_Experiment at Cherbourg._--The following account of an experiment which took place at Cherbourg in March 1877, whereby to test the efficiency of a Thornycroft torpedo boat in exploding a spar torpedo under the bottom of a vessel proceeding ahead at the time, is taken from the _Times_, under date the 13th of March, 1877. [Illustration: THORNYCROFT'S TORPEDO BOATS. PLATE XLVIII] "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.