New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-14
WABSHTP WITH
This method n defence against

adapted 20 making from 2 20 20 knots an hour.
"nereos The earlier torpedo boats were good for
only about 70 The Nesuvius is credited with 22L
The Dupont with g. the Daring and Havoc Osri,-
fish, with from % 10 - The Solol made ., knots
on her trial "Trip. between 30 aud - knots was ex-
pected from the last batch of Japanese de-trovers
nineteen ln number. whereas the Viper equipped
With Parsons engines, made 81 knots before her
accidental destruction.
Speeds ike these cradle boats 10 make sudden
dashes and retreats Lut they are obtained oalv ~
high cost Battleyhips. the 60west OF All naval
vessels. have scarcely more than one horsepower
20 "a ION of displacement. The crack" uattIeshiu
~ The American Navy to-day the Missouri dis
places 1920 tons. and her engines have 100, horse
power. The latter figures indicate the capacity of
Tho Rctyizau engines. and her displacement was
l2&" tons. Now the Gushing has displacement
~ 80 tons. and horsepower Of 503 AZ hor com
mand. The same rat.o-about 20 ISIS furnished
between The tonnage and power Of the sozoI m
the Daring tho diFereace ls oven more marked.
she oisplaros only 30 tons. and developed AGO
horsepower ou her trial The Viper displaced 60
tons but her engines showed close 90 Ol) horse
power,
The newest type % torpedo boat Is the submarine.
This style Of vessel runs ou the surface until with
in mile or two Of tie enemy. then becomes par
italy or entirely submerged and completely dis
appears from sight just before disrharging a
projrCtIe. So long as its smokostack can he al
lowed 60 stick mp ugr - water the boat IL pro
screws are driven by storage batteries ana an
electric motor. Even on the surface these boats
run slowly none yet built making more than ton
or eleven knots. travelling faster than six or
eight when fully immersed. They are also much
smaller than the avcrage destroyer. Boats OF this
kind are provided with additional mechanism 10
maintain a level course under the surface 20 take
IN and eject water rapidly and Tor making ohserFa-
lions when the hull IL completely Gus Of sight FOR
this last purpose an optical instrument OF peculiar
construction IS mounted al the very cop OF tube,
which stands up like tiny srnokestaek and IN
which mirrors or prIsrns. transmit the picture 10
an observer inside the boat. The method OF die
charging torpedo is the same with a submarine
as with any other torpedo boat
France and the United States have been pioneers
IN this line OF experiment. England. Germany,
Tta!v and even Sweden have followed sUit. Russia
has also conducted experiments. ana IN lSOz ana
1913 had seven boats under construction. So FAR as
e positively known. Japan had no contracts out
so- submarines but she may have quietly pur-
chased a boat or two. The suspicion has been eS-
messed that the damage done at Port arthur
r,,ld only have been effected by submarines. but
-. :. ~, n mean, certain A boat entirely under
,-,.er stands A much smaller chance OF being DIS
-,ra5. br,t r1nno,uv-es of Newport have shown
,h,f the other class Of vessel can SCI dangerously
near before being observed
Asairst attacks from torpedoes warships have az
least two methods OF defence one is TO stretch Il
,,,,t netting about a vessel. suspending i troIn
,.or,e az sufficient distance % capture the mis-
~ iofo-e Il strikes the hull. This safeguard Is
.,-.usble only when a batteship Or cruiser i
,,-sr+icaIlv stationary Whether such net cou4o
be penetrated IL a question not fully cleared up
hat the chances are that the missile would De
stopped Perhaps Il might not even explode Ana