A RUSSIAN TORPEDO SCANDAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1450, 5 January 1886, Page 2

A RUSSIAN TORPEDO SCANDAL.

A correspondent of a Russian paper at Vladivostock has provoked a sensation in Russian naval circles by disclosing the following incident:—A few weeks ago the German steamer China set out for Port Possiott, unaware that the harbor was closed by a double row of torpedoes, which had been plac«d there during the war scare in spring, Oh its arrival, the boat stationed to warn off vessels was not in its place, and the German captain did not observe the red flag hoisted on the shore, where also the naval picket was absent. Two or three people, observing the danger into which the vessel was running, shouted out "Mini, mini!" (".Mines, mines!"), but the captain did not | realise what they rneant until close to the first torpedo barrier. It was then too late to reverse the engines, and, amid a panic among the passengers on board, be decided to trust to luck and steam full speed ahead. A terrible pause followed, succeeded by a feeling ot astonishment when tlje slearner wa| seen to hava traversed both rows of submarine mines, and to be calmly making her waj into the harbor. The torpedoes were supposed to be of the best quality, received from Russia last spring, and tjiey were laid down Ijy ex T perienced officers, who had reported it was imposeible for even the smallest fishing smack to enter the harbor without being blown to pieces. None the less they proved a dismal failure when tested by the China, and the Russian Admiralty have telegraphed that the most searching investigation shall be made into the affair. At Sjfc, Petersburg it ia not believed that the officers bungled in laying them down, but that the mishap was due to a repetition of what occurred more than once with the submarine Kussia used against Sir Charles Nupier in tie BEflfl Failing to check that gallant operations, thef were hauled examined, when it was found rascally officials ashore had the gunpowder and replaced it withjj^J