The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-06-13
TORPEDO PROOF.
The Monitor Florida Is But
Slightly Damaged
By the Explosion of 24O Pounds
of Gun Cotton.
FIRED AT 400 FEET
To Test Resisting Power of Hell
Steel ArmOr.
Further Tests Are Regarded as
Unnecessary.


OF the monitor Florida was satisfac-
tory. The ship was seriously, but not
fatally damaged and the injury done
is said to be largely localized. Furth-
er tests are unnecessary.
Fort Monroe, Va, June 13.-Early
today in Hampton Roads. the monitor
Florida, fortified with water tight
bulkhead specially constructed and
designed to represent actual condi-
tons was fired into with an Ameri-
can whitehead torpedo.
The object sought was to determine
whether this form of bulkhead with
which all the American ships of war
probably will be provided can success
fully Withstand the force of the ex-
plosive contained in the torpedo or in
default of that, whether the effect of
the charge will be to scatter destruc-
ton far and wide and possibly sink
the ship. In some respects today's
test was similar to that conducted in
1903 by the British admiralty with the
target vessel Belle Isle, but today's
test with the Florida was the first ex-
pertinent Of the kind in the American
navy. In the case of the Belle Isle
the bottom of the ship was damaged
extensively by the force of the ex-
plosion and it was found impossible to
tow the battered hull back again into
the harbor in time to prevent her
sinking. She was finally pushed
| aground by tugs and beached. The
outcome. Of today's experiment was
therefore awaited with much inter-
est.
Travelled 400 Feet.
The torpedo was fired at the F'lori-
da's water tight bulkhead compart-
| ment for distance of approximate
| ly 400 feet in an almost horizontal
Tt
| specially prepared for the occasion
and fitted with a bomb proof arInor
| to protect the officers witnessing the
test, from any flying pieces Of wood
| or steel. To prevent any danger of
detection of the line of flight of the
| torpedo, which sometimes happens,
| owing to a disarrangement of the auto
| matte mechanism by which it oper-
ates, it was sent along trolley wire,
which connected the float with the
monitor. By the successful working
| Of this device the torpedo hit the ex-
act spot which it was intended to
strike and thus ayerted failure of the
| experiment. iras % 49,.
| The method of, firing differs some
| what from that followed by the Eng
fish in their testsolwith the Belle Isle
| on which occasion British torpedo
/ was dashed alongside the compart-
ment specially constructed to repre-
sent a section of the latest type of ar
NOR clad which protruded from the
| side of the vessel two or three feet.
The torpedo was discharged electrical
Nv by officers stationed on a vessel a
considerable distance away. Today's
| test was made at Pine Beach, Off the
jamestown exposition grounds in
about Is feet of water, the Florida
drawing about 13 " feet.
22O Pounds of Gun Cotton.
Two hundred and twenty pounds of
gun cotton comprised the ex-
plosive charge carried by the tor
| pedo Gun cotton is powerful ex-
| plosive, but the hope Of the officials
was that the damage it might do
| might be absorbed locally, thus 1nsur-
ing the stability of the remainder OF
the vessels water tight compartments
/ Should the harm done by the ex-
plosiye prove more extensive, the re-
suits will prove a great disappoint-
l nient The torpedo was aimed to
strike below the water line armor belt
of the ship.
Il Considerable time and work was
expended on the Florida in prepar-
ing her for today's test as the Off
Gals have been anxious that it shall
be complete and final as demonstrat-
ing the vulnerability or lack OF vul-
nerability of the latest construction In
buIkheads. in resisting torpedo at
tacks. Results obtained from today
experiment will be guide for the
construction officials in the building
of the water tight compartment bulk
heads of the new Deadnaughts, North
Dakota and Delaware partially COM
pleted and of the Florida and others
authorized at the last session of con-
eress. The compartment pierced by
the torpedo is nearly amfdsh1ps OF
the monitor and is of considerable
! size.
Value of CelIulose.
~ mi, he
effect of the torpedo exploding be-
meath the ship in the experiment with
the Belle Isle in 1908, there was de-
sire to test the value of cellulose as
means of preventing the thrush OF
waters into the ship after the pene-
tration of the hull, the contention be-
ing that cellulose tightly rammed Of
fers resistance to inrushing waters
and yet will not expand to a sufficient
extent to burst open the inside OF the
vessel. In the compartment fired at
quantity of celluloSe was tightly
rammed, rendering it practically solid
Unofficial reports of the explosion
however, were to the effect that por-
tions of the cellulose were hurled into
the air and it was apparent that a
compartment packed with this ma
terial was blown up. Today's test was
the second for the monitor within q
very short time. the former being
two weeks ago, when shell was fired
at the IL inch armor on the forward
turret and others at a fighting mast
Secretary Metcalf left Washington
|. last night aboard the presidents
, yacht Mayf1ower to observe the tes
and had as his guests Secretary Taft
Postmaster General Myer and severa
other officials.
The Mayf1ower with Secretarie.
Metcalf and Taft and Postmaster
General Myer arrived here at hal
past this morning. After hasty
breakfast the party was transferred tt
a tug so as to be able to get nearer
to the Florida. than they could in the
Mayhower. The weather was beauti
full and the narfy enjoyed the triI