The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-08-21
az HARRY q. FARMER.

49, 0v uAun ~ = ANN 3 Ne
special Co1Eespondencs 20 The 1zesG
NEWPORT NEWS, Va, Aug. Il
How does It feel "10, 900 leagues
under the sea?" How does it look
and feel INSIDE a submarine?
Break through several miles OF
red tape some day and try it. It's
something you won't forget.
\ A little fleet of Uncle Sans sub.
marines were lying at anchor be.
side one Of the big 16 900 ton battle.
ships, when l arrived with a coveted
pass giving me permission to go be.
low on one Of the warships of the
under wave. A row boat carried me
to the submarine designated by the
commanding officer of the fleet. AS
| boarded it noticed that it floated
easily, like a great fish or long
black cigar. Above wasrthe bridge,
extending above the shell. Some Of
the sailors were outside, smoking
it's their only chance.
How small 1t is. was my first
thought.
Then, as the opening was closed,
how close it is.
There were no decks, no holds.
1t was one long room, pointed at
the ends like the inside of Jonah's
whale. At the center it was seven
feet high; at the ends one had to
get on hands and knees.
Inside were air tanks, machinery,
the torpedoes and carriages for pro-
jecting them. At one end was a
small table. The two officers ate
there; the men on the floor.
Close 1t seemed, yet perhaps no
more so than many steam-heated
flats in winter. or crowded stores
and factories. The impression of
closeness prevailed, however. The
escape of gases was carefully guard
ed. No one was allowed to smoke.
The steersman advanced 20 their
posts. The engineer caught his
throttle. The lieutenant nodded his
commands. There was q subdued
rattle and chugging of motors. We
were under way. The great fish
was swimming along the surface,
its back half out Of water
The lieutenant nodded again. An
other low-voiced command--no
megaphones were necessary on this
craft. The electric lights were
switched on. The other steersman
caught a second wheel. A stern
propeller, l was told, began pound
ing furiously upward. The nose of
the boat shot down.
WE WE'RE BENEATH THE
WAVES.
Sixteen, IS, "a miles an hour
Roadway are made on the surface.
The progress is something slower
beneath. The little crew-16 men
we carried-was busy. Each man
knew what to do.
We were talking quietly. There
was little noise. One might have
been in a closed room in factory.
But they let me look through the
steersman's window.
Outside in the darkness were
strange floating shapes, sea ami
mails and fish and strands of sub
marine plants. The whole thing
flashed on me with redoubled force.
We were beneath the sea.
l remembered the many casual
ties that had attended the operat-
ing of submarines. l asked about
it.
Don't you have trouble getting
men to undertake such hazardous
work." was my query.
The lieutenant smiled.
''If colonel calls for volunteers
to storm a fort, 1000 men step for
ward" he said systematically. IF
he asks for volunteers to work in
the mess room, or to man a fort in
time Of peace, he gets maybe or
TO-"
That's your answer. We get all
the men we want by volunteers
lom the fleet. There is always q
waiting list.
Its part of the spirit Of the navy
the spirit of adventure, the spirit
that likes danger. It's the thing
that keeps up the defense Of the
nation"