Some Naval Yarns

the North Sea. He may dream of the experience for many nights afterwards, and the lip of the conning-towe

the under-sea craft, aboard which I was to make a cruise under the North Sea, the sun shot forth a widening streak of blurred silver like a searchlight on the prancing green-grey waves. With care, the two-s

nning tower were the commander, his helmsman, and a young lieutenant-the boss of the torpedoes. Now and again another officer popped up his head through the conning-tower well, and that

," announced the

ing wake of the vessel's twin propellers, and as we surged along into the uninteresting sea the skipper sang out to have the aft hatches shut. The well-disciplined bluejackets inst

d his attention. I found that the speed we were making against the wind closed my eyes, for there is very little protection on the conning tower of a submarine; and that alone might have given the commander that tired look. But I gathered afterwards that the eyes are strained a good deal in looking

lue in the sky. The commander shot his gaze aft, to starboard, port, and before hi

utenant, whose head showed up from the well after

he answer, and the younger

nd soon after the real thrill came-the thrill of going down under an angry ocean. The gas engines were stoppe

the warships ploughing the waters of the North Sea. A sailor expert signalma

ading out to sea. We were almost at a stop, when our skipper told me to get into the conning-tower well and to be down far enough to give him room. It must be realised that immediately after the order to submerge has been rung in the engine-room the c

beyond glancing at the brass ladder. Soon I discovered that there were two ladders, and t

d iron deck, my head was in a whirl at the sight of the bowels of brass and steel. The skipper had set

could learn it all, for the skipper must have an intimate knowledge of all the complicated machinery of his vessel. There were engines everywhere and little stan

he eye of his vessel. Soon my attention was arrested by the sight of two men sitting side by side turning two large wheels. One kept his eye on a bubble and turned his wheel to control

r, which keep the many electric lights aboard from interfering with his view through the glass. I then noticed a door in the stern of the craft-about amid-ships-a door which is closed on the sight of danger. To me it looked like a reflection, but you soon find out that you are looki

play. I walked to the bows of the boat, where a giant torpedo was greased and ready for the shutting of its compartment. The air-tight tube was then locked down, and the missile was ready for its victim. But, as I said, lured

ves these orders with clearness; not surprising, as no command m

peris

s on bended knees, his hands extended to stop the periscope man from taking the "eye" further down. The captain turns the periscope around, scanning the waters. At his right, when the skipper

This periscope was not in use and had not been above the surfac

Have a look at that destroyer. We are going to send a practice torpedo

ture-a moving picture-and all was beautifully distinct. Our commander consulted a card,

pe," ordered t

omething akin to silence, except for the swishing of

rboard," voic

," repeated the hel

der, his head hidden between t

ready,

hed their dials and their bubbles, and the helmsman had his nose on the needle. The commander, the gold braid on his cuffs streaked with oil and rust, then had but one thought in his mind-to hit the target. He looked neither to r

napped th

works up a dramatic situation hard to equal. The other officers and men are interested, and they told me that never does the word "Fire" fail to stir the soul of everybody aboard. Though the effect is heightened by the knowledge that a great vessel is the target and has been bored in twain, the inte

fire had been brought down under the surface. The comparative stillness was gone, and the inside of the submarine seemed to have awakened from a doze. There was all bustle and hurry around me. The captain shot a look at the gyroscopic compass and gave orders for the

st ￡500 (two thousand, five hundred dollars), and in war time they are all set to sink if they f

when the commander decided to

anks!" ordered the two-striper. "Ope

lungs of the submarine suc

e, four, to blow," c

four, to blow,"

r up his vessel had gone, and then mounted the conning-hatch ladder, and soon one observed a spot of daylight. A sea washed over the submarine, filling the commander's boots with water. He was

he shouted do

repeated the

soon all the tanks had pumped out their water and were filled with a

d to north," sai

changed since we left our berth under the sea. The sky was overcast, and snow was falling. And this ch

only sneaking out occasionally under cover of darkness with a couple of destroyers. Nevertheless, John Bull's diving boats are ever on the alert; and the man with

ery often at that. It was explained to me that when you are running a submarine you do not go in much for sleep. Luncheon consisted of a cup of coffee and a piece of canned beef on a stale slice of bread. Tinned food is about all that can be use

arkened harbour and found the mother ship, where t

a cocktail?" a

s, and we sat down to dinner-a late dinner, most of the ot

a fear that I might omit something of importance during the time the captain was getting ready for his target. Being under the sea, however, gave