Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-04-08
TORPEDO BOAT MARVEL
Great Claims Made For a Sub
mersible Craft.
DAN BE SENT MANY MILES TO SEA

Manufacturers OF VeAneI Claim shs
Can Make Endurance Run Under
her own Power of Four Hundred
MHes-Abie tn Fire Torpedoes While
Travelling AMI SHbmcrsed-Reaue.t
For Appointment of Naval BOARD ia
witness Tests,
The Lake Torpedo Boat company
which manufactures submersibis
torpedo bont of the even keel tyne, has
made an offer to the United Suites gov
ernment through n bill introduced In
the house recently by Representative
John J. Gardner Of New Jersey, which
Is bound to attract the attention OF
naval men everywhere, says Wash.
lngton correspondent or the New York
Post Naval experts have usually con.
sidered the submarine as fitted only
for harbor defense. The Lake people
offer to send one Of their bonts 400
miles to sea. They ask that tie secre-
tary Of the navy appoint board to
witness the following maneuvers OF
one Of their bouts:
"SuDmerging TO depth OF l25 feet:
TO run submerged at sea for Il distance
OF 10 knots without coming to the sur
face except for observation with the
omnlscope; to make an endurance run
uuder her own power Of 400 miles at
sea, or from Cape Henry to Newport
K. L., without convoy; TO fire torpedoes
while submerged and under way at
sen, without coming TO the surface; re-
load and fire torpedo while under
way. submerged, and in waters of any
depth; 70 remain ut sea unassisted for
at least three days. with entire crew,
self maintained and without convoy:
to have member Of the crew leave
the boat through the divers door while
the boat Is entirely submerged.
Also 10 locate, pick up and cut
submarine cable, thus demonstrating
the ability to clear Il channel Of mines;
TO run submerged with safety in wa
lers of any depth; while running EN-
tlrely submerged TO take observations
with tue omniscope without exposing
any part OF the vessel; to run between
the surface and bottom at slow Oh
varying speeds; to remain at picket
duty at sea submerged for at least two
days with only the sighting Instrument
occasionally out Of water for observa-
ton purposes; to establish an under
water cable, pick up same and hold
telephonic communication with the
shore station while entirely submcrg-
ed: to charge storage batteries while
running on the surface. Also to place
torpedoes within the boat while on the
surface without disjointing or wetting
them; to ascend to the surface by
means OF releasing drop keel; to ascend
to the surface by lowering the anchor
weights; to run under gasoline engines
while practically submerged with only
the sighting hood and omniscope above
the surface"
10 demonstrate the simplicity of con-
troll of Its boats the company guaran-
tees to train In one month crew of
naval officers and men to handle the
boat successfully while under the de-
scribed tests. 1t asks In return that
II II successfully performs these ma
neuvers the government shall purchase
the tested boat, paying for it $275,OOO.
Also that the secretary Of the navy
shall contract with the company for
four additional even keel submarine
boats. two Of these boats to be not
less than 100 feet or more than 1O5
feet in length, to have a surface speed
Of ut least 10 knots aud 10 have a sub
merged speed Of at least GlA knots, to
have a normal radius Of action OF at
least 600 knots. surface cruising ra-
dius OF at least 1000 knots and to cost
100000 euch. The other Two boats to
be not less than 1876 feet III length, to
have surface speed of IA knots,
submerged speed of knots and n nor
nal cruising radius of $500 knots.
IL Is made condition OF acceptance
that one of these cruiser class Of boats
shall first make voyage under her
own power across the Atlantic ocean
or from q point on the Atlantic coast
500 miles seward and return at the
expense and risk Of the builders.
World Cirelinx Trip With Hand Bag.
e. A. Gnrnjost, II contractor of Yonk-
ers, arriyed'at New York recently after
n trip around the world, during which,
he believes he carried the smallest
amount nf 'hnUpnra apar tol,nn a., :,