New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-29


X. Se. Z p. Dutton & Co
Had the immense amount Of material which
aIr Burgoyne has here brought together been a
little more perfectly digested. had the arrange
s1ent OF the first volume been less strictly
chronological and had the author given his
readers fuller index, the usefulness and con-
venience Of his work might have been enhanced.
These however. are trifng drawbacks to an
admirable performance The record IS sngU-
la-ly complete ard modern, devoid OF discernible
snaccu-acy, and coptously and judiciously Illus
frated Moreover, the history OF the submarine
IS supplemented with a presentation of its
theory and an intelligent discussion Of the pos
sibie usefulness OF what is the latest important
experiment in naval usage.
one OF the most impressive features OF MI
Burgoyne's narrative is the number Of men who
have studied the possibility Of attacking an
sneuay's ships from a boat partly or entirely
under water. Although the idea has received
general recognition from the leading govern
rnents OF the world only within the last ten
wears and though it has recently undergone a
DEVELOPMENT not dreamed OF a quarter OF a cen
fury ago, inventors have been animated by 1t
for centuries. Apparently the first craft which
may properlv be called a submarine was built
by Cornelius Van Drebel, Dutch physician, In
1920 This was large enough TO carry dozen
soWers besides its officers. 1t was propelled by
pars which played in joints rendered water
tight with leather. and is said TO have made
tourney several hours in length while hidden
from sight.
Perhaps the earliest attempt TO employ a sub
marine boat in actual warfare was that OF
Bushnell, in New-York Harbor, in 1116 1t
failed 10 blow UP the British warship Eagle. be
cause his deputy was unable, at the critical
moment. to attach his torpedo TO that vessel.
His demonstration Of the practicability Of thus
operating without detection, however. gave
fresh stimulus to invention. Robert Fulton,
another American pioneer in this field OF expert
rnent. advanced a little further than Bushnell
His model resernbled in form the cigar, rather
shan the turtle, and hence was better adapted 10
make progress in the water. He added col
aapsibla SAIL and mast for purposes Of propul-
sion, ana resorted 10 some form OF water
wheel and hand power when there was no wind.
Both of these worthy predecessors Of Holland
and Lake employed a rudimentary coming
BOWER In the American Civil War the Confed-
erates appear 20 have been Tife more sue
ressful with their submarines than the Union
navy, although both sides built few boats OF
that description Old fashioned powder was
used and the favorite method Of handling the
explosive was to put it out at the end OF a spar.
The self propelling and self-steering torpedo,
Invented by Whitehead. and needing only TO be
launched and properly aimed. had not then been
sleard Of nor had the practice Of loading such
5rojectiles with charges Of dynamite or gun cot
ton yet been proposed. Nordenfeldt. In 1881.
was the first TO suggest the use OF Whitehead
sorpedoes, though he also provided for con-
trolling the course OF such missiles With electric
wires leading back to the boat. This famous
ordnance expert originated two other modern
sdeas He provided for retaining small re-
serve buoyancy IN his boat after it was sub
merged. SO that in case the engines became dis
ebled there would be a natural tendency to
come 10 the surface. He also tried screw pro-
reIlers. arranged so as to rotate in horizontal
planes. 10 effect submergence. Other inventors
prefer TO pump in water for that purpose. Al
though Nordenfeldt's boats have not proven
satisfactory in all respects they certainly rep
resent great ingenuity, and may be said 10 mark
the introduction Of the new era IN submarine
design.
To France the world owes the practice OF
securing propulsion with Easolene engines on
the surface and storage batteries after sub
snergence. as well The use Of detachable
weights carried along the keel. TO be released in
emergencies Il is due to that country to say
foo that one of its sons, ". Goubet devised
exceedingly pretty II not serviceable, method Of
steering boat without rudder. He put
5oint in the propeller shaft close to the screw. 50
shat the latter could be turned from side to side
without interfering with its rotation.
When boat which is completely submerged
IS about TO deliver attack. two things are