The engines of the 'Dodger,' in favorable weather, can drive her at twenty-six knots on the surface." "She's as fast as a torpedo-boat destroyer, then, sir," hazarded Dan.
"Yes; and the submarine needs to be as fast.

With the improvement of submarine boats the old style of torpedo boat will pass out altogether.

Then, if the destroyer is retained the submarine must be capable of attacking the destroyer on equal terms.

Undoubtedly, after a few years more the river gunboat and the submarine torpedo boat will be the only small fighting craft left in the navies of the leading powers of the world." Even while this brief conversation was going on the speed of the "Dodger" had begun to increase again.

Ensign Hasting's head showed through the opening in the conning tower.
"We're going now at a twenty-knot clip, sir," Hal reported.