PROVING THE TERRORS OF TORPEDOES. Practising on Ships Going Fifteen Knots with Complete Success.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 156, 12 June 1886, Page 1

PROVING THE TERRORS OF TORPEDOES. Practising on Ships Going Fifteen Knots with Complete Success.

On the 2nd of March, in beautiful weather, the ship Admiral Duperre", under the command of Capt. Barreara, of the French Navy, was at the Hye>es Islands, and made preparations to pass at full speed under the fire of the stationary torpedo boats 58 and 1 59, these being kept in position by three cables. While the ironclad was proceeding at the rate of from 14 to 14$ knots, the boats launched six torpedoes at different angles — some directed at a mast, the others at the bow, the stern or the funnels not only did all hit with extraordinary precision, but all exploded. Thia trial over, the boat 58 made ready, and went some distance in order to launch a torpedo right ahead against the ironclad, the latter and a small torpedo boat proceeding toward each other. The Admiral Duperre", steaming at the rate of fourteen and a half knots, the torpedo-boat at the rate of nine knots, the two vessels approached each other at a speed of about thirty-nine kilometres an hour. At 450 metres from the ironclad the tordedo was launched. It struck the Admiral Duperre on the port side, eleven metres behind the spur, and exploded, as was evident on ex- • atnination next day, the 3rd of March. ! The torpedo-boats of the first-class, 63 and 64, each discharged similar torpedoes^ The boat 63 fired while proceeding at the rate of j twelve knota, the Admiral Duperre moving 1 at the rate of fourteen knots in the opposite direction. The torpedo hit lightly, but its action was such that it must be inferred that the explosion took place, Under these conditione, which are nearly identical, the torpedo-boat 64 took its turn in firing. But this time the projectile passed some metres from the iroDclad. From the Admiral Duperre it was observed that in these shots the trajectory of the submarine machine underwent no deviation ,on approaching the ironclad. The wave of water formed in front of a great Bhip going at full speed has,then no effect on the direction given to the torpedo on its discharge. Consequently it may be held as established that the English experiment at Bantry Bay is valueless, whether owing to the facts not being well understood or to the English torpedoes being badly equipped or unskilfully worked. Contrary to what has been stated on the other side of the Channel, a large vessel cannot rely on the displacement of the water caused by its advance changing the direction of the torpedo. It thus appears that the programme of Admiral Aube is being carried out daily with the precision which it is important to introduce into experiments that are to serve as a basis for the formation of our'naval j forces. ,When the torpedo-boats crossed | from the northern seaports to Toulon it was ascertained that they had excellent navigable qualities, but that it was difficult to make them habitable in' bad weather. The trials of March 2nd and 3rd'show that a torpedo well directed andfproperly discharged 1 at v, distance'of 400 to'soo 'metres againstavessel t proceeding at fifteen knots will certainly hit it' under ordinary conditions, whether directed against'its'bow or its side. —"Le Temps.",

,* " Gujjty qr not euilty^VsJwp^y said ah" 1 f assize jiidge the other day to an inattentive' ifejqqa^pjrispner; in the dock. " Just as your r ppnour 4 pleases. It^ not'for,theilik'es o' me to dictate to your Honour's' Worship,"' -ivafl 1 4her6Rly. u ,; '- «, \, •>,$, w;/ -, '/.""