The Torpedo Boat in War Time

Bruce Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 2494, 18 July 1893, Page 4

The Torpedo Boat in War Time

How. will the torpedo boat fare in war time ? It is now an axiom that torpedo boats are useless in the daytime—they would fee destroyed ere they could get within firing distance for torpedoes, and it is becoming pretty well established that " a boat expected is a boat destroyed." Unless boats attack in numbers, unless the enemy bewilder themselves with search lights, they have little chance against a prepared foe. Surprise is the ele* menfc that will beyond all others pertain to success ; but it will have to be coupled with indomitable pluck and disregard of consequences. What will happen in such a case ? The boat steals up until. it's shot from the enemy shows that concealment j is no longer possible. Th©» it js full speed ahead, blames rise from the funnel, bullets, shot and shell , fall around in a ceaseless hail, darkness, confusion, noise and flasher. The; tubes are already trained. ' All the officer in charge of them has to do is to wait till the enemy is in line with' the sights of the director. The momen^ comes. If he is still alive there is a flash | the torpedo plunges into the sea. Tfcerejjfa rpar like thunder, dull and muffled. A giap* yaya rifles and envelopes tht doomed enemy in its embrace, and returning bears away what remains of the torpedo boat. Then silence and the blaeknesa of the oigbfc, The terpttojtoi got topt<