THE TORPEDO DEFENCE OF MELBOURNE.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5073, 11 May 1878, Page 2

THE TORPEDO DEFENCE OF MELBOURNE.

(From the " Australasian. ) The defence of the channels ,near the Heads has for some time past been engaging the attention of the Volunteer authorities, and in conjunction ;with Captain Mandeville a scheme of defence by means of torpedoes has been finally decided xipon, and as the manufacture of torpedoes is being rapidly proceeded with, it is expected that in a very short time the channels will be completely blocked against the entrance of an opposing force. In consequence of no provision having been made for the erection of the two forts recommended by Sir William Jervois, and also from the difficulty in obtaining the large amount of cable required, the scheme of torpedo defence recommended by that officer has had to be considerably modified; It is proposed to close, when necessary, the mouth of the West Channel by means of block ships sunk in the entrance, and this will leave ; only the South Channel' to be defended by torpedoes. The mouth of this channel will also be left open, owing to the large amount of cable that would be required, and also the number of torpedoes necessary. Having made a careful survey of the locality, Captain Ellery has decided that.the most suitable spot in the channel for laying down farpedoes is the narrow portion near the little fishing village of Rosebud, just beyond Dromana. The channel is here about two miles wide, but owing to the shallowness of the water on either side, only about a mile and a half will hare to be laid with torpedoes. A contract has been taken for the construction of 100 iron torpedo cases, calculated to contain 1001 bof gun cotton, and 60 of these have been already delivered by ; : the contractors. Captain Ellery proposes at present to lay down two lines of these machines, the torpedoes in each line being placed en echelon, so that in the event of a small vessel passing uninjured through the first line she could not fail to come in contact with the second Hue. The torpedoes in each line will be placed about 50 yards apart, but if it is found possible to obtain more cable they will be placed even further apart, and a . third line of them laid down. This would perhaps be tlie best course to adopt, as recent experiments at home have shown that the explosion of a 1001 b torpedoe is liable to derange others at a distance of 200 ft. The Cerberus will of course defend the entrance to the South Channel, he» object being to force an attacking ship or. squadron over under the fire of the batteries at Queenscliff. The Nelson will act as a guavdship in rear of the lines of torpedoes, in order to repel-lNlny^ boat attack, or attempt to remove the torpedoes. The Torpedo and Signal Corps being desirous of having some practice in the laying of torpedoes, have applied to the authorities for leave to have a camp at this place during the Easter holidays, and their application has been favorably enter*

tamed. The commanding officer of tin corps is now making arrangements for tin hire of a Bnuall steamer and a couple 0 launches, to carry on the work with, and i Is intended during the four or fiv< days the corps are down there to take th( opportunity of testing the several nou infernal machines. Although 60 [of the new torpedo cases have been delivered, they have not yej been filled, but this work will be carriec out very shortly. The Government have handed over to the corps the hull Deborah at the mouth of the river, and as soon as she has been cleaned, fumigated, and renovated, the corps will make her their headquarters for drill purposeSj and also as a store ship for the present, but Captain Ellery is desirous of obtain- • ing from the Lands Department a small piece of waste land near the mouth of the river, on which to erect sheds in which the torpedoes could be filled and stored against the time when they might be required.