheers by the passengers and crews of both steamers
 American Vessels Successful.
 While the work of the American yes- sells has been of a somewhat different character, it is thought to have been quite as successful up to date. Lieuten- ant Pinney recently ran the Adder for half an hour submerged at a depth of thirty feet, and from a distance of eight feet below the surface made a good line shot at range of from 800 to 700 feet. On a trial of the Moccasin, he let fly a torpedo at a range of 1200 feet, while the Moccasin was fifteen feet below the sur face, the torpedo passing through the target.
 Under the direction of Secretary Moody the bureau of navigation and the board of construction are making arrange ments for the most extensive contests of American submarines ever held. The bureau of navigation is concerned with the work of the vessels already pur chased, and the board of construction with that of the Fulton and the Protec- tor, which have been offered by the Hol- land and Lake companies, respectively, in competition with each other and with the government vessels congress having authorized Secretary Moody to purchase either or both of such submarines should they equal or surpass the records of the government boats, and if he should deem the purchase advisable.
 Torpedo Boat FlotllIa.
 As rapidly as the boats already built for the government are turned over to the navy department, they will be sent to Newport and tested in every possible manner. It is hoped that by September they will have been delivered and tested and that a sufficient number of officers and men will have been trained in their management so that all five can be nav igated at one time It is the intention, If possible, to organize them into fiotil- la or squadron so that squadron evolu- tions may be had and conclusions reach ed as to the availability of submarines operating separatelyS in twos. threes, fours and ives. These squadron evolu- tions of the submarines will take place in September off Newport after the Joint manoevers off the Maine coast.
 It was originally contemplated that one or two of the submarines would par ticipate in the joint maneuvers, but they were not included in the programme, owing, 1t is said, to the apprehension that the crew could not be sufficiently trafp 1,tyf hot fa the handling of the boats around and un- der the war vessels might not be attend ed by some accident; so 1t was thought best to segregate submarines and let them have their manoeuvers to them selves.
 Tests Follow Regatta.
 Following this regatta" so to speak, or school of submarine seamanship" the tests of the Fulton and the Protector will take place under the supervision of the government trial board in the latter part of October. It has been decided that 1t will not be necessary for a government boat to take part in this contest, which was originally planned as three-cor- nered affair between the candidates of the two competing companies and a gov ernment boat, but the comparison will be made by means of records establish ed by the Fulton and Protector at the coming tests The two candidates for submarine honors differ materially, the Fulton being diving boat of the Hol- land type and the Protector submerg- ing by means of valves and tanks and heavy weights. The Protector is an en- tirely new type of boat, and as no trials of it's underwater work have been re- ported. little is known of its proficiency In this direction except from the claims of It's inventor MT. Simon Lake.
 Tho Fulton.
 The Fulton is made after the pattern of the Maccasin and the Adder and is said to be much superior to any of the boats of the Holland type previously tested. Their trials will be conducted one at a time, and observations will be made as to the rapidity with which they can be submerged and raised; their speed on the surface and under the water, and the accuracy of the delivery of the tor pedoes, and especially their dirigibility.
 The prize. at stake is larger than ap- pears on the surface. for aside from the sale of the successful boat to the navy department, 1t is well understood that on Secretary Moody's recommendations in this matter will depend the future &C., ton of congress. Should he decide to purchase one or both of these vessels. congress will undoubtedly make appro- priations for additional submarines; while on the other hand, if he should de-