THE POLYPHEMUS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3188, 16 September 1881, Page 4

THE POLYPHEMUS.

Naval warfare is making rapid strides in the torpedo stage, which suggests melancholy associations to others than Sir Wilfrid Lawson. A new departure in this directions has been made afc Her Majesty's dockyard, where the architect of the day is now Ad, miral Sarfcorious. He had the satisfaction on Tuesday of superintending the launch of his first torpedo ram, for which ho claims the honor of being the most formidable vessel afloat. Ifc is entirely built of stee'.. her plates being the best that can be manufactured. In place of a bow she has a projection extending 12ft forward, all armorplated, so as to be practically invulnerna'oh' and entirely under water. This so-called ram is her main weapon of attack, and one blow from if. would demolish the most powerful irondnd afloat. The Polyphemus can steam at the rate of 17 or 18 knots an hour, an hour, her engines being of the enormoiw power of 5500 horses to a displacement^ 1 ' only 2640 tons. She in not a mere ram, however. She can expectorate Whitehead torj;-d'.-.'-: *"' «r> a series of murderous port—two on the ram and two on each side o l ' the vessel. If iiceesi-i-.ry she can be provid cA with means of discharging torpedoes from the deck as well, but at present the deck arrangements are exclusively defensive. On the bow or ram there is a raised forecastle standing aboufc 9ft out of the water. The after-deck averages only 4ffc 3in above the waterline, and takes the form of a huge turtle back covered with thick scales of steel Her movements are directed from a tower a little in advance of the smoke-stack. In front of the tower are two turrets anne 1 with Norderfeldfc guns for the use at lornranees. The after deck is by two shafts, which are the sole means of ventilation for engine rooms, cabin, forecastle, and torpedo room. When in action air has to be artificially supplied, and strong currents have to be led into the engine room in order to stimulate the engine fires when a full head of steam is wanted. Her lighting arrangements are not yet introduced, and the authorities are hesitating between gas and electricity, but there can bo little doubt the new light will win the day. The Polyphemu will not be afc all a comfortable residence for her crew of 130 men, but as she is not a cruising vessel she will be seldom he in commission in time of peace. If you should want to see one of her family you will have to get it made at home, as long as a sea voyage would he impracticable for such a quaint monster. As she is only an experiment intending imitators would do well to waite until she had an opportunity of testifying to her powers. The credit of her construction rests with the late Mr Ward Hunt, who took up Admiral Cortorious's idea as a possible alternative to the ironclad levia thans whi.h were then being laid down by some foreign Governments. Daly has in the past thre« years turned out the two largest ironclads in the world afc a cost of nearly am' ; < :. sterling apiece; but if the Polyphemus should prove a success the Italian Puilio •all conversely he a terrible failure and waste of For the price of one Duilio about ten Polyphemus torpedo boats could be built, find using which would send the Duilio to the bottom in a few minutes, if a fair blow were got afc her • and with equal certainty the Polyphemus would have to go to the bottom if her antagonist got an effective Bhot at her. The merest accident in her own torpedo room might settle her, crew and all. No doubt, she is the most dangerous craft afloat.