Why early torpedoes could not stop a crossing-the-T manoeuvre

Could torpedo mounts help an early capital ship counter an opponent crossing the T?

No. Torpedo ranges in the early dreadnought period were too short for that manoeuvre.

Early torpedoes did not have the range needed to answer a crossing-the-T manoeuvre from a capital ship. The proposed counter depended on reaching an opponent before the gunnery geometry had already become decisive. Torpedo armament could still offer other tactical possibilities at shorter distances. In this early dreadnought setting, however, range prevents it from serving as the suggested solution.