The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1914-02-14
The Stolen
Submarine
tcODyrisht. 1913 by w. C. Chapman,
An Audacious Hazard of Nikolai, Independent Agent. as
Related by His Lieutenant, Summers
BY H. M. EGBERT

Nikolai and | had gone to Kiel to
attend the German yacht races. Such
meetings are, of course, largely pat
ronized by gentlemen who dabble in
what Nikolai called high finance"
The police had gathered in a score
and more of the fraternity and sent
them out OF the country; but those
were the bunglers at their trade. We
passed as wealthy Americans, and
hoped to reap a harvest.
But my companions thoughts flew
high above the common swindling. I
knew that when he announced his
coup, 1t would be something worthy
of his fantastic mind. On the third
evening. while we sat together upon
the ~esplanade, watching the yachts
swing past, flags Of all nations fiutter-
ing at the mast heads, Nikolai breach
ed his plan.
These Germans are giving England
a hard fight for the supremacy of the
ocean" he said, as the kaiser's yacht,
having defeated her English antagon-
list, passed to the salutation of ten
Thousand threats. "And they're not
so far behind in actual wal material
either. England would give a fortune
for the plans of the new German sub
marine
He handed me the Daily Telegraph
of two days previous, which he had
purchased at the Casino. | had not
seen a paper for the past week. Turn
ing to the column indicated by my
companion, l discovered that the
German war scare had assumed a new
phase.
The column, which was headed in
black type, dealt with the maneuvers
Of a mysterious submarine ship, which
had been seen at various points along
the British coast, sometimes as a half
submerged body that cut through the
water at an astonishing speed, at
others merely as the periscope,
the eye of such craft, which alone was
visible above the waves. 1t was
obviously engaged in taking soundings
and spying upon the English naval
defenses.
From these various statements of
those who have seen this craft" the
newspaper went On to say, "it is evil
dent, in spite of official d%enials, that it
is! none other than the new German
submarine, about which so much spec
uIation is rife. Its ability to trav-
ell such a distance from it's base
demonstrates the fact clearly, for no
other type of submarine vessel has
more than a very limited sphere of
action. The British government
iwoUld, doubtless, pay handsomely for
"a plan of this craft. Meanwhile it
is reported that warships are search
ing for it-and, Messieurs, if you come
within. the limits of our territorial
waters. lock out for a broadside!"
""The British government would,
doubtless, pay handsomely for a plan
of this craft" Nikolai quoted. read
ing over my shoulder. well, why
shouldn't we earn the reward, Sum-
mers?'
How could we get the plans?" I
asked.
'We won't" replied Nikolai. What
do you say to taking the craft itself
and steering it into Portsmouth har-
bor? 1t might be piracy on the high
seas. but-would England let it go be,
fore she had inspected it? And the re
ward would be big.
"You have never seen a submarine
of the w type, Summers" Nikola
went on hastily, before I could inter
pose any objection. within those
shells one man, and certainly two, car
hold the entire crew at bay. How
Well. a stick of dynamite, retained il
proximity to the steering gear, is
powerful aid. There are few sailors
who would choose certain death by
suffooatiou at the bottom of the sea II
preference to life with a modicum o.
dishonor. Then, again, they keep NJ
SO. A submarine is not an offensive
craft. One man, in fact, could easil.
oyefpower the entire crew.
"Now, Summers, once we ar
aboard, this shall be your task. Mean
while, | shall assume charge of tn,
steering apparatus and bring the yes
sci safely into Portsmouth harboI
There we deliver her to the authori
ties. All are arrested and detaine,
pending the courts decision. In tn
end the vessel is released, we are con
demned to hang for piracy-and some
body opens u cell doors n nigh
and a grateful government pension
us. Do you understand"
IT'S risky" | suggested.
But it's sure" said Nlckolai. "An,
I the ~audaeity Of the scheme makes it
fulhlIment easy"
In fact, the initial steps at any rate
proved no formidable obstacle. w
knew that the Kiel naval yards mus
be the headquarters of the mysteriou
craft. There was no difficulty in dii
covering the slip at which she berth
ed after each return from the Englis
coast. The streets we're full of Gel
man SAILORS; discipline never 80 drai
tic in the navy as In the army, was
trife lax during the regatta week
there was no difficulty In gaining az
mlttanee to the slip.
lNikolai, In the uniform of a navG
ehptain. and /. attired as his orderl!
did, in fact, penetrate the dockyar
many times during the ensuing weel
We Don discovered that the HerthI
aetthe submarine was called, set fort
eWice each week. for her exploration
'ef'
WOMAN'S ADVANTAGE in iIF
Hil fH.N ~ tff L .