ALARM.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5035, 14 May 1877, Page 2

ALARM.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sir, —Having read the account of the socalled torpedo vessel, I do not think we have much cause for alarm—at least on her account. Her sailing and sea-going qualities are no doubt very good ; yet on the whole everyone knows the flimsiness of American-built vessels, war vessels included. Now, the mode of attack seems to be remarkably queer, not to say cowardly, as it most certainly is, on account of its sneaking propensity. Yet I think they must have guessed this time without their host.

It is proverbial, Yankee wideawakeness ; but they must not expect to And bulldogs asleep, especially in times of war. Just fancy how feasible it would be for a steam-vessel of her stamp (supposingwar ever declared between England and America), to run up alongside the Wolverine or Cerberus, with double lookouts (as in time of war) placed round the ship, peering into the darkness of night, and listening for the least indication of sound. I say where is the possibility if they on the abovenamed vessels could not discern the Alarm, how could she discern them ? Now, she must come-to within 30ft. to use the torpedo arms or spars, which could easily be done, providing her antagonist or victim lay at anchor, and all hands asleep. On the other hand, should they be at sea, there must be a certain rolling motion ; and it rarely happens that two ships in close proximity to each other have the same roll—supposing they are closing broadside on. When Jonathan thinks the moment has arrived to launch forth his boom, it is just possible that his torpedo would strike the armored plate of his opponent as she rolled scuppers under, instead of—as he thought— ■ going under her bottom. Of course I am speaking of supposed night attack, as we suppose that is their intention, on account of the powerful electric light they carry. In the next place, if she is rigged with masts and yards, how would it be possible to rim alongside an enemy quietly to blow her up, uuless the two commanders had previously made arrangements and braced their yards up specially for the occasion ? Now, sir, her armament is composed of one large gun, mounted in a very exposed situation—at least we infer as much ; also several Gatling guns, which might do very well for exposed men, but not for armor-plated vessels ; and the one large gun would do a great deal of execution. Still her opponents may just have five or six as large, and although she may lie low on the water, she will rarely be more than 40 degrees below tbe horizontal line of English guns, which, if I mistake not, can be elevated or depressed 45 degrees. Also, I think that as they have taken to such an ugly means of attack, dynamite shells or cases could easily be employed for the purpose ot shattering her steel decks, as T am informed that litbofracteur and dynamite have an explosive force downward, whilst powder has an upward. The charges, cases, shells, or whatever it was, could be lifted on board the enemy at close quarters by deck mortars, with a very light charge of powder, or use a means similar to that of the Chinese in throwing their stinkpots, or a mechanical hydropult—just to accommodate our friends of the opposition. Also, harbors might be protected by having strong wire rope stretched across tbe narrowest part of the channel, one end being securely fastened, the other on a revolving drum turned by machinery. For ordinary traffic it could be lowered sufficient, but should an enemy’s vessel be signalled it could be raised to within three feet or less at mid-channel of the surface. Torpedoes, fish or cigar, could be attached, connected by pullies, and fixed tbe same as a rocket, propelling themselves along under water as soon as the vessel came in line with the battery house. Each torpedo could take its own electric wire, so as to be fired from shore; or they could be constructed on the principle of tbe infernal machines that were used up tbe Baltic during tbe Russian war 1564-1565. They had small projections, which as soon as they came in contact with anything caused a spring to explode a small vial of compound adjoining the powder. Almost in any case they could be exploded under a vessel's bottom. The wire would indicate the distance it had travelled from the shore end, and as the centre of the channel would be known to those on board, the vessel's position would be pretty correctly got at. Perhaps you may see fit to give this publicity, so that some of our military engineers might sec a way to adopting or Improving the occasion.—l am, <fec., Eaglehawk.