Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-06-14
SUBMARINES.
'Gasoiine Heart" is the Disease That
- Detracts from Enjoyment of This
Invention.

Submarine boats have been deVel-
oped to the point where they can cover
on their own power a radius OF 800
miles in effective fighting trim, and the
run of the first division of submarines
from Charleston, S. c., TO Annapolis,
Md, without aid from their convoy.
making a distance of 500 miles without
rnishap, is pretty good evidence that
they could give a satisfactory account
of themselves ia time of war. In
storm and calm the submarines are
capable of navigating the seas with
credit to their inventors and construc-
tors. With a feet of these vessels sta
toned in the vicinity of any of our
large coast cities il would be difficult
! for battleships to get within effective
striking distance.
The first impressions received on de-
scending into the hold of submarine
are those of discomfort and suffocation.
The accommodation for crew of
thirteen seem about right for half
dozen. One is in too close proximity
to whirring machinery, too, to enjoy
the sensation. On all sides are ar
ranged electrical devices and machin-
cry to operate the craft aud the tor
pedos A thin shell of steel separates
the visitor from the torpedoes, and the
outside water is so close that one can
almost feel it's moisture.
When under way on the surface the
submarine huns and trembles, The
fumes of gasoline are almost suffocat-
ing. There is no escaping from them.
Some of the men contract what is
called gasoline heart" If under wa
! ter too long the fumes make one sick
and dizzy. A novice cannot remain in
a submarine under water for any great
length of time without suffering excru-
. ciating torture. In time, however, one
gets used to ii. and a trip may be one
of ENJOYMENT
But il is when the submarine dives
that the most unpleasant symptoms
come. There are ten compressed air
! tanks supplied. and these furnish suf-
ficient air to keep the crew alive a
good many hours. But did you ever
live on compressed air? If not, il will
be a new sensation. especially If you
are fifty feet below the surface OF the
water. There is a tingling sensation
, all over the body. a pounding OF the
ear drums, and possibly a sense of
nausea. AS the air is automatically
regulated from the compressed air
! tanks one gets his share of the oxy-
J gen, but sometimes the supply may
vary. 1t certainly does in different
parts OF the ship. One may be choking
for lack of good air in one part and be
exhilarated by a too abundant supply
: in another.
Sometimes when the engines are run
ming TO charge the batteries the fumes
I of the gasoline become so strong that
men are rendered unconscious They
must be taken up on deck then to get
| a Whit of fresh air. For this reason
; the batteries are only charged when
above the water. But in time of war
IL might be necessary 10 charge them
4 while running below Then, indeed.
the man aboard the submarine might
I envy the aerial navigator flying above
the sea with the abundance of fresh
air TO breathe.
Cooking under water is pretty an
certain and disagreeable work. The
only appliance for this purpose is a
small electric heater This is lust
about big enough to heat water to
make q cup of coffee and nothing
kelse. The crew have their food cooked
aboard the tender.
. The submarine is built on the prin-
ciple of economizing space in every
Thing There is no room for anything
except the actual necessities Every
inch OF space is given over to ma
ebinery. This is everywhere. compact
and efficient. hut multiplied so often
that one wonders what 1t is all for
There Is machinery for running the
boat, for guiding IL under water for
controlling 1t when il dives, for com
pressing the air tanks, for operating
the torpedoes, and even for regulating
the power OF vision above and below
water
When caught in storm in a subma-
Tine life is really not worth living. 1t
consists OF series OF intense strug-
giles re prevent death By being bat
tered against steel walls or TO keep
from becoming involved in whirring
wheels and dynamos. If you survive
the ordeal you conclude that it is not
necessary to wait for war TO find hell.
1T is with you all the time.-Harpers
Weekly