Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1904-02-25
TORPEDO BOATS.

That torpedo boats. the hornets OF the
navy. costing only aboat $500, 900 each.
can destroy $4, 900. 0c0 and IS. 000, 000
battleships and escape injury, as vas
demonstrated by the japanese in the at
tack on the Russian feet at Port Ar
thur, has Eet naval officers throughout
the world to thinking
What's the use of battieships and
protected cruisers" laymen are asking.
when these little boats can destroy
the biggest of themY
Battleships and cruisers are as great
a necessity for torpedo boat warfare as
ia the torpedo boat TO the battleship and
cruiser The swiftly moving little tor
pedo boat frequently Ipust seek refuge
behind the floating fortreeses Of steel,
Just AZ the torpedo boat hotilla il ez
pected to protect the battlesbip and
cruiser from the attacks Of the torpedo
boats Of the enemy.
The first naval engagement OF Japan
and Russia has convinced Offilers that
the torpedo boat flotilla Of a navy can
no longer be regarded AZ hindrance
and bother.
"The most destructive instruments Of
war to day are the torpedo boats and
the Whitehead torpedo" declared ons
of the high ranking naval officers Of
the United States. "a torpedo boat
uudey favorable conditions, and favor
able conditions frequently arise. can do
more damage by the discharge OF one
Whitehead torpedo than can the ex-
penditure Of ST. 600 900 worth OF anIng
milton in such contest ~ was fought
at Saptjago."
A Whitehead torpedo is cigar-shsp-
I'd object made OF steel or bronze or any
rust-resistiDg metal, ~ inches ~ Gigm-
eter and from Is to 20 feet in length.
The "warnose" Ia on ths blunt end OF
the torpedo THIS is the end that strikes
the atip or other object, and by means
OF o rod driven against detonator
causes the explosion Of the guncotton,
dynamite. nitroglycerip Or other ex-
plosive IN the chamber. Behind the
chamber filed with the explosive IL G
cylinder. charged with compressed mir.
which furnishes the motive power for
the propeller of ti,a torpedo. Back OF
the compressed air cylinder ~ tie bal
lance chambeY." where the auto1atie
steering apparatus is locatcd, and be
bind this is the engine room
the torpedo is fitted with -four rad
dara. two horizontal and two vertical,
which are for the purpose Of keeping
the torpedo at the proper depth
The torpedo Is flied from the bow or
stern OF q vessel. either frcI. 2 sub
merged tnbe or from tube on deck
The torpedo IN started by being blown
out either by compressed air or by n
small charge Of powder
A torpedo tnbe ia huge metal pipe
open mt one end, .be other closed by II
door. Much complicated mechanism is
necessary to fire a torpedo from Il tor
pedo boat The sighting and every
Thing is done from the decks. although !
the tube may be submerged or partially
submerged.
Every torpedo 10 thoroughly tested !
before it Is placed aboard torpedo boat I
and frequently thereafter 10 zee chat II 1
does not develop any peculiarly un- !
known TO the commanding officer A
torpedo has a chart which Is kept up
and studied as Zealously by the com
officer of the torpedo boat as
Is the chart of typhoid fever patient
by the attending physician.
The Whitehead torpedoes require an
unusual amount Of care because of the
lelicate mechanism. Whitehead tor
podo carries enough explosives TO blow
Ip any Dattleship " IL strikeg fair The
,orpedoes cost an average Of $1,000 each
md the Government keeps LOCO or
more OF them at the various navy yards.
rhe general torpedo depot is at New
,ort. u