INVENTOR OF THE SUBMARINE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 137, 3 November 1914, Page 8

INVENTOR OF THE SUBMARINE.

John i'hilip Holland, the inventor of the submersible warship, commonly known as the submarine, was buried on August 17 from St. Joseph's Church in Newark, NJ., where he died in his 72nd year (says the Catholic Columbian). A Solemn Requiem Mass was said for his soul's peace, for Mr Holland was a man of peace; and world peace he believed could only be brought about by bringing the instruments of -war to tho highest possible efficiency. His invention of the submarine way prove during the present -war the folly of squandering millions of money on "Dreadnoughts." Inventor Holland was born at Liscamor, County Clare, Ireland. Educated by ihe Christian Brothers at Limerick, he became a school teacher before he was out of liia teens. He remained an Irish schoolmastor for, fifteen years; and it was while a teacher in Cork that he read of the battle between the 'Monitor and, Merrimac. lie foresaw '• hat the future * warships were to be a: .oured, and ho gave much tiiought as to how best to attack them. He drew plans for a boat to go beneath the water and combat iron-clads from below. When lie tried to get money to build such a boat ho was considered a fanatic. He came to America, and while in Boston slipped on the icy pavement and broke his leg. During convalescence he improved his submarine invention plans. Leaving Boston ho taught school for liveyears in l'aterson, N.J. An incident in this patriotic American's life occurred in l'aterson which should be taken advantage of by General Miles and hi'.s so-called "Guardians of Liberty." iMr Holland in a public address stated that the first encouragement he received for his invention came to him in Paterson from the son of Captain John Wholan, a hero of the Civil War. This son of Captain Wholan's was the Rev. Isaac P. Wliclan, a Catholicpriest, now Monsigiior "tYhelan, rector of the Catholic Cathedral of Newark. With this priest's advice Mr Holland resolved to persevere and he got financial backing from a resident of France. It was in 1875 that Mr Holland first submitted plans and urged the idea of ' a submarine to the U.S. Navy Department, only to be rejected. By 1877 he bad completed, largely from liis own savings, his firßt boat to be propelled under water wjth a petroleum engine. It was constructed at Todd and Uafierty's machine shop, Paterson. The feoat proved too small and he 9ank it •ut of sight in the Passaic River. Now, this first submarine is to be raised by from its bed of mud in the Passaic, be seit to the Panama Exposition, and it U expected it will later be presented to tie Smithsonian Institute at Washington as a memorial of the inventor.

The story of the trials and disappoint»D>tß of Mr Holland in Ilia endeavour to jet the U.S. Nary Department to see tke v»lue of his underwater boat in mtkl warf»r« is one of tbe tragedies «( the history of invention. It would 1»T« broken tie spirit and health of »»y hum«.n other than this indomitable 1-ish schoolmaster. Mr Holland strug-

gled on. His next boat was built at' Delemater's shipyard, New York. A revengeful reporter," on being refused permis«io* to describe this boat for the benefit of the whole world, described i; as a "Peaian Bam." This annoyed ?! Eollamd greatly and injured his prospects. Mr Holland's persistency awakened the United States Government to iivestigate, at least, the possibilities of a submarine, so in 189S the U.S. Navy Department opened a competition for eubmarine plana and Mr Holland won. On the strength of this 'The Holland Torpedo Boat Co." was organised, which built the "Holland" at Elizabeth, N.J., in 18W. After tiresome trials by United States Government experts thia boat was accepted and is now used at A*maj>olii Naval Academy ag a school-ship. The Japanese Government was the first ta {ire Mr Holland any real encouragement. They ordered two of his boats, wtoick were used afterwards in the Ja-pan-Russian war, but with what succ»ss they would never divulge. They would, however, bo quick to complain if the boats were not entirely satisfactory. About twraA submarines are now in the U.S. and every nation with • navy considepluem a most important part of the service. Their supreme test is taking place in tiic present war just as the inventor is laid to rest in the cemetery of the Holy Sepulchre, Piteraoa.