THE SUBMARINE TORPEDO BOAT.
By T.
In a recent experiment the French submarine torpedo boat Zédé made her dive, and completely eluded detection, while she approached a big battle-ship and successfully attached a torpedo to her. If the battle-ship had belonged to an enemy, the Zédé could have withdrawn to a safe distance, and electrically exploded the torpedo, and blown the ship to pieces. Much is being said in the French press about the supremacy these little torpedo boats will give them over the English navy. But France must not forget that if she builds submarine torpedo boats to destroy the British navy, it will only drive England to build something of the same description with which to destroy the French war-ships. One destructive invention will call for another, and so the strife continues. The New York World, in speaking of these submarine boats, suggests that “cross-invention is the ‘most interesting feature of modern preparation for ‘war.’” “It is among the strongest of the elements ‘now making for universal peace.’” It is strange that any one can look at things in such a light. The “cross-inventions” of these times make the race in war preparation all the more exciting. The nations on the continent are anxious to destroy the supremacy of England’s navy, and on the other hand England is straining every resource in order that this may not be done. The object of the Hague Peace Congress was to get all the nations of the world to discontinue this fearful struggle to outstrip each other in preparing for war. But the congress failed to accomplish its object. Every nation has proceeded since that conference to make still greater additions to both army and navy. And this work will continue to grow in both intensity and volume until the battle of Armageddon, in the great day of the Lord, is reached. And that battle will be immediately followed by the coming of Christ with all His angels. The battle of Armageddon, with its terrible doom for all who persist in preparing for it, is that for which all the engines of war in these times are being forged. But all the glorious joys that center in the coming of the Lord may be had instead by every one who will receive them. This is the great time of preparation. Some are preparing to be destroyed on the field of Armageddon, and others are preparing to have eternal life when the Master comes. In which company will we be found? T.