It was reported that twenty shipbuilding firms and private individuals had responded to the competition sponsored by the French Admiralty for submarine boat designs. The first prize was 10,000f. shared with up to five other competitors. Accession No.2760. 'Dockyard Notes.' The Engineer, vol. 86, 30 September 1898, p. 323. "The French Minister of Marine has taken the submarine torpedo boat under his wing, and been personally superintending the launching of torpedoes from the Gustave Zede. We are not very au courant in this country with the progress of submarine navigation, but the problem appears to be still unsolved."