“Invulnerable” Defence.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIII, Issue 16, 20 October 1909, Page 8

“Invulnerable” Defence.

DESTROYER CLEAVES A BOOM. The torpedo-boat destroyer Ferret cut through an “invulnerable” boom in Portsmouth Harbour on July 28, as a knife cutting through cheese. The Portsmouth’s boom, a relic of the days when sea fights were fought with cutlasg and with grappling-iron, has long been a source of comfort to the townsmen and to the Admiralty. The authorities declared it invulnerable. Lord Charles Beresford, however, said some time ago that it could never stand the rush of the modern destroyer. The test of July 28 was therefore determined on, and the Ferret was selected for the task—a modern repetition of the famous exploit of the ship Mountjoy, which broke the boom at Londonderry and carried "»d to the besieged townsmen. The boom was laid across Fareham Creek, between two stout lighters—hundreds of lengths of heavy timber, bristling with steel spikes, secured by strong steel wire. Three feet above was strung a threeinch hawser, which, it was said, would sweep the decks of any* ligh't ship venturing to attack the boom. The Ferret cut through the timber, spikes, hawser, and all. Plates of tough steel, with edges Like razors, protected her bows. Her deckworks forward were jacketed with balks of timber. Nevertheless there was one great danger, if the Admiralty forecasts were correct. She might crumble up, and burst her boilers, which would have meant almost certain death for every man aboard. Volunteers were asked for, and though the crew stepped forward to a man, only ten were selected. Her commander, Lieut. John C. Hodgson, took the helm, with Artificer-engineer Joseph Hawkesworth in charge below. Just after dawn the little vessel left the dockyard, and, after a preliminary trial at Spithead, dashed at a furious pace into the harbour. Great ships rocked at their moorings in the swell she left behind. A roar of engines at full speed, two white waves as the placid harbour waters were torn asunder—these were all the shore crowds saw or heard of the little warship as she flew by, steering for the red flag which marked the centre of the boom. There was a dull crash as she struck; a, grea't wave of spray; the hawsers as thick as a man’s arm snapped like twine, the frayed ends curling up like springs. Without a visible check to her pace, without a shudder of her hull, she burst through. The crowds ou shore and in the boats which thronged as near as they were allowed sent up a great cheer. Two tugs hurried to her side; but save for a scratch or 'two, hardly discernible on her grey sides, the Ferret was undamaged. The crew took off their .lifebelts they had worn as they stood at their posts. Then the destroyer was docked, and found to be unharmed. “We hardly felt the shock,” one of the crew said to a Press representative afterwards.