The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1907-05-11

Perhaps this story of the appropri-
alton of millions for new engines of
war would not look we'll or harmonize
with an account of the latest discus
siOns Of the International Peace Tri-
bunal, but nevertheless it makes in
tereSting reading matter, for it is a
fact that the last congress voted
100000 for the purchase Of subma-
rine boats, and it is also fact that in
spite Of the many adverse criticisms
on this freak of the navy, this nation,
as well as other world powers, are
steadily developing this under-the-sea
terror, and are gradually collecting
quite a feet of them.
It seems no longer to be a question
as to whether submarines shall be
built, but rather which of the several
types of boats which have been pro-
duced is the best and the most worthy
to be used as a pattern to follow in
building those which will be purchas-
ed with the three million dollars of
the peoples money. Submarines have
undoubtedly obtained a big and de-
finite place in the general scheme of
defence in the United States. They
are recognized as an important factor
in naval warfare, so that a new type
of boat called the Octopus, built by
the Electric Boat company, possesses
q peculiar interest. For the Octopus
is regarded by many experts as the
highest type yet attained in this style
OF naval weapon. They call her the
last word among the deadly sub
merged craft which are built to steal
upon and destroy the battleship of the
enemy.
There are scores of reasons, says
its inventor, for calling the Octopus
the greatest Of all submarine craft.
She is the biggest to begin with. With
a length of 1O5 feet, she makes the
early type of submarine look like a
toy. IN spite Of her greatly superior
bulk she is more easily handled and
guided than the smaller craft.
Her size and capacity are consid-
cred as confidential by the navy de.
partment, the only figures given out
50 far being that her length is 105
feet and displacement about 800 tons.
Unofficial timing when running over
the trial course shows here to have a
speed of about II knots on the surface
and nine knots submerged.
What would be the part such yes
Sc! would play in a naval war?
She could sink beneath the surface
of the sea, and completely out of sight
of any possible enemy, travel any de-
sired distance, rise to the surface so
that only the top of the periscope
would be showing. and launch a tor
pedo at an opposing battieship Then
down she could go again And if the
torpedo struck home, down the battle
ship would go, also, never to rise
again.
These torpedoes give the ordinary
individual an uncanny feeling. even to
think of them. At a speed of SO knots
an hour six feet below the surface OF
the water, so as to strike a warship
below the armor belt, a torpedo huns
along, leaving a trail of foam, 16 feet
eight inches of menacing power driy-
Ing straight from the goal. In the war
head Of the torpedo are from ESQ to
300 pounds of gun cotton. enough to
\ blk the strongest vessel afloat. or to
hw up a town, and at the extreme
tip of the rushing monster is a war
nose, an extremely sensitive cap"
that causes the torpedo to explode
when ii strikes an object 4 subma
rine can stand off a distance of three
quarters of a mile from a warship and
launch a torpedo that will reach its |
destination.
It's not beautiful thing to think of. !
death and destruction stealing from /
the sea below the surface upon a huge /
vessel Of war filed with human be- /
ings. i makes all precautions seem |
vain aud useless, and the usual ele. I
ments Of warfare are discounted But .
then Marquis of Queensbury rules do .
nor apply in actual var, and there is
nothing to prevent hitting below the
belt-espccially below the armor belt.
i The Octopus made a hit with each
OF her torpedoes. her part in naval
engagement would be the utter de-
struction of four battleships. not a bad
achievement Cor a boa. which is only