The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1914-09-25
WORRY BRITAIN
How Germans Plan to Destroy Kings Big Navy

uCoti uNtipli VI lllC VII &C
British cruisers, Aboukir,
Hogue and Cressy, is the be-
ginning Of a German sub
marine movement to elm
mate Great Britain's North
sea fleet, one by one, gradu-
ally reducing England's
naval strength so as to put
them on par with the leu
ton naval armament, Eng
lands officials In command
of the North sea forces are
in state of distraction.
England has very success
fully kept open her COM
merce channels, at the same
time so situating her ships
as to keep the German fleet
In hiding. Now Great
Britain must smash the Ger
man fleet, retire to the pro-
lection of its own mined
harbors, or else stand by, in
the face Of the submarine
peril, and trust TO luck.
British attack on the water ls
improbable. With the German
men Of war reposing peacefully
under the gigantic guns Of tho
kiel canal Notifications, and
the harbor a network OF heavy.
liy charged mines. the Britlsh
have little hope Of getting into
touch with them.
II is believed the kalaer's object
In 10 sink enough British ships 20
put the German navy on even
terms with England. when he will
plan general engagement.
Gets Within 300 Yards
There Is little or no defense
against the submarine. Torpedo
nets and booms are useless: armor
In impotent. vigilance OF no avail
Even speed cannot save ship
marked for destruction for there "a
no telling when or In what direc-
ton TO flee.
At 1000 yards torpedo seldom
misses Its mark. The 20 pounds
OF gun cotton II carries IN sufficient
20 send the biggest battleship TO the
bottom I'm few seconds.
And submarine, prepared 10 fire
dozen torpedos, can get within
300 yards OF its victim with little
probability OF detection.
See Victim In Periscope
Periscopcs make detection almost
impossible. These are l. shaped
tubes 90 feet long and as many
inches in diameter.
The foot OF the l. projects out OF
the water In fact. that In all OF
the submarine which does show
above the surface.
In the periscope is set lens
which casts a picture OF the horizon
above water into a mirror set al an
angle OF IS degrees
The mirror reflects the image
cast by the lens down the long
tube on TO a white screen in the
captains cabin.
A black smudge on the horizon
shows the position OF the blockad.
ing fleet. The commander de-
sends from the coming tower.
Quietly he turns to the steersman.
Can Stay Under "a Hours
Dive 90 20 feet"
"Dive TO 20 feet. sir" repeats the
man ut the wheel. and gives the
horizontal rudder Zip. The little
craft slips under the water as easily
as duck after frog.
At the command the engineer
shuts off the gas engine and the
submarine glides along under cleo.
trio power Mt perhaps IL knots an
| hour. The yentilators close auto
matically as they dip under the
water and make the ship air and.
OF course. water-tight.
The closeness is relieved by com.
pressed air. Enough OF II is stored
to last "a hours.
Only the periscope shows as the
little craft slips through the sea
nearer and nearer to fits mark.
Larger and larger the image OF
a big battleship grows on the
screen.
Travels by Own Power
Prepare TO fire."
In n long tube. really magnifi.
cent air gun. rests the torpedo, II
| feet long.
Made OF bronze. II closely resem-
bles a huge cigar except that twin
propellers project from the pointed
end.
A torpedo files TO its mark under
Its own power developed in COM
pressed air engine OF its own.
Now the little terror barely creeps
along. Dozens OF eyes on the bat.
tleship are watching for IT,
Powerful marine glasses sweep
every yard OF the seas surface.
But the periscopes do not project
more than foot or two out OF
water. The color OF these little
poles are sea color, and besides
they dip behind every heave of the
rolling ocean.
Now the submersible is in good
range of It's target and points d.
rectly at the battleship as II to ram
II amidships.
Fire."
How Cruisers Are Sunk
Al the word the cap nj the muz.
zle OF the tube flies up.
There is a muffled thud as the
plunger gives the torpedo smart
push. AS II passes out catch de.
presses the throttle Of the torpedos
own engine and the propellers are
whirring as II enters the water.
A gyroscope steadies the rudder
and the torpedo holds It's course In
spite Of sea swirls and currents.