The Hawaiian gazette., 1914-12-11
Little Craft Built AT Seattle For
Chilean Government Are
Purchased Secretly
They SLIP AWAYsEASlLY
FROM CRUISER MILWAUKEE
Make undersea Flight While Of
ficers Aboard Ship On Guard
Are Holding Dance

A pretty good story has Just reached
Pearl Hafbor Of how two submarines
were quickly taken out Of United
States waters and made part Of the
British fleet at the outset Of the pre-
sent European war. The story is ali
the more Interesting because there was
no violation Of the neutrality Of this
country, and because the two boats
were taken away while the American
cruiser Milwaukee was standing guard.
Tho work showed the mobility Of the
submarine as type and how resour Sc
full 10 can be.
Built For Chilean Government
Two submarines were built early this
year at Seattle for the Chilean govern.
meht. Representatives OF chiIewatch.
ed the work Of construction and in
pected every piece Of material put into
them The boats, which were up.to-
date In every detail, were built under
the Holland patents and and the con
struetion was superintendent by the
Electric Boat company, which is tho
most famous Iubmarine shipbuliding
firm In the world and which has flirn-
ished the products Of its shops TO every
naval power. 49, ~
The vessels we're finished early in July
and preparations were made for the
trials, which were to show that the sub
marines had fulfilled an contract re-
quirements as to speed, load carrying
and ability TO remain Submerged. The
first trial was made about July 26 and
the Chilean naval experts found faplt
with both boats because they failed
by quarter of a knot to show the con.
tract speed.
Builders rlirt with British
The war cloud was gathering in
Europe ahd while the ehileahs were
Fault finding, representatives Of the
British government from Victoria, Bri-
tish Columbia, visited the yards and
made an offer to buy the submarines
at q big price II the craft proved their
seawoftbiness. There existed consider
abIe apprehension in British Columbia
for fear Great Britain might be drawn
into the war and that the defenses Of
the Canadian coast line might not be
strong enous n to stand Off attacks from
German cruisers which were known to
be In the vicinity. sf
The Seattle builders were in posi-.
tion to be ihdependent Of the Ohileans
after this Rffer was made SO they at
once devoted their attention TO the
British. Both boats with British naval
officers were taken out and tried again.
The Britishefs expressed themselves as
entirely satisfied with the performances
Of the boats, but they had to report
back to officials at Victoria and from
there TO London "a. -I'A7s
Submarines Purchased
rs BY this time Tthe war clouds were
thicker than ever. The United States
cruiser Milwankee was anchored of the
yard and her Instructions were to stop,
any attempt that might be made to
take the submarines out Of the yard
and the country.
On August !, war was declared, bet.
ween Germany and Russia and ON Au-
gust 5, Great Britain and Germany de-,
elared war. On the morning Of this
later date Victoria officials closed the
deal to take the two submarines and
arranged For the delivery of the pur-
chase money, which was most satisfact-
DRY to the builders who had been in
danger of finding themselves with two
war boats on their hands.
Little Graft Steal Away
At six clock in the evening of An.
gust B, the crews and stores were
placed on board the submarines and
the little Vessels were started out OF
the yards AT that time there was
being held on the Milwaukee areception
and a dance, and no one on board
notice that the Submarines had quietly
settled below the surface of the water
aud had started on their journey up
Puget Sound towards Victoria, The
Milwaukee finally got word Of the
fight and a search was made but no
submarines. The cruiser had her fires
banked and IL took some time TO get up
steam. Meanwhile she got busy with
her wireless and soon the tugs from the
Bremert6h Navy Yard were s.eaming
up the Sound. dg,sg
Flying British Ensign
Night cane on quickly and the both
craft steamed safely away arriving at
the Esquimalt navy yard ii Canadian
waters at Eve O'Clock in the morning
with the British white naval ensign
flying on each. At noon that day Pre-,
sident Wilson issued his proclamation
OF neutrality, but the boats were safely
cut Of his jurisdiction.