TESTING DEATH-DEALERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 109, 5 June 1909, Page 3

TESTING DEATH-DEALERS.

A TOR I'EDO-LzAI\XCLIIXU STATIUX. A structure of a- novel and unique character for the launching and regulation of the automobile torpedoes which are constructed bl the Schneider Company is fast approaching completion. The mechanism of these torpedoes is' very intricate and delicate, including a four-cylinder motor, an auxiliary motor for steering, many pipes, valves, and cranks, and a of gearing by uftieli power is transmitted -from tht motor to the twin *;-nnvs. in addition, there ia the ingenious regulating mechanism, including a clock, hydrostatic piston, ami a gyroscope, by which the vea'sel is held rigidly to the prescribed course and depth of immersion. All of this .machinery is contained inn hull 23ft long, ii large part of which is occupied by tlie compartment containing the compressing air bv which the motors are driven. Tt is easy to understand that the assembling 0! all .ihese delicate organs is a difficult task. It is necessary to coordinate the niovemcii'ts of the various parts and to regulate their action until the torpedo can he relied on to -pursue a perfectly straight course. The regulation i> HlVvted by making inJinriesLmal changers in t he positions of the rudders, the dock, and hydrostatic piston, the adjustment -being determined hall by theory, a (jlmrter by practical experience and the remaining fourth hv trial and error, 1 In- regulation involve* a number of lauuduiigs and trial 1 rips, which must take place under certain lavorable condition*. It is necessary, above all. to select a sheltered *pot where still water can be found even

when the sea U rough, and where the torpedo can accomplish its full range, about two and a ha 11 miles, without risk of encountering vessels or other obstacles or a depth of water less than

| jllft. The trial mound must also be | filiated a .seaport and a railway, i ■! id it .must have attached to it stru'c- - ' ures -uilalile fur the preparation, rcti- , lation. and launching of torpedoes. ° j A *ite oliering Hie coinlifioni-, requisite I'll' au establishment of this sort is not . r.i-ily found. 'The company thoroughly M'arelied .the Atlantic and -Mediterranean coasts of France 'before it found a suitalble hication in the line roadstead that extends between the llyere.s Islands'and I lie Mediterranean .shore near Toulon. Hven this site has the detent that a depth of .Hlft H not found siiflicicntly near the shore to malic it practicable to erect tlle required .buildings oil land. Torpedoes are usually adjusted to travel about 12ft below the surface. Hint as they are launched from » considerable I height, they .«o much deeper at the first I'lunjjc. and mil lie isevcnl o-cilhitions upwaid ami downward before tlicv become definitely c,4ablMicd at llicir iioimil 'level. Hence it n necc-sary to have a considerable dcplli of water in ord"r l!) avoid all danger of stiikintr (he Imllo'ii, and a depth of ."illft n deemed requisite. ' Under tiles.' comlil ions the company decided to construct, nl the point W | M . IV this depth is found, and wlieii.:-e the cow rata extends seaward, nearly at right

ungles to the ®liorc, an artificial ifilan to support a building containing all til appliances required iov regulating am launching torpedoes. Tiiih ingenious project is now acconi plisliixl, and tlie tourists and flshcrae] see a many-windowed building, resero liling a commodious dwelling, rising *lof above the water, and apparently reiJtiuj 011 it, 800 ft from the whore. The build ing U made entirely of armored con crete. It was designed by the engineer of tlie. Schneider and llennebique .lirim in collaboration, and constructed at th shipyard at J j a >Seyne, twenty nautica Hiileti distant 'from its present site. Th lower part of the. structure is a hug caisson with (slightly inclined 'walb thid caisson. the construction of nvliicl was" coinmeneed in March. 1008, wa launelied in August like an oidinai, vessel, and remained alloat two moiitln After its completion it was towed to it destination by 'two tugs, very slowl; and with many precautions. on a vain still night, early in November. The em nhice.uien't has been prepared by diver? and a carefully-levelled bed of ston. about lift thick, has been bud on th sea-bottom. The caisson was lnoorei very cxaitlv over tliis foundation, air ..nulualh sunk by admitting -water int. 'coiupartmenls designed for that pui pose. These dillicult «md delicate opera lions were performed in exceptional! favorable weather, and with perfect siu cos*. A few .hours after 'the lloatin; island had become a lixed one. it wa exposed to the fury of a violent ton [lest, which it sustained without injury and thus gave « gratifying proof of it stability. , , .. The caisson, the greater part of whic is submerged, terminates in a platfon lift above menu sea-level. It is almos a solid mass of concrete, but contains subaqueous watertight chamber ill whic lire placed tubes for launching torpedoe under -water. Tlic.se tubes' projw through the wall of the chamber, an ire lilted witli watertight joints. Thci outer ends are surrounded by a loci, whieh when closed and pumped dry pel ini'trf examination and repair of the tube Jml their doors. At tind above th water-line the caisson is .protected b ivooden fenders from injury by .orpedoes and otihev iloating objects. A two-sloi'ey building is erected upo ,he platform. ' The lower Htory contain tubes for lauivching torpedoes above til .vater-level, ami is connected with th 'liainber beiiealb by a large opening i ,he (lour. After each torpedo lias fin shed its course it will be picked up b; i vessel, brought buck to the station loisted to the 'platform by tackle run ling 011 a concrete beam, and receive) li a large rectus in tlie first *tory chence it will go to the regulating am epair room for further adjustment. All he hoisting, conveying, and other mahinery. including a series of railways'. painip for emptying the subaqueous liamber. and air-coniprtwsors for chargng the torpedoes, 'will be operated by leic'tricity furnished 'by two generators riven bv .petroleum motors—Scientific nierican.