TORPEDO WARFARE. Z27 



■pressure of 1,200 pounds on the square inch, although for service it is only 

 loaded to 800 pounds. The Whitehead torpedo can be made to go at the 

 rate of 20 knots for 1,000 yards, and at any depth that is desired, from one 

 foot to 30 feet. It can be set to explode either on striking an object or at 

 any particular distance under 1,000 yards — in artillery language, either by 

 ■a percussion or a time fuse. It can also be set so that if it misses the object 

 aimed at, it will go to the bottom and explode at half cock or come to the 

 top on half cock so as to be recovered, as it has buoyancy enough just to float 

 on the surface of thejwater when not in motion. It is fired from what is 

 called an impulse tube, which, out of a frame fitted to the port, discharges 

 the torpedo into the water. It can be fired above the water, but will at once 

 go to the depth it is set for, and then go straight to the object, no matter 

 how fast the ship from which it is discharged is going, or how fast the object 

 aimed at may be sailing or steaming." 



"Properly speaking, the Lay torpedo, the invention of Mr. Lay, pur- 

 chased by the United States government, is not a torpedo, but a very 

 ingeniously devised submarine torpedo boat fitted with a spar torpedo. This 

 boat has the advantage of not requiring any crew on board, but in other par- 

 ticulars is capable of great improvements. The motive power consists of an 

 engine driven by carbonic acic gas and a screw propeller. The boat is en- 

 tirely submerged, and is steered and in other respects controlled by means 

 of an electric battery on shore connected with her by a cable which is 

 coiled up in her hold and pays out as she moves away. Her location is indi- 

 cated above the surface of the water by a flag, so as to enable the operator 

 to direct her course. The greatest defect of the Lay torpedo is the want of 

 speed. The United States government stipulated for a speed of nine statute 

 miles per hour, but the maximum speed actually attained at the late trial 

 trip, when it was steered by Lieutenant R. B. Bradford, U. S. IS., showed 

 only an average of 6.60 miles per hour, so that a ship attacked would only 

 have to lower her boats and let them row between the approaching torpedo 

 and the shore, and cut the cable, which would leave the torpedo at their 

 mercy." 



The English papers notice the invention by Rev. Mr. Eamus of a new 

 torpedo called a "rocket float," propelled at the rate of 275 miles per hour, 

 for a distance of four miles, on the surface of the water. The apparatus is 

 described as a timber or iron vessel, the bottom of which is a series of in- 

 clined planes. In the head is the explosive, and enough gun cotton can be 

 carried to blow up the largest iron-clad in existence, while the rocket, by 

 the combustion of which the craft is impelled, is laid along the deck. The 

 vessel is guided by a rudder of thin sheet metal. 



The torpedo steamer "Alarm," designed and constructed under the super- 

 vision of Admiral David D. Porter, of our own navy, is probably the most 

 destructive, as well invulnerable, craft of the kind afloat. She is also an excel- 

 lent and most buoyant sea boat, admirably arranged for the comfort and con- 

 -venience of her crew and officers. She is 172 feet long, including a ram or beak 



