The Washington herald., 1916-01-25
BY K. II, JOHNS.

After studying all of the types Of
trench periscopes and many inven-
tions that have been submitted by
Americans who have taken interest
in the subject, the ordnance depart
ment Of the army has decided to adopt
the simplest contrivsnce that has been
suggested. 1t is simply a square wood
together. The only feature that might
partake of the nature of an inven-
tion is the arrangement of the looking
glasses in either end of the woode n
tube.
The chief of ordnance has directed
that a number of models be manufac-
tured which will shortly be issued to the
army. Those models will be used by
the ordnance officers in instructing
noncommissioned officers and enlist
ed men as to how the periscope should
be made. With the saw and hammer
any carpenter or any man who is
handy with tools can make the new
periscopes.
Periscopes have proven invalua BILE
in the trench warfare in Europe. With
them, the men in the trenches have
been able to look over the embank-
ments without exposing themselves
" tit nfP VI lHc enemy. SOUle very
complicated metal periscopes have
been manufactured, but it has been
found that for number of reasons
they are not superior to wooden tubes.
In the movement of the troops they
have frequently been lost and they are
more easily jammed by rough handling
than wooden periscopes. 1t is under
stood that the type which is being
made by the ordnance department is
SO constructed that the looking glasses
can be slipped out of them when the
troops abandon line of trenches and
go on a long march. By this arrange
ment it is not necessary to carry the
long periscopes as they can be i'm
provised whenever they are needed by
using the looking glasses in the new
tubes. The glasses can be carried in
the equipment of the enlisted men.
A new type of high speed motor boat
to be used in defense against submarines
has been developed and submitted to the
Navy Department. Although only fifty
feet in length it has developed a speed
Of forty-one miles an hour and can be
carried on board battleship or a cruiser
like the usual type of steamer
1t is proposed to arm the high speeded
motor boat with rapid fire one-pounder
gun ard one torpedo tube. The crew of
tne motor poat VIII consist OF three or
four men. 1t is said that in construction
the boat Is type between the hydro
plane and the seaplane or racing boat
It's engines develop LOO horse power
which is the same power that the old
Indiana type of battleship used in
cruising at ordinary speed. With 1900
horse power the Indiana makes nine
knots an hour or its ordinary sFeed The
common type of tramp steamer does not
use much more than 900 horse power in
making her trips.
The new motor boat with her high
speed will not only be designed to run
down submarines, but under certain con-
ditions, it Is thought could torpedo war
ships and especially the older type and
lower speed battleships. 1t is believed
that in early dawn or late in the even
ing. these small high speed armed motor
boats can get close enough to war
ship TO discharge her torpedo before she
is detected.
Contracts for one of this type of boat
will probably be let IN the near future
Lieut.. A. L. Morgan, U. S. S. New
Jersey, reported at the Navy Department
yesterday.