New-York tribune., 1908-06-14
PROTECTION FROM TORPEDOES.


FxactIv how much harm might be expected
| from a self-propeled torpedo Is a question ABOUT
which there has long been some uncertainty
More has been known about the enects oI an
chored mines, arranged so as TO e&plooe ".oh
hit by moving vessel or to be nred py eiee
tricity from shore, than about the posSlDill'iee
of damage with the missile which Whitehead
did so much to improve. The use OF the a",o
mobile torpedo has been and still is Deset Win
embarrassments. If 1t Is launched from q poa'
travelling on the surface Of the water there Is
a chance that the assailant will be detected ana
annihiIated before getting near enough to de-
liver an attack Under such circumstances
stealth is pitted against vigilance. Sometimes
one and sometimes the other Will come out
ahead.
In the submarine there is fresh source, or,
at least an increased degree, OF danger let
more than one experienced officer in the navy
believes that the approach OF craft or the he"
type can be discovered. Whether this opinion
is correct or not, it is certainly true that inc
submarine cannot overtake a battleship II the
latter has had any warning. When entlrely SUI
merged the submarine moves at the rate of i've,
six or possibly seven knots 1t is pretty poor
battleshp that cannot travel two or three times
as rapidly.
Though the peril from the torpedo has I'M
uuestionably been -overrated the principal naval
powers Of the world have deemed wise the adop-
ton of means for it's use. Small boats designed
exclusively for this mode Of warfare have been
built by the score, and even battleships and
armored cruisers are usually equipped with
tubes to be employed for n similar service,
though the value Of such devices in large cratt
has often been questioned 1t is better to err
on the side of excess than deficiency in provision
for any particular method of offence. Until the
Tod yrnJl6 Ia
folly not to retain it. Moreover, there has been
ample reason for search for means to render
it harmless ,
The tests Just made at Hampton Roads ind-
cate that this country has been more successful
than any other in the hunt for safeguards
against the torpedo. 1t may be premature to
assume that the immunity of which there is now
an excellent assurance will be permanent. Still,
the system whose success has been demonstrated
can, it is reasonable to think. be reinforced to
meet any possible increase In the charge of a
torpedo 1t certainly marks a great advance on
precedent The authorities at Washington-and,
for that matter all the naval powers of the world
are now justified In cherishing more confidence
than ever before in the safety not only of their
big ships but also of the officers and crews who
do their fighting. Once more, as it did with the
submarine, with armor plate and with the re-
volving turret, America gives to other nations a
helpful contribution to efficiency In marine war
fare.
That the invention tried on the Florida may
exercise an influence on naval tactics in the
future is not altogether inconceivabe. Togo be-
seged Port Arthur not with his battleships, but
with his torpedo boat destroyers The harbor
was closely watched. but was not invaded. His
large vessels were kept at a safe distance. They
could be quickly summoned by wireless teleg-
| rapby. but were not accessible to hostile tor
pedo boats. Perhaps return to old-fashioned
| methods of blockade and even of invasion from
sea might be regarded expedient again If peril
from torpedoes should be sensibIy diminished