The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1907-07-20

1881
Perhaps this story Of the appropri-
alton Of millions for new engines Of
war would not look well or harmonic
with an account Of the latest discus
sions Of the International Peace Tri.
bunal. but nevertheless 1t makes In
teresting reading matter. for 1t 10 a
fact that the last congress voted
$4,000 900 for the purchase Of subma-
rine boats. and 1t Is also fact that In
spite of the many adverse criticisms
ON this freak Of the navy, this nation,
~ well as other world powers. are
steadily developing this under-the-sea
terror. and are gradually collecting
quite feet Of them.
It seems NO longer to be . question
~ to whether submarines shall Be
built, but rather which OF the several
types Of boats which have been pro-
duced 10 the best and the most worthy
to be used ~ . pattern to follow In
building those which will be purchas-
ed with the three million dollars Of
the peoples money. Submarines have
undoubtedly obtained . big and de-
Anite place In the general scheme Of
6sceneo In the Unitsd 6tates. They
ars recognised ~ an Important factor
b naval warfare, 70 that = nav type
Of boat called the. Octopus. built by
the E1ectric Boat company. possesses
peculiar interest For the Octopus
10 regarded BY many experts ~ 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.
6hc II the biggest. to begin with. With
. length Of 105 feet, she makes the
early type Of submarine look like .
toy. In spite Of her greatly superior
bulk she ID more easily handled and
guided than the smaller craft. >,
Her size and capacity are conaid.
cred ~ confidential by the navy de.
partment, the only figures given out
20 far being, that her length Is 105
feet and displacement about 300 tons.
Unomcial timing when running over
the trial course shows here to have =
speed of about IA knots on the surface
and nine knots submerged.
What would be the part such yes
sci would play In 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 battleship. Thsn
down she could 90 again. And II the
torpedo struck home, down the battle
ship would 20. also. never to rise
again.
These torpedoes give. the ordinary
individual an uncanny feeling. even to
think of them. At . speed of SO knots
An hour. six feet below the surface of
the water, 30 az to strike. warship
below the armor belt, torpedo huns
along. leaving trail OF foam. 1e feet
eight inches Of menacins power driv-
Ing straight from the goal. In the.war
head of the torpedo are from $50 to
300 pounds Of gun cotton, enough to
sink the strongest vessel afloat, or to
blow up town, and at the extreme
tip Of the rushing monster is q .HAr
nose, an extremely sensitive S1H
that causes the torpedo to exp10de
when 1t strikes an object A sabma-
rine can stand on distance Of three
quarters Of mile from q warShip AL
launch a torpedo that will reach IL
destination.
It's not beautiful thing to think OF,
Heath and destruction stealing from
the sea below the surface upon huge
vessel of war filled with human BE-
ings. 1t makes all precautions seem
vain and useless and the usual ele-
ments Of warfare are discounted. But
then Marquis Of Queensbury rules do
not apply in actual war, and there il
nothing to prevent hitting below the
belt-especially below the armor belt
II the Octopus made hit with each
Of her torpedoes. her part in = naval
engagement would be the utter de-
struction Of four battleships, mot ! bad
achievement for boat which y only