The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-08-21
BY Harry G. Farmer.

Break through several miles
of red tape some day and try it.
It's something you won't forget.
A little fleet of Uncle Sam s
submarines were lying at anchor
beside one of the big 16,OOO-ton
battleships, when / arrived with
a coveted pass giving me permits
sion to go below on one of the
warships of the under-wave. A
rowboat carried me to the sub
marine designated by the COM
manding officer of the fleet. AS
l boarded 1t i noticed that it float
ed easily, like a great fish or a
long black cigar. Above was the
bridge, extending above the shell.
Some of the sailors were outside,
smoking-it's their only chance.
= How small it is, was my first
thought.
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. machin-
cry, the torpedoes and carriages
for projecting them. At one end
was small table. The two Off
GERS ate there. the men on the
floor.
Close it 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
guarded. No one was allowed to
smoke.
The steersmen advanced to their
posts. The engineer caught his
throttle. The lieutenant nodded
his commands. There was a sub
dued rattle and chugging of mo-
tors. We were under way. The
great fish was swimming along
the surface, it's back half out of
water.
The lieutenant nodded again.
Another low-voiced command-no
were necessary on
this craft. The electric lights
were switched on. The other
steersman caught second wheel.
A stern propeller, was told. be-
gan pounding 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 a factory
But they let me look through the
steersman's window.
Outside in the darkness were
floating shapes, sea ami
mails and fish and strands of sub
marine plants. The whole thing
flashed on me with redoubled
force.
We were underneath the sea.
/ remembered the many casual
ties that had attended the operat-
ing of submarines. / asked about
1t.
Don't you have trouble getting
men to undertake such hazardous
was my query.
The lieutenant smiled.
eff a colonel calls for volun-
teers to storm fort, 1000 men
step forward" he said enigmat-
ically. eff he asks 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
from the fleet. There is always a
list.
Its part of the spirit of the
spirit of adventure. It's
the thing that keeps up the de-
tense of the nation.
1--WE are doing everything we
can every year to add to the safe
guards. You Noticed the other
day that Ensign Kenneth Whiting
of the Porpoise escaped from the
through 20 feet of wa
ter. 1t was a heroic demonstra-
ton of what can be done.
Ensign Whiting, you. remem-
Der, opened the torpedo tube. and
the outer edge. In spite
of the thrush of water, he pulled
free of the boat, and shot
to the surface"
"How do you find the ranger
I asked.
He pointed out what he called
the periscope, little tube extend
ing out of the top of the boat. I 1t
was fitted with a series Of mirrors
which reflected in all directions.
1--WE can't see far under water
he said. But by cruising close
under the surface, this little tube,
practically invisible. gives us a
view of everything outside. Then
we figure directions and ranges
Just as they do outside"
"How long can you stay under
water?"
"The submarine Octopus on a
test remained under 200 feet of
water for "a hours recently. 1t
------------------------ -
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and see Tumwater park and falls.
75c round trip Sunday on the