Perth Amboy evening news., 1915-05-28
T0RpEDOES MOVE AT RAPID
= RATE; FORTY KNOT MISSILE
PROBABLY HIT LUSITANlA

More Effsctivs-Vsries In Length
From Fourteen to Nineteen Feet and
Has Machinery For Guidance.
New York.-The German torpedo or
torpedoes that destroyed the Lusitania
were fred at range of not more than
1000 yards, and the torpedoes them
selves probably Travelled at a speed i'll
excess of forty knots. The submarine
or submarines from which the weap-
ons were discharged were submerged
..c. more than fifteen feet. and they
had plenty of time to get the exact
range before the torpedoes We're dis
charged. Furthermore, the torpedoes
were of the most modern and power
ful type and OF the highest possible
speed.
That Is the opinion of many OF the
American officers, all Of whom have
closely followed the German subma-
rine activities since the underwater
war was started by the Germans sew
erai months ago.
The extreme range OF torpedo, 1t
was explained by these officers, Is
about 1900 yards, but the evidence to
be had indicates that all the German
submarine work is being done at short
range. perhaps less than 1000 yards.
At the lesser range the speed of the tor
pedo Is greater and the aim correspond
tngly more accurate. At the 1900 yard
range the speed of q modern torpedo
should be between twenty seven and
thirty knots, at 5000 yards about thir-
ty-two knots and at 1000 yards be-
tween thirty three and thirty-six knots.
At lesser ranges the speed may vary
from thirty-f1ve to forty knots.
One of the American officers stated
that In Charles W. Domville-Fifes
book, entitled Submarine Engineering
of To-day" there is chapter on THE
Life OF a Torpedo" which describes
In understandable language and in
correct way these terrible missiles of
war
"A first class battleship takes the
best part of three years to build and
may cost anything from 100000 up
ward" the author writes. This pom
derous ship of war can be sent to the
bottom of the sea In but a few min
ntes II struck by torpedo.
1.-The modern torpedo varies In length
from fourteen to nineteen feet and
weighs up to half a ton. 1t has an ex
treme range of 1000 yards. The blunt
nose or war head as 1t is called, is
the business end of the torpedo and
contains the dry and wet guncotton
and the illuminate of mercury neces-
sary FOR the explosion. Behind the ex-
plosive head is the air chamber to hold
the compressed air by which motive
power Is furnished. Then we come to
theA search chamber or brain OF the
weapon, which contains most marvel
Gus mechanism for directing and con-
trolling the machine. Next comes the
= uuep2ipe room and, at the tail of the tor
the buoyaney chamber.
ery one Of these little peculiari-
( ll 14esellslas ~ ~ the torpedo is noted
- the history sheet and referred to be-
fore the weapon IS again fired. By
this means all the slight defects can
be allowed for and a much more accu-
rate aim obtained. 1t is the duty of
the torpedo lieutenant to make up all
the history sheets on a vessel, and he
may be almost looked upon as school
master with lot of small children to
understand and manage. Sometimes
but not often during trials, torpedo
is lost. Perhaps days afterward the
truant turns up, either washed ashore
or towed In by some fishermen after
having torn their nets to pieces.
"a small chamber In the torpedo car
ries compressed air This helps to sink
entered the water This air, escaping
from the chamber by means Of reg
slIating valve, drives the engine at
high rate of speed, which Is almost uni
form throughout the trip from the tube
to the target. The engines turn two
screw propellers at the tail OF the tor
pede. These revolve on the same axis,
but In opposite direction, the object be
ing to give stability to the weapon.
THE steering is effected by vertical
rudders, which keep the torpedo In the
required direction, while the proper
sienth i'm the water-usually from ten
to fourteen feet-is maintained by
horizontal rudders. The torpedo is
kept submerged by means of the bal
ance chamber and Is controlled In its
steering by the wonderful instrument
known as the gyroscope.
$50 marvellous is its mechanism that
In favorable circumstances a torpedo
well aimed may be depended upon 10
strike within a yard or two Of the spot
aimed at Briefly described, the gyro-
scope Is a rotating wheel which auto
mafically controls the torpedo's course.
'eThe method OF firing a torpedo is
very much like that Of discharging a
gun. 1t Is expelled from a torpedo tube
by compressed air, Upon reaching the
water the torpedo is driven by Its
screws in the required direction. The
missile is guided by very ingenious
invention called a torpedo director
This In little brass instrument fitted
with sights like a gun. When the
sights are aligned on the enemy the
officer In charge presses a key, and
kIeetricaty causes the discharge"
Horse Of Another Color.