A WONDERFUL TORPEDO.

Evening Star, Issue 4293, 29 November 1876, Page 1

A WONDERFUL TORPEDO.

The American correspondent of the 'Sydney Morning Herald' writes under a recent date :—The experiment with a torpedo was witnessed* by a number of Congressmen, and was a wonderful success. As soon as the signal to start was given through the proper knob, the torpedo rushed through the water at an eight-knot gait, her black back just visible above the water. She was so obedient to the slightest touch, backing and then again going ahead, and running a close shave round a buoy with marvellous delicacy. After she had been thus navigated all round the harbor, she was headed with full steam, at a twelve or fourteen knot gait, for an old raft, loaded with barrels, and as soon as she had fairly bolted into it, Captain Lay touched the exploding knob, and in an instant there was a terrific explosion and the air was filled with ten thousand fragments of the wreck. The most curious part of the scene was the unconcerned manner in which the little monster emerged from the destruction she had wrought, absolutely unharmed, and still obedient to control. The revolution which will be effected by this wonderful torpedo will certainly mark a new era in naval warfare. It will create greater changes by far than John Ericson's ironclads and monitors, and will enable lands such as Australia and America, with long lines of coast, and a comparatively sparse population, to defend themselves from invasion at a reasonably slight expense. Captain Lay says he could sink a vessel like the English ironclad Temeraire, which cost a million sterling, in twenty minutes. It has been suggested that the ironclad could protect, herself with chain nettings held out on long spars ; but if necessary half a dozen torpedoes could be sent out, each in another's wake, and they could soon reach the main objective point of attack. The cost of these marvellous little devil tishes is about .25,000 dollars each. It may be noted, by the way, too, that a vessel steered in this way can be made very useful in saving life by carrying life-lines to vessels in distress. The torpedo can be steered from the shore with unfailing precision through the very heaviest surf.