OCR Text |
Show "TORPEDO BOATS BY POST." Effective Little War Vessols Propelled Without the Aid of Steam.. A torpedo boat that cau bo sent on by rail to tho port where It Is most required re-quired opens up possibilities which naval na-val oxperts havo novor coutemplatcd, says tho Loudon Mall. Tho other morning tho king wltnosscd n trial of tho now motor Yarrow torpedo boat, ouo of tho most extraordinary vessels that havo ever Decn placed on the navy list. Tho Idea ' a boat drawing llttlo water and cap-blo of being navigated In shallow waters originated with tho admiralty, who approved of tho schomo to mako vessols propolled by Internal combustion In praferenco to steam. Tho result of tho oxporlraent was seen recently from tho deck of the Victoria and Albert. The now vossol carries two torpedoes, torpe-does, weighs olght tons and measures CO feet In longth nnd nlno feet in breadth. Hor horso powor Is 300 and tho ndvantago tho potroloum craft has over steam may bo gauged from tho fact that hor rango of effectiveness I. o the dlstanco nlio can go without rochnrglng Is COO miles, as against a steam vessel's 100, Apart from her enormous valuo as a method of river defensu thcro Is a novel Intonst In tho possibility of "torpedo boats by post." |