[THORNYCROFT'S TORPEDO BOATS.]

"Admiral Jaurez, who commands the squadron, ordered a disabled ship, the Bayonnaise, during a rather rough sea, to be towed out by a steamer belonging to the navy. A second lieutenant, M. Lemoinne, was sent for, and informed that he had been selected to make the experiment of launching the Thornycroft against the Bayonnaise while both were in full sail. He accepted the mission without hesitation, picked out two engine men and a pilot, and went down with them into the interior of the Thornycroft, of which only a small part was above water; this visible portion being painted of a greyish colour, so as to be easily confused with the sea. The torpedo was placed so as to project from the bow of the vessel, at the extremity of which were two lateen sailyards about three metres in length. The towing steamer then took up its position in front of the squadron, and the Thornycroft also assumed the position assigned for it; an interval of three or four marine miles separating the torpedo boat and the Bayonnaise. On a signal being given, both were set in motion, the steamer advancing in a straight line, and the Thornycroft obliquely, so as to take the Bayonnaise in flank. The steam tug went at 14 knots an hour, going at full speed in order to escape the Thornycroft. The latter went at 19 knots an hour, a rate not attained by any vessel in the squadron. The chase lasted about an hour, the squadron keeping in the rear, so as to witness the operations. At the end of that time the distance between the Thornycroft and the Bayonnaise had sensibly diminished, and at a given moment the former, in order to come up with the latter at the requisite distance, had to slacken speed to 8 knots an hour. The whole squadron watched this last phase of the struggle with breathless interest, and people asked themselves whether the shock of the torpedo would not infallibly destroy the little vessel which bore it. It was feared that the lives of the second lieutenant, Lemoinne, and his three companions were absolutely sacrificed. However, the two vessels got visibly nearer. All at once the Thornycroft put on a last spurt, and struck the Bayonnaise with its whole force on the starboard bow. The sea was terribly agitated, a deafening report was heard, and the Bayonnaise, with a rent as big as a house, sank with wonderful rapidity. As for the Thornycroft, rebounding by the shock about fifteen metres off, even before the explosion occurred, it went round and round for a few moments, and quietly resumed the direction of the squadron. No trace remained of the Bayonnaise; it was literally swallowed up by the sea."

The experiment was a most complete success, the torpedo boat not being in the least degree injured.

The Power of Flotation of a Thornycroft Boat after being pierced by a Rifle Shot.—On the 5th of July, 1877, Messrs. Thornycroft and Co. made an experiment with one of their torpedo boats to ascertain under what conditions flotation is still retained after the boat has been pierced by a rifle shot.

The torpedo boat experimented on was similar to the one which has been described at [page 169]. A Martini-Henry was fired through her side, about a foot under water in the stoke hole. Whilst at anchor the water entered in sufficient quantity to fill an ordinary size bucket in twenty-five seconds, but when she was driven ahead less water entered, and on the speed of 10 knots being reached, little or no water entered. The hole was a little more than three quarters of an inch in diameter.

The engagement on the Danube between the torpedo boat Schootka and some Turkish vessels, in which the former vessel was pierced by bullets, but yet did not sink, led to the above experiment being carried out.

Efficiency of Thornycroft's Engines.—As a practical proof of the efficiency of the engines supplied by Messrs. Thornycroft and Co. to their torpedo boats, a similar engine has been used for over two years to work the various machines in connection with their works at Chiswick.