The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-11

commander can estimate his distance,
he has no way of ascertaining tho
enemy's speed and course. although at
a range OF one mile expert torpedo
officers can generally hit n large YES
sci. A ~ knot torpedo takes - sec
onds to traverse 1000 yards. During
that time a 600 foot d~readnought Will
travel about LASS feet, or more thar
twice her length. The possibility W
error Is therefore not emote.
Again, in a rough sea a submarine
submerged to fighting depth rolls like
an aeroplane in a gusty wind. Also.
Ike an ~unstabilizcd acroplanc, tho
porpolse diving type Is in Indifferent
equilibrium In the vertical plane and
except at high speeds her motion in
that plane is somewhat uncertain.
Finally. az compared with n swiftly
moving target the boa Is relatively
slow, clumsy and unresponsive in
manpuvrlng.
In view OF these limitations to his
aim and the possibility that in project
ing his p%erlscopc to take II the COM
mander may draw upon his boat n
death dealing destroyer II IL evident
that the discharge of a torpedo by n
submarine is distinctly n zone man
job and that that man must he In
slant in action and iron in nerve.
The fact that from the outbreak OF
war British troop ships have crossed
the Channel In ever going numbers
! without. so far rs is publicly known,
a single attack by submarines is at
tributed generally to a most efficient
M troll Aal A,,gA, ly L.. A-~
aircraft.
The destroyer in smooth water or
light seas Is the fastest ship that
floats. Although relatively small. Il
IL exceedingly quick in manmuvrine
and can rise from slow To maximum
speed almost Immediately. Further,
! 1t carries a battery Of small calibrc
guns of extreme rapidly Of fire, capa-
Bile OF destroying any submarine on
whose exposed periscope they are
trained. The wake of such n perlscopo
can be detected IN a smooth sea at
, 5000 yards. and the hull OF n sub
merged submarine makes n disturb
ance In the water which is visible from
aloft IN n watChful ship.
The value OF aircraft in detecting
submarines lies m the fact that their
height eliminates reflection at the sur
race OF the water, as the water telc-
scopes OF sponge fishermen ard tho
glass bottomed boats of Nassau do.
In clear water the aviator can SOC Il
submarine At a depth Of iiftv fee, ,r
more n can signal to a following
dir!glble. The latter, approaching the
surface closely, can drop "a hcuV.
bomb on tho submarine. which. II 4
rises to repcl the attack by rs high
angle guns can hc rammcd by nearby
d~estroyers.
No effective structural defence
against torpedo attack has vet boa
devised for n batt,eship's hull. III
effect of the blow nay he localized NV
a minute system Of compartments and
the thrush of water may he checked
by admitting compressed air to 'hr
damaged sections. Light interior ar.
NOR. not attached TO tho outer skin.
has been advocated. II has been prl.
posed also Ia cover the who'o bo''u,r
externally with four inch M bil
the tendency Of hattleShIp dove,opm mt
may rather he toward the rcduct.r,
~ all rmo as in the battle cruie,V.
~ present extreme vigilance. DESTROY
'lS bii hlItIdll Sf'l III me 'll"l tt-
fence.
Despite IT'S limitations the rroa.
value OF the submarine ~ this t'ma
in coast defence is unquestlpnahlc.
That II will soon serve with fleets on
the high seas seems wholly prohah',
As Admiral Wlnterhalter puts Il. tho
ultimate goal Of submarine cons'ruc-
tion is high speed under water" IN
n hoat which when SUBMERGED can
charge the encmy's column.
To reach this goal the discovery
Of new motive power may ha ncccs-
sary. Thus Ear no way has been
found for consuming or cypc,,ing thu
products Of combustion from oil en-
gincs that does not leave a wake
which destroys he invisihility OF tho
submarine.