New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-13
JAPAN GETS PROTECTOR.
THE MYSTERY CLEARED.
Deal Consummdted T5cO Months
.1gO--Price about S25O,OOA.
isY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. ]

Bridgeport. Conn, June 12-Ths mystery
which has surrounded the sudden disappear
ance Of the Lake submarine torpedo boat Pro-
tector is az last cleared The Protector is now
The property OF the japanese government, and
is Oh her way TO her new owners. As soon
as she arrives. she will be put in fighting trim
and in charge OF two Of her original crew, c.
NJ. Wilson chief engineer. and George II.
Evans, diver. To avoid international entauge-
rnents, the Lake company has been exceedingly
careful about disclosing any of the plans of
the Protector. Although the deal by which
Japan became the owner Of the submarine was
consummated between two and three months
ago everything was done TO throw of suspicion
on June 3 the Protector left this harbor under
her own power. but because of the fact that
her storage batteries had been taken out and
she was as a consequence able 10 run only OF the
surface and not TO be submerged at all, no one
gave a serious thought to her contemplated long
trip to Japan. The Protector uses gasoleue for
her motive power when running on the surface
but whan submerged electricity is employed
The boat ran to New-York. where on Sunday
she was taken aboard the Fortuna. Norwegian
steamship
When this fact became known the question
of what had become OF the Protectors storage
batteries arose Then it became apparent why
the storage batteries had been taken out They
are heavy. weighing nearly 5000 pounds. Ir
order TO make the load of the Fortuna lighter
these batteries were shipped on ahead to japan
about month and a half ago. When the sub
marine arrives at her destination these bat
teries will be replaced and she will be ready fo-
war
Wilson and Evans. who have accompanied the
Protector on her long trip assisted In building
the boat and are acquainted with every nut and
bolt in he structure. They daring mer. and
in their efforts TO demonstrate the capabilities
OF the submarine as a fighting machine they will
be willing to take great chances.
While connected with the Lake COM
pany VIII say what Japan paid for the Pro
tector. It is understood that the price was be
tween S225.O0O and $4,000 This was the
amount the company asked the United States
government for the Protector and ii is likely the
japanese government secured her for about the
same sum. The Protector. however is not the
only boat Of the kind that the japanese want.
Draughtsnen are busy at the Office of the Lake
company in this city. plans for a number Of
other boats of the Protector type. IL is hardly
probable that these othe- boats will be con
structed here. as it is deemed more practica ble
to take the plans and the necessary experts to
Japan and build the boats there This course
Will stop the possibility OF any trouble owe. in
teTHatlOnaI complications arising, Tor II IS
orally conceded by those here who have a knovyi-
edge of the inside facts of this shipment of the
Protector to Japan that nothing bUJ the very
daring Of the project made It successful
The Protector launched i'm this harbor on
November L. 1902 At the dinner which fol-
lowed the launching there was present Baron
Ferson. OF the Russian Embassy, who was
speaker Among other things he said
The Protector is a wonderfr: ffghtiEG ma
chine But don't believe the United States vii:
ever let her get away from hec own shores"
The Russian government at time was
negotiating with Simon Lake. the inventor for
the Protector but AIR Lake refused to consider
the offers at that time, saying that he thought
il his duty American citizen to give
his own government the first chance. After the
experience he had with his own government at
Washington relative To the tests and approprIa-
tons for the Protector type OF submarine boats
he came to the conclusion that his company was
In business to sell submarine boats and the gov
ernment that offered n satisfactory price could
have the Protector. So the Japanese govern
ment now has the Protector and the boat will
have an opportunity Of demonstrating her worth
I'm real war. Indeed, IL is believed that this on
portunity to demonstrate what his submarina
boat could do in actual war a strong factor
in actuating Mr.. Lake in dispOsing of the Pro.
tector.