The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-06-02
by
ROY NORTON


particulars OF the destruction OF the
Japanese fleet. II was duly accepted
and forwarded, and back came the
reply:
The United States has no report
whatever 10 impart on the subject
most vitality concerning his majesty's
closest ally beyond the fact that the
fleet which came to invade the Pa
cfic coast has been duly met. properly
vanQuished and rendered incapable OF
further harm. The United States re-
grets that such action became neces-
sary, and. with all due respect TO Great
Britain and such other powers as may
be interested. wishes TO express a dis
inclination to reply TO any further
communications Of this or a similar
nature"
A slap in the face could have caused
no greater CONSERVATION. The very
terms of the reply showed insolence
toward all the world. and demanded
explanation. But who dared attempt
II? What country was brave enough
to take the risk OF meeting those ter
rible submarines, which were capable
in a night OF destroying the most COM
plete fiotilla that ever had been mobil-
ICED and sent away? If they only
knew what form these monsters took,
what dire warning they gave as they
advanced to the attack, there might
be some means of offsetting them or
perhaps repelling them. That infor-
nation, at any cost, must be gained.
In its reaching out for anything which
might suggest a way, the British min
istry sent for Hitler.
Guy. sleepless and worn from nights
and days of anxiety. responded TO the
call. listlessly wondering what further
information he could give as to the sits
uation In America. or what II any duty
could be expected Of him when the
ministry itself was unable to accom-
plish anything.
He was ushered into the room
where on several previous occasions
he had answered questions, and found
there the same men who had met him
on the day OF his arrival in London;
but there was a different attitude this
time, however, and the officials before
him seemed anxious and i'll at ease.
Plainly they were ready for any sug-
gestion he might offer. or any measure
that might seem possible.
MIR. Hitler" the lord OF the ad-
miralty began. I'm all the time you
were in Washington did any rumors
or stories or information reach you re-
garding some new form OF submarine
boat projected, or being experimental
with. by the United States govern
ment?"
At first. on impulse he almost an
swered No." but before his lips could
formulate the monosyllable there sud
denly returned TO his memory several
conversations he had had with Dr.
Roberts on this subject and also he
recollected that In one of these talks
Norma had participated. There was
no reason so far as he could think
why he should conceal this knowl-
edge.
Yes" he replied, Il do know some
thing Of the subject. but nothing tan
gible or of value. That which recurs
to me Is a conversation | had few
months ago with scientific inventor
who Is friend Of mnie."
And his name, pray?"
"Dr. William Roberts"
Every man In the room gave a
start and locked at his neighbor, The
/ mention of the name seemed TO have
. affected them. The prime minister
repeated 1t as an exclamation. THAT
is the man." he said. who is supposed
, TO have gone insane, but who at one
| time, according to our secret reports.
was working on some electrical dis
! covery which might be utilized for an
improved submarine. What do you
| know of ito"
| II know only this" he said, that
DR.. Roberts told me he believed II
perfectly feasible so TO use electricity
| through metal as TO change its struc.
| ture and at the same time lessen the
! resistance. or skin friction, through
: the water of a boat so constructed"
Were you at the time discussing
| submarines" 90.
Yes, we were. The subject arose
| through his describing certain ex-
! periments In which he ald his daugh-
I ter were then engaged. His contention
! was that a submarine could never De
: made totally effective unless II gained
a speed so far beyond anything known
| that IL could Traverse great distances
and maneuser with such rapidity that
It would be practically immune from
attack"
This then must be the solution! and
he read In the faces OF his interroga-
tors that they so accepted II. There
was chorus Of questions which he
could not answer He admitted his lack
Of technical enlightenment. and also
that he had no knowledge OF what
success had resulted from the expert
ments. Nothing Of valuable nature
had been given to him at the time Of
that or any other conversation. But
he had made 1t certain In the minds
OF his superiors that though they
might not know the secret OF the sub
marines which had destroyed the
Japanese fleet, they at least were