New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-09
THAT SryKEy SUBMARINE.

ross information than could be desired con-
earning rho accident 10 the British submarine
boat near Portsmouth last March is furnished
by the newspaper accounts OF the inquest,
which could not be held OF course, until she had
been raised One fact, though, stands out dis
tnctly Every officer and man on board was
found nj his post Of duty. The commander
was in the coming tower, the lieutenant stood
inst below him in a convenient position Tor
Transmitting orders, the coxswain was at the
steering gear, and the other members OF the
crew were at their proper stations. An exceed
ingly small leak resulted from the collision. II
was not enough TO make trouble Immediately
and no steps were taken 10 stop IT, Perhaps
the officer in charge did not think II needed
urompt attention and Intentionally ignored It.
Another possible explanation is that he was
himself stunned by the collision and unable TO
give the necessary directions. II the heuten-
ant was prevented from acting by the same
cause at the same instant, the behavior Of the
crew was a beautiful exhibition OF discipline.
One is reminded of the fidelity of the sentinel
NJ Pompeii who allowed himself 10 be buried
I'm ashes from Vesuvius rather than leave his
post without orders.
Captain Bacon, who is in charge OF the sub
marine fotilla at the Portsmouth station has
expressed the opinion that the Berwick Castle
was not seen until she was within one hundred
and fifty feet of the submarine. He also thinks
that the latter was moving slowly toward the
liner AT the time OF the collision. The interval
between the two craft was thus narrowed so
rapidly that not over seven or eight seconds
were left in which 10 get out of the big YES
sells way Two courses might then have been
adopted The submarine might have elected
enough water ballast to rise TO the surface, her
helm being thrown over simultaneously so that
she would receive a glancing blow, II any. In
asmuch as the ballast remained in place, II Is
evident that no order was given In regard TO
the matter Captain Bacon concludes that the
officer Of the submarine thought it wiser TO dive
under the Berwick Castle. but did not have
sufficient time to do so. AT any rate, dent on
the coming tower and the bending OF the opti-
cal tube show that the impact of collision was
received above the hull. Here, again, is sug
gestion that the officer in command might have
been rendered momentarily senseless by the
violence Of the blow.
Inasmuch as the circumstances directly pre-
ceding the accident are still very largely mat
tiers Of conjecture il is permissible to imagine
that the Berwick Castle was not perceived ut
all before she hit the submarine. In the pro
gramme laid out for the torpedo boat that day
he first great duty TO watch for particu-
lar batteship. which was supposed TO repre-
sent an enemy 1t is not inconcevabe that at
tention was so concentrated on this search for
the last few minutes before the collision that
the approach OF vessel from an entirely diff
ferent quarter remained undiscovered. Small
the possibility may seem il is worth consid-
ering, since il suggests an inquiry as TO the ex-
pediency of experimenting the equipment which
Submarines now have with additional appa-
ratus. Marine telephones have been devised
which furnish hints OF the approach of vessels
when fog conceals them. An instrument of that
kind offers warning. matter in what direc-
ton danger is threatened, provided that ships
within Its range give certain definite signals.
Whether in its present form 1t would reveal