Submarine Boats.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 130, 26 February 1887, Page 2

Submarine Boats.

Submabinb boats, if they can. be properly managed, will have an immense influence in the maritime wars of the future, especially in conjunction with that destructive weapon the torpedo. Sortie interesting experimente were recently mado on the Thames with a new boat called the Nautilus, invented by Andrew Campbell, a wellknown Scotch engineer, of which the following details are gathered : The vessel is cigar shaped, is sixty feet long and eight feet in diameter amidships, and the lowering or raising is done by the simple proems of increasing or contracting the displacement by thrusting out or withdrawing a series of metal cylinders which are easily worked by the crew of the vessel, the propelling power of which ia applied by twin electric engines, worked from storage batteries of large capacity. The Nautilus gradually sank and rose again several times, with a crew and passengers numbering eight or nine on board, the first intimation of her appearing again on the surface after she had been lost to view for some minute 3 being the email turret or man whole; thrusting itself above the water, and being followed in a few momonts by the deck of the vessel, not unlike a shark or whale coming up for a " blow." Then, going down again, the vessel was propelled into the centre of the huge dock, when she rose again with a similar effect. It may be added that, for safety, the vesssl ie divided into four compartments, all the projectors and machinery being contained in one of theee, so as to render them easy of control ; and a point is made of the fact that in case of an absolute breakdown, such as might be caused by collision, or otherwise, a turn of a bolt would enable the crew to release a heavy weight and thus came the boat to come to the top. At the present time, when thero is co much talk about torpedo warfare, an invention of this kind is eminently worthy of attention.