Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-22
WILL TEST EFFICIENCY
TORPEDO BOAT ADDER no UN-
DERGo THOROUGH TRIAL.
Navy Department Board to Witness
Further Explorations of the
Submarine Craft.


Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
NORFOLK, Va, June 23.-The United
States submarine torpedo boat Adder sailed
from the naval torpedo station at this navy
yard this morning for the middle ground.
in Chesapeake bay, accompanied by the
gunboat Siren as tender. In the Chesa-
peake the Adder will have thorough test.
similar In many details to that which the
submarine torpedo boat Fulton underwent
at Newport during the second week In
June.
Using the Fulton, one of the latest types
of these formidable craft, a trial board
from the Navy Department succeeded In
securing remarkable results, which have
attracted widespread attention, not only
from those people who doubted the efi-
cheney of the submarine craft, but others
who had previous to the Fulton trials been
diSinterested listeners when the future OF
the submarine craft was exploited
In Fine Condition for Tests.
The Adder has been at this yard since
December of last year, and since she was
damaged on a temptuous voyage down the
coast in December gale she has under
gone extensive repairs here, and for the
past few days her crew has been engaged
in making every preparation for the deep
water tests which begin today.
Lieut. Frank l.. Pinney, who accom-
panied the submarines Adder and mecca
sin down the coast last December, and who
has been in charge of the vessels while
here, is on board the Adder today, and the
series of trials which she is to undergo Will
be under his direct supervision.
Gunner James Donald, an attache OF the
naval torpedo station, also accompanied
the supmar ine on her trial trip. The Adder
will remain in the bay tor two days, during
which time the tender Siren, In charge OF
Mate William Mackay Of the receiving ship
Franklin, will stand by the submarine and
upon which her crew will be quartered
when not engaged in putting the cigar-shap-
ed craft through the evoiutlons whlch
Lieut.. Tlnney has planned The gasoline en-
CINE used in surface running, is in perfect
order, as is the other mechanism In the
submarine, by which She is operated While
running and diving under water. The stor-
age batteries, which furnish the running
POWER while the vessel is submerged, nave
been fully charged in anticipation OF the
tests,
The Tests to Be Made.
The tests to which the Adder will be SUBJ
jected will be running on the surface and
running partly submerged. Sinking and
rising TO the surface will also constitute adj
ditional tests which have been planned, and
the tests may also include the firing Of q
dummy torpedo This is the first instance
in which submarine tests have been con-
Quoted so near this port.
The crew of the Adder is composed of
seven men and with Lieut.. Pfnney and
Gunner Donald in the submarine its
complement will be increased to nine men,
Three or four additional men will, how
ever, be taken on the trip for substitution,
should occasion demand 1t.
The performances of the Adder Will be
watched with much interest, stimulated by
the recent successful trials of the Fulton at
Newport