Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1906-06-06

NAFFfeo ON batttc-hip's D~ck-Io
n Have n Speed OF Twenty-one and "a
Hair KNOTS.
A new submarine destroyer from
which the crew can see aud hear sights
and sounds at Il great distance and
thus strike with greater accuracy has
been invented 10y Lewis Nixon. the
shipbuilder. says the New York Times.
Mr. Nixon admitted II and said that he
las applications for patents pending
all over the world. The new submarine
destroyer. Mr.. Nixon said, will be Of
fered To the United States government
by the inventor before any foreign
power has an option ON it.
The boat has secret device by
which. II Is said. II Will be practically
impossible for a torpedo or strange
craft to come within mile or two OF
the submarine without being observed
or heard.
After that" said MIR. Nixon. the
question Of the destruction OF the IN
welcome craft is another matter. re-
curing another device. This is covered
by one Of the applications for patents
now pending and the blowing up OF a
hostile vessel approaching too closely
Is very simple matter. My device in.
Guides the use OF high explosive that
will work terrific damage when explod-
ed near hull. By other parts of my
invention, through which vessels under
or above water can be placed by my
craft. IL Is as though the eyesight were
exaggerated and the hearing rendered
extremely sensitive.
Further than this IL would he dis
astrous TO all interested TO speak nj
present, save TO say that my subma-
rlne Will be more than half submerged
when afioat. Only a small part OF II
Will appear above water. but that part
will contain the apparatus for observ
Ing and hearing and generally loca ting
strange vessels. The new explosive
and Its operation | do not care TO dis.
cuss just now except TO say that IL has
been perfected.
Mr.. Nixon, speaking OF the progress
In the use OF torpedo and submarine
craft In naval warfare, drew attention
To the fact that the German emperor
had recently announced his intention
OF descending, as President Roosevelt
hnd done, In n submarine boat In order
10 test Its practicability.
This" said Mr.. Nixon, lis interest
Ing In view of the fact that recently
the kaiser regarded the submarine as
more or less OF u joke. When Prince
Henry OF Prussia was in New York
he told me that the submarine boat
did not count for much. When | told
him that | could send out a submarine
boat that could destroy all the German
ships he laughed
Nevertheless. your highness.' |
SAID IN Few years you will be build
Ing submarine boats
Il think few months Will see that
prophecy fulfilled. The submarine boat
must now be considered as n serious
force In naval warfare.
While In Russia | had an opportu-
nifty. the first in many years, TO really
study naval needs as affected by the
advances since designed the Oregon.
while in St Petersburg | designed
armOred dcstroyers-a $4,000 horse
power ocean going destroyer and
submarine torpedo boat destroyer.
These are propelled 10y the Standard
gasoline marine engine.
My submarine destroyers will be
small, capable of being carried on the
decks Of battleships and large cruisers
to be put overheard at the beginning OF
an action. They will bee able TO sink
battleship, as they will carry torpedoes
besides my devices for locating and de
stroying torpedoes. These devices are
very simple but novel
81 have not offered my new inyen-
lions to the navy department as yet, as
/ should have to prove them by trials
But, OF course, anything / have is at
the disposal Of the navy department.
Nevertheless | built the first OF our
submarines. and il was hard to get
report Of what they really did on ac-
count of the great prejudice against
this type of boat
This prejudice is over. however,
and we must now turn our attention
not only to perfectlng the submarine
but to combating II In It's greatest per
lection. This am satisfied can do.
THE new destroyer will be produced
In model In a few weeks time IL will
be perfect miniature of my vessel for
destroying the submarine, and ! may
make a public demonstration Of It's
utility. 1t will have a speed Of 21b
knots"