The farmer and mechanic., 1915-05-04
Washington Post.


war have undoubtedly been the sub
marine crews.
The little submarines manned by
- men apiece, and costing but a
small fraction of the warship, have
sunk nine British battleships, and
lighting ships and over one hundred
Of the merchant ships Of the anti
German allies.
In order to achieve this remark
able result, however, an extraordi-
nary amount of suffering, self-sacri-
fee and skill on the part of the sub
marine crews was required.
Life on submarine must be like
that of the Internal regions. When
the boat is submerged the oxygen in
the air soon becomes insufficient, and
II is also so fouled by the oil and
the smell Of the machinery that it is
uauseating in the extreme. When the
boat is on the surface the slightest
wave breaks over it and the vessel
rolls about as you may have seen a
log do on the surface Of the sea.
in addition to these physical mis-
cries there is a mental strain of not
being able to see danger approach
ing and of not knowing whether you
will ever see the light again.
The captain of the German subma-
rine boat U-47, which has greatly
distinguished itself in these naval ex-
ploits has written a most interest
ing account of life on the boat and
their methods of action. Although
the article is written primarily to eX-
cite enthusiasm for the submarine
war it does not conceal the great
hardship of the life. The article has
been published widely in the German
newspapers and here is a translation
If it:
By the Commander of Submarine
U-47.
"C-47 will take in provisions and
clear for sea. Extreme economical
radius" is the brief order brought
10 rs by the admirals staff officer.
\ first lieutenant, with the acting
rank Of commander, takes the order
i'm the gray dawn of a February day.
The hulk of an old corvette with
The Iron Cross of 1870 on her stubby
toremast is his quarters in port, and
on the corvette's deck he is present
~ saluted by his first engineer and
the officer Of the watch. On the
pier the crew of U-47 await him Al
their feet the narrow gray subma-
rine lies alongside, straining a little
at her cables.
We'll, we've orders at last be-
gins the commander, addressing his
crew of 80, and the crew grin. Fol
this is U-47'S first experience in &C.
tive service. She has done nothing
save trial trips hitherto, and has JUS
been overhauled for her first fighting
cruise. Her commander snaps out {
number Of orders. Provisions are te
be taken in "up to the neck" fres1
water to be put aboard, and engin,
room supplies to be supplemented.
\ mere plank is the gangway t,
'he little vessel AS the commander
followed by his officers, comes aboard
a sailor hands to each a ball Of cot
ton waste, the sign and symbol Of :
submarine officer. which never leave
his hand. For the steel walls Of hi
cgaft, the doors, and the companion
ladGer all sweat oil. and at ever.
touch the hands must be wiped dry.
The doorways are narrow roun,
holes. Through one Of the holes af
the commander descends by a break
neck iron ladder into the black hol
ht by electric glow lamps. The al
10 the unaccustOmed, longshoreme
II is almost choking, though tn
matches are off.
Where the Engineer Works.
Here in the engine room aft me
must live and strain every nerve, ey
on il for days at time every crac
whereby the fresh air could get in
hermetically sealed. On their tens
watchfulness thirty lives depend.
Here. too, are slung some ham
mocks. and in them one watch trie
and what is more, succeeds in sleeI
ing though the men moving abO,
bump them with head and elbow ;
every turn, and the low and narro
vault is full of the hum and purr
machinery. In length the vault
about ten feet, but if a man of no
NAL statute stands in the middle az
raises his arms to about half shou
der height his hands will touch tt
cold, moist steel walls on either sid
A network of wires runs overhea
and there is juggler's outfit of ha
dies, levers and instruments.
The commander inspects ever
thing minutely, then creeps throus
a hole into the central control st
ton, where the chief engineer is
his post. With just about enous
assistance to run a fairly simple m
chine ashore the chief engineer of