The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-08-28
ITS LIKE A TURKISH
BATH WHEN SUBMARINE
DIVES IN TROPICAL WATERS
You Only Notice Heat and
Strange Fish That Glare and
Then Dart Away
SENSATION is DESCRIBED
Writer Tells How it Feels to
Make Trip Into Depths in
Unique Craft
SENSATION is DESCRIBED

MANILA, p. l.. Aug, 2s.--"Dive to
20 feet"
The order came from Lieut.. Nc
Whorter, commander of submarine
Al, who stood At the periscope OF his
craft Instantly the command was re-
peated by the petty officer in charge
OF the crew of 10 which man the float
ing machine shop. The latter gave
the wheel a couple OF turns and with
q slight downward motion OF the bow
the submarine crept toward the bot.
tom Of, the bay Arrived at the re-
quired depth she Strengthened out on
an even keel and rushed forward.
All on board were clad lightly, hav-
ing peeled down TO undershirts and
trousers, for at this time of the year
the waters of Manila bay are warm
and this, combined with, the heat gen.
Grated by the machinery within the
craft when II Is submerged, makes
the temperature something about l20
degrees.
The submarine steamed forward
from the dock 40 yarc- and had then
come toa halt. The matches were
all closed and nothing left open but
the cover 10 the coming tower. All
hands crept down through the con-
ming tower and disposed themselves
as best they might on the floor OF the
submarine. Every man of the crew
has his post, some at the engine,
others at the dynamos and the rest
at various places OF duty. Just before
going down the commander asks each
man IL all is ready In his department
and, upon being answered In the ar.
tirmative, screws on the cover OF the
coming tower and descends to the
floor Of the submarine. taking his post
at the periscope wheel
The motion is not at all disagree
able nor is breathing difficult. air be
ing supplied from tanks. A glance
through the side glasses OF the con-
ming tower shows the observer moth
ing except few minnows which go
sailing by. while few bigger fish
scurry out OF reach. Nothing can be
seen by the helmsman, who stands In
the coming tower and steers entirely
by compass the course which has been
set for him.
At the periscope Is the commander.
The periscope is an instrument
through which the commander OF the
craft can see everything needful as
long as It's upper end is above the
surface of the water The upper end
sticks up above the craft like the
mast Of a ship 20 or more feet, while
the lower end Is down In the hold OF
the vessel A few inches Of this per-
iscope is all that remains exposed OF
a submarine before II launches tor
pedo.
When II was desired to fire q tor
pedo IL was slipped into its tube In
the bow Of the vessel and aimed 80
feet astern of navy boat which had
been anchored In the bay for that
purpose No perceptible jar or move
ment was felt when Lieut.. McWhor-
ter fred the torpedo, by pressing a
button on a wire connection with the
mechanism of the torpedo. The lat
ter sped through the water just be-
low the surface and Its course was
easily seen. Straight for the mark 1t
few, sped past the stern OF the target
boat, some 800 yards beyond 1t, where
II was picked up. suffering and
smoking, by the crew of a navy
steamer.
Speaking of the influence subma-
rines and torpedoes are likely to have
In the warfare OF the future, Lieut..
McWhorter said:
1T all. depends on the improve
ments made in the explosives used.
The submarine will fire a torpedo at
battleship or other vessel at dis
lance OF from 100 to 500 yards. The
periscope comes above the surface for
few minutes only and is mark
which II is almost impossible to To-
cate, especially at night So far as
being safe itself Is concerned, the
submarine has them all beaten. IL
the torpedo finds Its mark, and II
generally does, and disables the pro-
pellers of the ship aimed at, she Is
put out OF commission. With a high
ly powered class OF explosive the tor
pedo could. IL II penetrates the hull,
blow up the ship. II II does not ex-
plode, however, the torpedo could pen
citrate the hull and II IL did not dis
able a vital part Of the ships me-
chanism, II would not do much harm.
So you see, II all lies with the ex'