A SUBMARINE TERROR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2320, 18 August 1898, Page 52

A SUBMARINE TERROR.

The Government of Spain have engaged the services of an extraordinary submarine instrument of war, which is now on its way to take an important part in the present hostilities. The Submarine Worker, as it is called, was invented by Count Piatte clal Pozzo, and constructed at Vitry-sur- Seine, in the woikshops of M. A. Dehsle. It was originally intended to be used in salvage operations on submerged wrecks, and was about to proceed to the locality of the wreck of her Majesty's ship Victoria. The rupture between Spain and America, however, altered this arrangement, and the machine, leased to £he Spanish Gqvernment A rcaa .taken bj &

vessel crossing the Atlantic for the Un'ticl States coast.

The sketch shows the vessel in action* clearing a harbour of mines.

The submarine worker is a large steel sphere, belted and strutted so as to be able to resist all sea pressure at practically any, depth. The external diameter is 9ft 9in, and the thickness of its shell 4in. In weight; 10 tons, it contains puflicienfc coipprcsed air

for the consumption of its crew of three men during 48 hours. All motive power is supplied by electrical accumulators, _ which work a screw ensuring a speed of eight or nine knots. A large rudder the depth of the sphere keeps its "direction well under control, and a powerful electric light lens enables the steersman to guide bis "strange craft amid the hindrances of the ocean bed. Should the accumulators run out, the driving gear can be worked by hand, and ry taking in or ejecting water ballast, the Worker is enabled, with the assistance of two other screws, to sink into lower depths or rise to the surface, according to the wish of tbe captain. If considered advisable, by means of wires the worker may be connected with the deck of an ironclad, and thus the path of the vessel in mined or torpedo-laid wateis h? guided free of these dangerous obstacles. From the front of the worker a strong grappling or cutting arm protrudes, by means of which anchor cables and electrical connections to submarine mines may be severed, endangering the enemy's fleet when off shore, or rendering harbour defence? absolutely useless. It can also lay a mine under a vessel, and after retiring to a safe distance explode the same by means of an electric spark without the slightest risk to itself.