The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-07-16
.HE German torpedo or torpe-
does that destroyed the Lusi-
tan1a were fired at q rahge

tan1a were fred at a range
Of not more than a thou
hand yards, and the torpedoes them
selves probably Travelled at a speed in
excess of forty knots. The submarine
or submarines from which the weap-
pns We're discharged were submerged
not more than fifteen feet, and they
had plenty Of time to get the exact
range before the torpedoes were dis
charged. Furthermore. the t%orpedoes
were OF the most modern and power
1ul 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-
zine activities since the underwater
war was started by the Germans sew
eral months ago.
The extreme range of a torpedo, 1t
was explained by these officers, is
about 1000 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
angly more accurate.
One Of tho American officers stated
that In Charles W. Domville- Flies
book, entitled Submarine Engineering
of Today" there is a chapter on "The
Life Of a Torpedo" which describes
IN understandable language and in a
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 $5,OO0,OOO 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
0tes If struck by a torpedo.
The Business End.
1.-THE modern torpedo varies in length
from fourteen to nineteen feet and
weighs up to half a ton. It has an ex
IRENE range of, say, 1000 yards. The
blunt nose, or war head as it is call
ed, is the business end Of the torpedo
and has the dry and wet guncotton
and the illuminate Of mercury neces-
sary for the explosion. Behind the en-
plosive head is the air chamber to hold
the compressed air by which motive
power is furnished. Then we come to
the search chamber or brain Of the
weapon, which contains most marvel
Ous mechanism for directing and con-
trolling the machine. Next comes the
engine room and, at the tail Of the tor
pedo, the %buoyancy chamber.
Every one Of these little peculiari-
ties INDUCED in by the torpedo is noted
IN the history sheet and referred to be-
Tore b 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 a school
master with a lot Of small children to
understand and manage. Sometimes.
but not often during trials. a 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
RES compressed air. This helps to sink
1t to the required depth after it has
entered the water. This air, escaping
from the chamber by means Of a reg
ulating valve, drives the engine at a
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
pedo. These revolve on the same axis.
but in opposite direction, the object be-
Ing to give stability to the weapon.
Steered by Vertical Rudders..
THE steering is effected by vertical
Eudders, which keep the torpedo in the