NEW WAR MISSILE.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 742, 20 October 1870, Page 3

NEW WAR MISSILE.

A most important and interesting trial of a sea torpedo was made on July 25, in the offing at Plymouth. The Commandev-in-Chief, Admiral Sir H. Codrmgton, X.C.8., Captain the Hon. F. A. Fok-j. Captain Jones, Captain Napier, Commander Harvey (the inventor) and other naval authorities were present on board the gunboat Piyeon. Several attacks were also made on the turret-ship, Prince Albert in every conceivable direction, and in almost every instance with complete success, as the capsule was found to be pierced after every contact, showing that, had the torpedoes been loaded with an explosive compound, the destruction of the vessels must have ensued. The trial, although quite sufficient to show the principle and accuracy of this formidable weapon, wonld have displayed its precision more prominently had the towing been performed by a faster vessel than the Pigeon, which steams only six knots, whereas it should be a apeed of eleven knots at least to insure good steerage to the torpedo and its sharp contact with the opposing vessel. The Commander-in-Chief and other officers went on board the turret-ship Prince Albert during a great part of the time, so as to witness the approach of the torpedo from this point of view. A number of men in the chief engineer's department at Chatham Dockyard have commenced working overtime at night for the purpose of preparing torpedoes. A contemporary has been told, on the best authority, that on Captain Harvey finding the Admiralty disinclined to purchase the secret of and proprietory rights in his torpedoes, he made offers to Russia. The Government of that country, fully alive to the value of Captain Harvey's invention, purchased the secret directions for placing and working these torpedoes, and 100 of the torpedoes themselves. These 100 torpedoes have actually left for Russia.