Show oyster bay L I 1 aug 26 president and mrs roosevelt with a party of friends and relatives today witnessed a test of atie submarine torpedo boat plunger from the deck of the yacht sylph fhe weather was quite different from that of yesterday when the president himself made a dive in the plunger and watched at close range even participating in the maneuvers of the tiny vessel forty feet below the surface of long island sound A stiff northeastern wind yet was blowing but the rain had ceased and the sun soon burned away the early morning haze the test of the plunger took place in the waterson water the sound a short distance outside the entrance to oyster bay the boat operated in about seven fathoms of water soon after the president and bis party boarded the sylph the plunger got under way at the request of the president the little vessel performed some of her feats waters ot oyster bay while the president was on board the vessel yesterday no attempt was made to discharge a torpedo As he was anxious to witness that experiment it wae arranged that nelson the commander of the veasel and his men ona 0 the projectiles tb ebay accompanied by frank bvans commander of the sylph and the presidents cousin W emten roosevelt the president went to the bridge of the sylph to witness the experiment after maneuvering a few minutes making in the meantime several dives the plunger came to the surface and discharged a torpedo the bow of the vessel rose afew a few feet out of the water there was a gush of foam several fathoms ahead and the torpedo skimmed along the surface ot the bar tor perhaps yards the i projectile was picked up by one ot the sylphy sylphs launches on account ot the pressure of busl ness in connection with fhe peace negotiations president roosevelt was obliged to return to sagamore hill before leaving he expressed his satisfaction is with the maneuvering of the vessel and the notable skill of the men who handled her he had learned he said that the officers and men on the boat were receiving for the services they are now rendering only shore pay although it as manifest that at no time would their services be more hazardous than it is at present and the president haa directed that here after they shall receive ea their present duties their sea pay will begin next monday |