A Russian Torpedo Scandal.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 7, 9 January 1886, Page 5

A Russian Torpedo Scandal.

A cobrespondent of the "Novoe Vremya" at Vladivostock has provoked a sensation in Russian naval circles by disclosing the following incident;—A few weeks ago, the German steamer China pet out for Port Possiett, unaware that the harbour was cloeed by a double row of torpedoes, which had been placed there during the war scare in the spring. On its arrival, the boat stationed to warn off vessels was not in its place, and the German captain did not observe tho red flag hoisted on shore, where also the naval picket was absent. Two or three people, observing the danger into which the vessel was running, shouted out, "Mini! mini!" (Minos ! mines !), hut the captain did not realise what they meant until close to the first torpedo barrier. It was then too late to reverse the engines, and amidst a panic among the passengers on board, hedecided to trust toluckandstcara full speed ahead. A terrible pause followed, succeeded by a feeling of astonishment when the steamer was seen to have traversed both rows of submarine mines, and to be calmly making her way into (he harbour. The |torpedoes were supposed to be of the besfc quality, received from Russia last spring, and they were laid down by experienced officer?, who had reported that it was impossible for even the smallest fishing smack to enter the harbour without being blown to pieces. None the less they proved a dismal failure when tested by the China, and the Russian Admiralty have telegraphed that the most searching investigation shall be made into the affair. At St. Petersburg it is not believed that the officers bungled in laying them down, but that the mishap was due to a repetition of what occurred more than once with the submarine mines Russia used against Sir Charles Napier in the Baltic. Failing to check that gallant officer's operations, they were hauled up and examined, whoa it was found that the rascally officials ashore had purloined the gunpowder and replaced it with sawdust.