The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-07-07

Submarine No. Of the Jspanes.
Navy, engaging in manoeuvres of
Rure. Japan, late last month, sank
Up In his turret, his men dying pain
fully about him, Commander Sakuma,
a type of the intrepid men who CON
troll the submarine, made his careful
report OF what had happened as a
warning and guidance 10 the world
he would soon leave. This tragic
message. a document which will live
forever In heroic literature, is as fol-
lows:
Il have no excuse or apology for
having sunk His Majesty's No. sub
marine by my careiessness, but the
crew of the boat braveiy and calmly
discharged their own duties until the
last moments We now die for the
sake of our country, but we regret
that the future development of sub
marines will receive a heavy blow
as result OF the disaster. 1t Is
therefore my hope that you viii en-
gage in deeper study Of the subna-
rine without having any mtsapprehen-
sion as TO disasters. II you do this,
we shall then feel no regret at our
deaths.
I'VE were making a gasoline dive
when the submarine sank lower than
was intended. and we tried to- close
the siuice valve when the chain I'M
fortunately snapped. therefore
closed the valve with nay hands, but
1t was too late to avert disaster. and
the sea entered at the rear of the
boat which sank with list of rs
degrees.
ut reached the bed of the ocean
on which IL stood with a list OF ID
degrees As the water submerged the
electric generator the light was ex-
tinguished and the electric wires
fused At the same time a nox'ous
gas was generated, which made respi-
ration very difficult, y.
1T was about 10 A. M. on April
Is that the submarine sank. Envel-
oped by the noxious gas the crow en-
desvored to pump out the water.
When we prepared to take the
dive the water in the main tank was
promptly pumped out. Although the
gauge was invisible. owing to the cleo
trio light having failed, 1t is recog-
nized that the water in the main tank
was completely exhausted. The cleo
tric current has entirely failed us and
we are also unable TO generate chlo-
>rine gas. As a result, our only hope
depends upon the hand pump.
II write this by the light coming
through the coming tower at ll:4e
A. NJ.
The majority OF the crew are sat
urated with water and we feel ex-
tremely cold. I had many times ar
gued that men engaged in submarine
work must possess the qualities or
GOODNESS and prudence and that un-
less they act entirely without thought
of self the development of submarines
cannot be effected. People may scon
at this warning and urge that 1t 10
written on account OF the disaster.
but firmly believe that my statement
will be found correct,
The depth meter installed in the
coming tower now indicates Sc de-
grees. We have worked hard to pump
out the water. but the boat remains
In the same position.
THE depth OF water here is be-
lieyed to be about ten fathoms. The
crew Of q submarine should be se-
ieoted from among men OF the very
highest ability. an they will be use
fui at time OF such disaster. For
tunRtely. my crew are all doing their
best / am contented with this.
II am always prepared for death
when am away from home. My
will Ia therefore In the locker. This
IL, however. Of my private affairs, ana
there 10 no necessity to announce 1t
here. only hope Mr.. Taguchi will
kindly send II to my father.
"A word to His Majesty. respect