The Washington herald., 1913-04-06
CREWS OF TORPEDO BOATS
ALWAYS PLAYING With Death
Vivid Story Of Race Across Seas at Night While Vessels Fate
Depends on Fab Of the Dice-Fate Of German
Destroyer Is Recalled.

You must have been thrilled short
time ago when news came from across
the water of the fate Of the German
torpedo boat destroyer S-17S. In the
dakness of night that frail craft was
run down and cut In two by the cruiser
Yorck, and seventy-one of her crew
persisted.
1t Is said that the SITS and her COM
panions were making the hazardous at
tempt to cut through the line of passing
battleships for the purpose of attacking
them mere advantageously or in simula-
ton of getting beyond them to an
imaginary fleet of merchantmen. Be
this as IT may. the maneuver had all the
risks of actual warfare save the hostile
shot and the assault of the torpedo.
When practice work of this sort Is
under way all lights are extinguished
Only unfaltering vigilance, quick eyes,
cool heads and steady nerves stand be-
tween play and disaster. But, even so,
this is the necessary preparation for
the day Of actual battle Since 1885,
Germany has sacrificed more than a
score torpedo boats in this fashion
more than any other service-and each
disaster has been one more warning to
her possible foes of the tireless manner
in which she seeks to keep her fleet
ready.
Even though she is building battle
ships and battle cruisers of splendid
military capabilities. Germany for many
years has been adding in greater rela-
tive proportion to her fotillas of sea-
going torpedo craft. 1t is perfectly
plain that the Kaiser's naval strategists
count upon these hornets of the sea to
deal death blows to the dreadnoughts
of her foes. and their hazardous prac-
tice in time of peace is significant of
the desperate chances they will take in
the hour of national need.
Glory Awaits Commanders.
1t is true that even the biggest of
sea going torpedo boat destroyers are
utterly incapable of withstanding the
wcll-placed blows of the iong-range
five-inch and sixinch rapid-fire guns
now supplied the battleship to keep
these menacing pests afar. but the
commander of a destroyer knows what
he can do il he can only bring his own
weapons to bear within fair striking
distance. OF course, he is leading more
or less of a forlorn hope. but that is no
detriment, for puny as his craft may
be 1t carries a sting which may spell
death for the mightiest of dread
noughts. What young officer would
not willingly face the odds against him
to win the glory of such an achieve
ment!
Success depends mainly upon catch
ing the enemy off guard or In turning
his flank and driving home upon him
from an unsupported direction. This
means that the destroyer shall be able
TO keep the sea in stormy weather, and
that she shall be capable of very high
speed. The latest sea-going torpedo
boats can make more than thirty-odd
knots an hour, and to this end we'll
nigh everything is sacrificed in order
that the motive power shall be equal
to the task imposed upon 1t.
Life aboard these vessels Is such that
only youth can endure its stresses; 1t
is hardship even in time of peace. The
American public knows little Of what
Its own torpedo craft are doing, and
the naval authorities are not seeking
publicity. These boats are, figuratively
speaking, the knife American naval
men are keeping up their sleeves for
the day of trial by battle.
Until year ago even the American
naval authorities did not know what
would happen should the destroyer be
called away to sea in a storm, but then
they learned TO their satisfaction how
we'll these boats would behave under
the most trying weather conditions.
hotilla of them put to sea bound for
at Guantanamo. and they
had scarcely cleared port when furi-
GUS gale dashed the sea. Everybody
remembers with what anxiety news
was awaited Of their fate. Even though
the little craft were widely scattered.
all of them finally made Ravens after
battling desperately with the driving
wind anG the battering waves.
You have heard about the daring ma
neuvers of the German destroyers, and |
you probably look upon the foregoing |
accidental trial of our boats as incon- |
elusive, but that is merely because you |
10 not know what they are doing. They |
are constantly, going through maneuvers |
As daring as those of the German craft. |
Serves Tive Purposes.
In naval tactics the destroyer fills a
.wofod purpose: 1t serves the dread
1oughts as an advance guard against
and other torpedo craft, and,
n its turn is expected to measure forces
With the destroyers of the foe and to
lrive home it's attack upon the heavy
patti; line of the enemy. You no doubt |
want to know how these circumstances
# service are simulated in time Of
PEACE.
Let us imagine ourselves aboard one
If a squadron of destroyers scattered
anwiSe ahead OF a division OF battle
hips and racing along without lights at T
light in search OF another f1otilla called
he enemy. Against the curtain of gloom
he sharp eyes of the lookout catch
park or the momentary phosphorescence
# wave. Either may betray the prox-
nifty of one Of the foe or possibly one OF
he associate destroyers. Even though
he boat have a searchlght, still this
must be used warily lest in identifying
friend the foe learn of your where
bouts.
What then does the youthful COM
handler on the bridge do? He signals
own to the engine room for full speed,
nd, like hound out of leash, the de-