The Ordway new era., 1905-09-08
NOVELIST'S INVENTION NAY
REvOLUTIONIZE NAVAL WAR

tion story written by Morgan Robert
son and printed In Everybody's Maya
zine. may reyolutionize naval warfare.
Mr.. Robertson. the author. has already
sold for $4,000 his invention Of sub
marine searchlight to the Holland
Submarine Boat company. and now
has been employed by that company to
develop other IDEAS OF submarine war
fare.
The basis OF the story. "The Sub
marine Destroyer" is n hypothetical
war between Japan and the United
States. brought on by the latter coun-
try deporting all Chinese from Ameri-
ca to their native land. Japan notified
the United States that II the trans
ports carrying the deported orientals
approached within the three mile limit
OF the Chinese coast she would construe
IL as an act Of war. The United States
delayed response, Japan recalled her
ambassador while the transports were
still In midocean. The United States
mustered seventeen submarines-the
only kind OF warships ip use. all the
powers having sent their battleships
and cruisers to the junk yards-to
protect the transports. Lieut.. Ross. U.
s. n. was in command OF the ilotilla.
AS the transports and the flotilla
neared the mouth OF the Yangtse river
THE Submarine Destroyer" was dis
covered. The story goes on:
Ross saw a round, glis-
tening steel hull. capped by slant
sided coming tower. 1t seemed like
huge globe, its curvature indicating
diameter OF at least eighty feet. but 1t
moved on course to intercept the
Vaquero Gross iiagship) at speed
almost Incredible in ball Snapped
hull. There was nothing to betray Its
nationality. The stranger
stopped with unusual suddenness. and
head and shoulders rose out of the
coming tower-those of youngish
man, with an alert, boyish face, and
fine white teeth, much in evidence
when he smiled.
Hello there, lieutenant" he called.
when the Vaquero had crept up to
him. Got any gilmore than you
need this trip?"
"'Plenty OF medium grade, II that
will do answered Ross doubtfully.
But who are you. and what have you
there-a submarine?'
"'well. it's a periscope. as you see.
and for the rest, it's centrifugal
| pump and a high speed rotary. My
oils too thick and it heats up. That's
about all can tell you now
Hardly enough, considering the
situation. What's your nationality?
"'l'm an American.
".But your boat?' asked Ross. impa-
tiently.
"Depends upon what It can do to-
morrow and which country buys me
out
"'Are you an armed craft? Then
you are a pirate II you meddle with
the affairs of nations
"I am not armed or armored and
the affairs meddle with will go to the
bottom. The other side won't care
Don't bubble with me. l am a
government officer with tube trained
upon you now.
".You couldn't hit me with every
torpedo you've got, lieutenant said
the stranger. smiling again. You'd
| have to strike a horizontal knife edge
with the firing pin of your torpedo
| and it's one chance in a million. You
! can't aim in vertical plane.
Ross puzzled over the statement
and the stranger went on:
1--we neither rudder nor screw to
! catch torpedo. can get thirty-five
1 knots in five seconds. l can stop as
| quickly. might = though I'm not
sure-run away from a torpedo
Nonsense said Ross. It's be.
| yond the power of machinery
For an answer the stranger ducked
into the coming tower. closed the di
vided hatch: then, throwing spoon
shaped sheet of water high overhead
the curved object darted about 1OC
yards to starboard, stopped almost in
i stsntly. and darted back to its former
position. Ross eyes opened at the ex
hibition, and when the stranger again
rose out of the hatch. he cried:
| "'What in the name of heaven have
| you got? How do you get that speed
in ball? should say 1t was forty
knots an hour
"'No, thirty-five, or little less
! It's twenty under water. l can catch
and destroy any submersible afloat OF
submerged
eff you are unarmed, how can you
destroy anything, even though, as yor
claim, you are invulnerable to attack?
watch out tomorrow. Keep your
I colors hoisted, even when submerged
l want to make no mistakes. l have
IA l.
none of the best
"t.You are not benefactor of hui
manity,' said Ross. with slight shud
der.
But, II your oil is any good. and