THE HOLLAND SUBMARINE BOAT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXVI, Issue 8074, 19 March 1901, Page 1

THE HOLLAND SUBMARINE BOAT.

In view of the decision of the British Admiralty to obtain five submarine boats of the Holland type, the following extract from an exchange is of interest: —The testimony of Lieutenant H. H. Caldwell, of the United States Navy, who commanded the submarine boat Holland in all the tests made of that craft, is of the most direct and convincing character as to her efficiency. Replying to the question propounded by the House Committee on Naval Affairs, he said that the largest submerged run was about one mile aind a half. He considers iher "durable, habitable, and re-

liable as a vessel for coast and harbor defence." Of the work of the Holland at the manoeuvres of the fleet at Newport, he testifies : —"She left the torpedo station at sundown, and was placed in a partially submerged condition, with the turret and about six inches of the hull above water, ready to dive at short notice. Cruised in this condition to southward and eastward of Brenton's Beef Lightship. About 9 p.m., about seven miles SSE. front harbor entrances, sighted U.S.S. Kearsarge within range and fired torpedo signal. Followed her, and getting within 100 yards without being discovered, showed light, hailed her, and informed her commanding officer that she had been torpedoed. The Holland was not seen by any vessrel of the blockading fleet or torpedo boat, although she was within torpedo range of three of the former and several of the latter. I consider that the attack was a success, because the Holland could in all probability have torpedoed three blockading vessels without beinig discovered." Lieutenant Caldwell, replying to a question, said he would be willing to command the vessel in case of war with a foreign Power, and was sure he could sink one or more vessels of a blockading fleet, or else make them keep so far away as to make the blockade ineffective. Asked >if with six Hollands he could break a blockade of New York City made by fifteen ships of war, he said •he could, and by direct night attacks, approaching the fleet from different directions in -partially submerged condition, and diving when discovered. If the fleet kept under way. by Iving in wait at different points of its course' or accompanying a decov blockade runner. He said it was possible for the Holland to go ten miles or more to sea and make a successful attack, either ni<?ht or dav. Chief Naval Constructor Philip Hichborn's testimony was ■equally favorable. He had no doubt _of the ereafc value of this type of fighting machine, and thought the programme should be to build in all twenty boats. J If we 'budldi seven this year," he said, we ought to build six or seven next year,_ until twenty were in commission. Chairman Hawley asked: "Do we understand that vour judgment with respect to these boats is that they are of such a character and will play such a prominent and important nart hereafter that it will inevitably become the policy of the Government to construct this, or a similar boat?" To this Admiral HichboiT replied: "Without any ouestion. It is also.my opinion that the Kntrlish Government will be following it unln a very short time: and I have more than just an ordinary reason for saying that, because I have communications from some of the leading architects of the English Government, who take the_ liberty to write to int. and ask my j-"—'- T can judge by the tone of their metiers; and their whole disposition is to very soon have submarine boats. No nation can be without; them."