The San Francisco call., 1910-10-09

sight and then quickly sinking again.
This operation is called by the Amer
leans 'porpoise diving" and is most spec
tacular as seen from the surface. Ly-
ing inert upon the surface, submarine
looks fishlike enough; but to see the
craft rise and dive on long. Slanting
runs. it's dull steel sides glistening in
the salt spray, one has the impression
that it is some sea monster at play.
When the vessel is running with con-
ming tower and deck exposed. commun-
ication is by flags or wigwag by day
and lanterns at night. When it is sub
merged officers have a system in which
they use bells attached to the outside
of the hull in such a manner that their
sound is carried as clearly and dis
tinctly as the dots and dashes of the
wireless telegraph apparatus in air.
Either the Morse or the army and navy
code is used, and in this way the boats
of submerged fiotilla taking orders
from the commanding officer can keep
in line.
means of hammer tappings against the
steel huffs of the boats, and this is
often done by officers who in practice
wish to get in touch with some other
boat operating in the vicinity or with
the tender. The ingenuity of these
submarine officers in rigging devices
and repairing engines is typical of the
See these officers at their work in the
docks, and it is easy to picture them
at their post. when, with all lights out
and ballast tanks full, and every man
at his station, the submarine drops like
a rock in the service test. How far
they go only the man at the dial
knows. This Is what takes a strong
heart and perfect self-control. 1t is
the officers only means of proving the
nerve of his men. and the one unfail-
ing test to discover the weak ones.
Day after day come these tests. and
he who shows the least sign OF fear
never sets foot on an American sub
marine again. The reason Is that down
in the depths the man who loses his
head Is menace to craft and crew.
Failure to perform even a slight duty
may be fatal to all. The United States
naval experts believe that to, this rule
is due the fact that not a submarine
boat has thus far been lost or sunk
through an error of any OF the men
aboard
The feeling that comes to one In a
voyage in the under sea is thus ex-s
pressed by the commander OF a sub
marine:
''The first thing that you note is the
smell. 1t Isn't any different from being
in the engine room OF a battieship. ex-
cept that you haven't room to turn
around In. You are Jammed into not.
stuffy. uncomfortable hole. You don't
see anything. You don't hear anything
but machinery. You watch a pointer
jumping on a dial. and move your
hands according to clocks. You are a
machine. and you are running a ma
chine.
when you sink on a level keel you
don't feel any motion. When you dive
you feel gentle incline OF the floor
II you look at the port hole a sea-
green globe of glass confronts you III
you were about to attack hostile ship
you would see your mark only by
means of the periscope or the coming
tower of the porpoise dive.
'Ali submerging and diving have to
be done slowly and gently for fear OF
spiliing the chemicals in your batter
les. But there is one time that we all
feel happy: When on fine day in rs-
ing we glance up through the deck
and see the under surface OF the sea.
1T Is as il we were approaching one
great shining mirror"
The very danger and hardship of the
life seem TO create an esprit de corps
among the men and a confidence in
their officers that. in the British and
American service at least, have given
the men OF the submarine fleet high
standard OF efficiency and discipline.