SECOND SUBMARINE BOAT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2356, 20 April 1899, Page 2

SECOND SUBMARINE BOAT.

WARNING BY A FRENCH ADMIRAL. With characteristic esprit, the French aro making the submarine boat business quite tho ' question of the hour, and are evidently sincere in the belief that they now possess a weapon of a force and importance the most absolutely ' incredible. In noting that tho " Matin" Bub- I scription for a submarine boat, to be called i Le Francais, to the State has reached a total of 178,501 francs, tho Standard correspondent says that the French journal publishes a long interview with a prominent nc.val officer attached to the Ministry of Marine, entitled, " What would have happened?" iv which the officer endeavored to show that with one vessel of the Gustiive-Zede type tho Spaniards could have forced the United States to raiso the blockade of Havana, and would also liavo been the means of forcing tho American fleet to withdraw from Santiago, and so have allowed Admiral Cervera's fleet to escape. This officer, who took part in the recent experiments with the Gustave-Zedo, admits that, whilst in his mind tbe problem of submarine navigation is solved, there is yet room for much improvement. For instance, ho thinks that the present vessel is too long, and that if it were reduced some 36ft, leaving its length just over 110 ft, it would be much easier for the men who form its crew to handle. But with these reserves, lie is enthusiastic over iho invention. The local papers in all parts of Franco are opening branch subscriptions to the " Matin's " fund, and several largo engineering firms have gone so far as to offer to construct parts of tho vessel, or its machinery, free of cost, or for tho out-of-pocket ex- . penses.

HOW SUBMARINE BOATS CAN BE DISPOSED OF. I

Writing in the " Gaulois," Admiral Duponfc says: — "The recent trials of the GustavoZede, the presence of the Minister of Marine at these trials, and especially the note, in a certain sense official, which gave forth to the world the success obtained, seem to mo to have somewhat excited public opinion, which, always ready to overshoot the mark, will conclude, if care is not taken, by attributing to the submarine boat qualities which it cannot possess, and a condition of perfection which has not yet been reached. From this point to attributing to them a part which they can never play in warfaro, and forcing out naval constructions on a wrong road is but a single step. It is necessary that, on tho question, of submarine vessels, tho public should clearly understand that, in a naval war, they have no other than the extremely limited mission of rendering difficult and ' sometimes dangerous the blockade of a ' friendly port. It is certainly something, but that is certainly all. Tho British liavo never been mistaken. Owing to the undoubted power of their fleet making it improbable, almost impossible, for one of their ports to be ; blockaded, they have concerned themselves very little witli torpedo boats, preferring to , build destroyers, with which to annihilate these vessels, and they only seem to have slightly concerned themselves with the submarine navigation question."

The admiral thinks that, for the present, the French Government should content itself , with perfecting the Gu&tave-Zede, and conducting further experiments, before commencing to build a number of the&e vessels, which, probably, would be out of date in the verynear futurs.

.According to the war correspondent of the

Telegraph, our naval authorities know all there is to be learned about the new French submarine boats, including the Guatave-Zedo in particular, and are watching with, gratified interest the enthusiasm being developed and tho money voted in Franco upon that class of vessel. Quite likely, if even hereafter the expenditure and experiments result in any practical advanco in boats of the kind, tho British Government may copy and improve upon our neighbour's crude methods or hitting below the armour belt. We have not been slack in keeping an eye upon their inventions in anuour-piercing shcels, guns, and high explosives. As imitation is tho sinceresfc form of flattery, they should bo delighted to know that we have copied and adopted many of their plans for making and handling big guns. Tho submarine boat of any real -value is not yet. The electrically-impelled Gustavo Zedo has, as was pointed out before, a power/ of going 40 or 50 miles — no more, — and her lop speed is not more than nine knots]

It is out of the question, though some critic suggested that course, to hope to hit either the torpedo or submarine boat by merely firing shells at them, for tho water would deflect the missiles. There are several better methods of tackling all such machines. Shells or mines containing high explosives could bo dropped or burst tinder water, and even with but moderate charges tho result of tho explosion at very considerable ranges would be to damage or wreck any submarine Ijoat. Whoever wants to Tcnow what the shock experienced is under water, in tho case of quite a modified form of explosion, has but to dive when a six or ten-ton gun is being fired, in tJie ordinary way, from' a ship or fort, within 50 .yards proximity to tho swimmer. The concussion felt is well-nigh enough to stun, and almost cause a strong swimmer to lose his life. If fifty pounds of ctynamite were sunk and exploded in deep water it would givo a heavy thud to any submarino craft within a, radius of several hundred yards, and possibly fracture some part of the mechanism, and at least temporarily demoralise the crew. Nor is that by any means all. There is an instrument in use, in other navies than our own, called a microphone, by means of which the approach of any craft may be detected fully five miles away.