Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-05
ADMISSIBLE ENEMY.
SUBMARINE DIVERS MAY PROVE A
NEW TERROR OF THE SEA.
EOT he WILL BLOW UP VESSELS.
theorists say n Daring Diver Could
Enter "A Fortified Harbor at Night,
cot the Cables of Mines, and 20
tremendous Damage.
Correspondence Of the Dispatch)

correspondence or the DiSpatch)
WASHINGTON, June 4-If Paul Jones
SO sags,.y sU!se wanders around the war
ships u our new navy he must see many
surprising accessories to the lighting and
working forces as Organized in his day.
one novel and necessary addition 10 the
crew II warship OF the present time
is ;he submarine diver The Importance
% ,a.s individual 10 the welfare or a
uars-.p has been amply shown during
t1 recent operations against the spa
lsa fleets. Speed has been the most i'm
Ig-ar- point I'm the manoeuvring during
o.. opening events OF the war, and this
l.s rendered it necessary for our ships
90 be .l the best possible trim Tor fast
work. AS. owing TO the lack Of fore
s.s-, On the part Of those responsible, we
30. DO. provided with the necessary dry
cocks 10 enable US TO clean the foul bot
,.Is Of our vessels when they come or
..rs voyage, IL has been necessary to
s.a- divers down 10 do the work as best
..-r could.
Is LAS not been done well, but II has
De-. the best kind of substitute that
When ship goes into dry-dock, ami is
s-aped clear of the barnacles and sea-
weed and rank growth that accumulates
lore during q sea voyage, and IS then
u.dLed 10 a new coat OF paint, she
energies from the dry-dock as clean and
g., as when she made her maiden voyage.
-Us submarine divers are able only TO
z.r.pe away the barnacles and seaweed,
end even then they are so handicapped
D. the heaviness and unhandiness OF
their dress that il is impossible TO do the
work In any but a clumsy and incom-
...-- way.
But good or bad, the diver has become
necessary part of the ships crew. Many
Va-slips carry one or more trained
Divers and 10 attain 10 the rating OF
diver requires very special qualifications.
Before being sent for training the man
applying has to undergo an extremely
t-.r0ls medical examination, and is mer-
u.-sly rejected unless absolutely sound
.n wind and limb, possessed Of an eXcep-
'.laIy strong constitution, and, above
OF. without the slightest tendency 20 any
heart weakness
Every foot the diver descends the
"a Ter, of course, becomes the pressure
OIL. 30 the deepest descent made-name-
T -9 feet-the pressure was as much as /
VS. pounds 20 the square inch. 1t is how !
ever, only but rarely that II is necessary
e." go 90 such depths as this. but even
working Iu shallow water most men suffer |
very severely at first and emerge from |
r diving suit with rackiug head and /
q bleeding from the nose and ears. In |
t..ll every time ne descends the diver /
takes his life In his hand. for anything |
l.rs wrong with the air-supplying gear |
would place him IN a very hopeless posi- |
The diving apparatus in use in our navy |
IS costly affair. The method Of its work /
Hr SIS simple a long coil Of tubing sup
s. the diver with oxygen, and by means
. coil Of rope attached to his person ne
GA. signal, by pulls, TO the surface ana
.s raised when the work is done. To de-
s-.-a, the diver has. Of course, 70 be
cavity weighted. The weights carried on
l-a 20 and back weigh some 50 pounds, |
Willie tho heavy leather boots, with their
den sJles, weigh another 20 POUNDS.
The weight Of the helmet which is inge-
l..s.y ltted with valves to allow inc
'iated aid 20 escape, is no less IMAM ~
pounds. ana TO this must DO added the
Weelt OF the rubber dress itself, and the
weight OF the heavy Undertaking worn
tr the diver.
ie Us not a prepossessing sight, this
ster with the huge headdress and the
navy is unreasonable He was wanted
So "a hurry. ana unfortunately was not on
hand when the Maine went down into
fe mud Of Habaua harbOr. lie VIII be
waited incoming engagements 70 patch
holes in the sides Of war craft, II these
wounds mercifully fall short Of being
mortal; he viii assist IN wreclIing opera
'7rs when n IS found necessary 10 go
i-tIug Tor the valuable portion or
spanish fleets equipment after we nave
treated IL as Dewey treated the enemy >
Zee. 20 Manila; he will be ready 10 heip
3 United States vessel out OF score OF
unforeseen troubles that may arise when
ne modern warship gets down 10 hgAuhS
Mt .s not all onesided.
theoretically. the submarine diver Is
B formidable aid In operations against the
enemy Whether or not he VIII be SO
l practice remains 20 be seen. Ine
feJrisis assert that the diver can De
tont under water on dark nights 10 grope (
s way into the mined entrances 10 mar
J1fs, and cut the wires connecting the
.Hp0siyes with the shore: or ihey say
BE- can attach mines 10 the keeis OF an" {
f1red war craft and explode the mines I
ahen he reaches a safe distance; or he 9
1 saw the cables OF anchored vessels |
'1 pat their crews 10 great inconyeni- I
nee II not in a position OF positive dan Q
.,r There is scarcely any limit TO the
hsorists' suggestions for using me SUD
Marine diver as a means OF offence IN Q
laval campaigns. but most Of the pans :
ne Visionary and II is probable that the y
lpst PRACTICAL use 10 which the diver can I