Arizona republican., 1904-06-10
F5goENN. ARIZONA, JUNE 10, 19o4
A New Era in Naval Warfare.


 T'hr purchase of several submarine tOgpcJa boats in this country by tn. Jopanese government possibly marks another great epoch in the history O. modern navies. Unquestionably, if the 8ubm,ayine boats will do only half oi VbBt is claimed for them by the.I builders. their use in war will work eyeO a greater revolution in naval war fare and in naval construction than ds3 E-icsson's building of the first IrongIaG and there is a great prob nbiHfy that full opportunity will be afforded for complete test of the sub- g1sgines before the Russo Japanese vgas t- ended
 An Associated Press dispatch from Bridgeport. Connecticut. stated on Wednesday that the Japanese had bought the submarine beat Protector" gnoa, it's builders, and that the vessel lad been shipped. When the shipment vyHs made was not disclosed, but at the Jagess it should be available for use in tae vicinity of Port Arthur or VIadi- Vesiok within four or five weeks from this date. The same dispatch stated Gaag the firms that build these boats had received orders for a considerable Humber from the Japanese government
 That the Russians also will use the Rew craft is assured. Some weeks ago Gae news was telegraphed from st. 9'c'erzJUrg that one or more sub marines had been shipped by the Jgtns-Siberian railroad to Port Ar.h hur. 0nd there was ample time for them to arrive before the railroad traversing 1he Liao T ing peninsula was seized by 'Ae Japanese. Indeed, there have been Glg,E from Russian sources that ths destruction of the Japanese battleship igatsuse was caused by a torpedo from @ submarine, and the destruction Of the Peiropavlovsk a short time previously 3gas attributed by the Russians to the work of a Japanese submarine. It is 1.n' certain, therefore. that these un- caany destroyers have not been em- g!"yeG already by one or both of the rh.abatants.
 At any rate if the war shall con- V!aue three months longer, there will De 9 thorough trying out of these strange Loats. And there would seem S0 be little doubt of their offensive 'a'!'ity. The latest experiment with ihc Fulton" just completed for the Eu.ted States navy gave surprising re- su.rs. On Monday night, at Newport. ysh"oe Island, the Fulton was sunk 10 i>r bottom of the ocean, under test con G::s1nS prescribed by the trial board cs the navy. The boat remained at tl1r bottom over twelve hours, rising so the surface at Il o'clock Tuesday, and the nine men who remained inside ghs craft during ali that time were in good condition. They reported that they they were comfortable in all re- spects, and they whiIed away the time by reading. playing games, and sleep ! In6 More remarkable still they stated that they could have remained under water ten days, if necessary. Naval Constructor Woodward advised the government that the test was in every way satisfactory. |
 These boats can be carried on board a battleship to the scene of action and | there lowered into the water. It is not essential that they should have a range of action beyond few miles. and | present conditions at Port Arthur are altogether favorable for their use by | r''Aer Russians or Japanese. Barring 'e: danger of mines, the submarines | thigh; be sent out from the harbor 70 | a.saek the blockading fleet of Admiral | Togo, or Togo might send his sub- sr1rines into the harbor to destroy the | Russian ships.
 The vista opened up is one of the utmost interest to all the nations of fhe world, and il is possible that before | Enc end of the year the submarine tor pedo boat will be the acknowledged 1 terror of the seas.