The Saint Paul globe., 1904-06-05
A DESTROYER OF THE FUTURE

Al SplIc Ol VdT1OuS TQfnOES TO the
contrary. we do not believe that the
submarine boat has been used to any
extent in the present war between
Russia and Japan. Neither power was
provided with these vessels, and
neither has had opportunity to obtain
and use them. The disasters to war
ships on either side are commonly
agreed to have been caused either by
submarine mines or by torpedoes
launched from ordinary torpedo boats.
The submarine boat, although it's
practicability has been thoroughly
demonstrated, still waits it's opportu-
nifty in the future.
One cannot doubt that this device is
destined to play an even more i'm
portant part in naval warfare than the
torpedo boat and the mine. These lat
ter were looked upon a few years ago
rather as experiments, and successes
achieved with them were attributed
more to happy accident than to the
efficiency Of the agent itself This last
war has shown how indescribably
deadly they may be made. For the
trifling cost OF few mines and small
feet Of boats, warships costing mil
lions upon millions Of dollars have
been either sent to the bottom or put
out of service. The same general en-
ployment Of the submarine boat bids
fair to increase the loss one hundred
fold.
The test made at Newport the other
day OF a new submarine torpedo boat
shows what improvements have been
made and to what perfection this en-
gine OF war has been brought. The
Fulton was put through a ive-hour
test and answered every requirement.
She went over the course in bad
weather, both at and below the sur
face. She was turned rapidly in differ
ent directions. dived below the sur
face on signal ten times, and in one OF
these gyrations sank to a depth Of
twenty feet in twelve seconds. A boat
that is equal to this performance Is a
fearful enemy. No searchlight can
disclose her approach. The crew that
man her can be reasonably sure OF
getting away In safety. No netting or
other device such as intercept the me-
chanical torpedo can defect her mis-
siles. She can approach battleship at
its most vulnerable point, diving be-
meath the keel and attaching a tor
pedo almost at her leisure. Unless a
device recently invented to be attached
to vessels and give notice of the ap
proach Of any moving thing through
the water by the vibrations of dia-
phragm and the ringing Of bell is
phenomenally successful, the subma-
rine boat will own the future
France is today possessed Of an i'm
mense feet of these vessels and build
ing more. England stands second and
is thoroughly we'll equipped with them.
Every power that aims at naval pres
tige must construct a fleet of subma-
rines or be helpless either for attack
or for defense. Their actual fighting
efficacy can be tested only in a real
war between two naval powers. We
doubt If this viii ever occur again.
Even with the experience learned with
in the few last months, the value Of all
kinds Of warships has been pretty
nearly destroyed; with the submarine
as another possibility, nations will find
warfare upon the seas simply too dead
ly to be endured. When millions OF
treasure and hundreds OF lives are
practically doomed to annihilation be-
fore they can strike an effective blow.
this method OF fighting will speedily
be abandoned. 1t is more than prob
able that the perfection OF the subma-
rine boat marks the beginning OF an
era in which control of the sea must
be won and held, IL at all. by entirely
new methods.
AS campaign material war with