Page:Blackwood's Magazine volume 137.djvu/747

1885.] PLAN No. 2. HARBOUR OF BATOUM.

A, Spars anchored and planks nailed on 12 feet deep for a length of 300 yards; B, Guard-boats (shallow water); C, Torpedo found unexploded; D, Torpedo found ex- ploded; E, Fort; F, Ships lashed to shore.

in fact, the screw, which was still in motion. This proved that, as we had anticipated, the direction of the torpedo had been changed on coming into contact with the planks; and instead of going among the ships at anchor, as was intended, it had gone ashore. I think this experience exceedingly interesting, as it shows that very little will turn the direction of a fish-torpedo.

On several other occasions attacks were made by torpedo-boats on the ships in the port of Batoum, without any result, beyond a loss to the Russians of three or four torpedoes, which were landed on different parts of the beach, near to which the Turkish men-of-war were lying at anchor. Some of these torpedoes were in such a state of perfection, that Mr Whitehead the inventor, knowing that we had by their capture become the possessor of his secret, made a special contract with the Turkish Governme at, whereby he was bound to give twenty-five torpedoes at cost price, and I wherein it was agreed that the Ottoman Admiralty were to pay nothing for the secret (for which other Governments were paying from £12,000 to £15,000) so long as they kept it.

I shall now mention a curious incident which happened to a Turkish squadron lying at anchor and protected by guard-boats, placed somewhat in the manner I have already described. I wish my readers always to remember that the appliances against torpedoes in the Turkish fleet were of the simplest possible description. The squadron consisted of five vessels, which had been in the habit of cruising every night to avoid torpedo attack. On this occasion they had, in consequence of the bad weather, returned to their anchorage. A Russian vessel, carrying five torpedo-boats in tow, started from Odessa to hunt for the Turkish squadron, who were supposed to be cruising off Serpent Island, about 80 miles from Odessa. The Muscovites were unable to find their enemy, and I don't wonder at it, for even had they been cruising off that night, the Ottoman ships used