The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1915-02-21
WAR UNDER THE SEA:

rine, the world was given startling demonstra-
tion OF the possibilities III this type of underwater
fighting craft. In the subsequent fighting at sea
these vessels have played such an important part
as to give considerable justification to Admiral Sir
Percy Scotts prediction that when submarines
have been fully developed they will entirely dis
place the great dreadnoughts that form the prin-
cipa fighting strength Of the navies of the present
time
During the five years preceding the war sub
marine fighting crafts had been developed to
high state OF efficiency. Among the new vessels
submcrsbles had almost entirely superseded the
original type that bore, the name of submarine
For understanding the character of the fighting
craft that has come into such prominence il is
necessary to distinguish between the two types of
vessels The original submarine was designed pri-
narily to operate under water and was far from
being seaworthy craft when running on the sur
lace These vessels Were therefore valuable main
ly for coast defense and for operations within re-
gtricted limits in connection with a fleet of war
ships. The submarine, while having all the under
water efficiency of the submarine is built to op-
crate on the surface WE'LL and Is practically as
seaworthy as destroyer Such vessels are cap
able of making long voyages and of taking the Of
fensive Independently and not simply an auxaries
to a fleet of warships. All the later vessels while
commonly called submarines, are in fact sub
mcrsbles. The original submarines still in service
are used almost exclusively for coast defense.
The submarine is shaped like a cigar. n cross
section at any point along the hull being practically
circular In the submersble this shape is retained
for the inner she'll but this is built hull that
gives the completed vessel the shape OF torpedo.
boat The inner shell contaifs all the working
parts Of the boat. whiesthe space between the two
shells is utilized for tie waterebaiast compart-s
fnents Efiich. when Dfisd overesiae the buoyancy
Of the craft depth beneath the water The interior
n,,1, 1-r. u,
supreme nervous energy. with every detail devoted
to the accomplishment of Just One thingAtiiat of
slipping in close to the enemy ship and sinking
It with torpedo So completely the vessel filled
With machinery and equipment for this purpose
that only very limited space can be utilized for
quartering and feeding the crew.
While the newer submersiblesgare equipped sith.
tubes for firing torpedoes from the stern and ven
from the side. the prnainal iientna aauiprnant is
at the bow. Here are located either two or four
torpedo tubes. Unlike the guns OF battleship.
these tubes must be aimed at the mark by aiming
the entire vessel. Each tube ia closed by trap
de,ar .hs. opens automatically when the torpedo is
fred and closed the instant the torpedo has started
on Its Journey of destruction Back OF the torpedo
tubes is a compartment for storage sof torpedoes
and in this are also sleeping quarters for the Of
fcers of the vessel In the deck above this COM
partment is hatch for taking IN the torpedoea.
Next comes compartment containing one OF the
two electric storage batteries which furnish pow-
er for propeing the vessel when It is under water
Back Of this. at the center of the vessel is the
central operating compartment from which every,
movement OF the vessel is controlled Next cories
a compartment containing the second. set OF stor-
age batteries. then the engine room and workshop
and finally the compartment at the stern containing
the propelling and steering machinery. The crew,
which often numbers from 20 10 30 men on Il sub
mersible. are usually quartered ia hammocks In
the compartments containing the storage batteries
OF all the equipment of submarine vessels the
most important is the periscope. simple device
that ns the eyes OF the craft when 1t is run
ming submerged On the latess submersibies two
Of these Instruments are used one being nxed to-
give ~ view straight ahead and the other being so
mounted that Il be turned tD face IN any direc-
ton. Although serving such vital part In the s,-
eration OF submarine the periscope Is exceeding
~ simple In construction. The light enters the
hood Of the periscope horizontally Ii then passes
through q prismatlc Inns that, defects 1t downward
at right angles Into the vertcle shaft vf the pert
iscepe At the bottom OF the shaft II 1. second lens
that again turns the rays of light 70 ispntal
direction. This Is the simplest form OF tho per-
iscope. Usually there are additional lenses for
magnifying the view. After passing through tire
bottom Tens the Image Is either throHn on screen
or Is viewed directly through . telescope BY tie
officer IN command The one disadvaftaS Is IN {lse
Begiseope IS that II gives only limited View in the
one direction In which II happens 10 be aclnr AZ
tsmpts have been made TO develop penofGs0a per
isccpe thas uses y sfsh eyeF lens ANA siVsa tiaw
of the Entire horizon, but this device has not yet
baen dsrelcped snf.eiently 10 ccsne 9into general
uee. When the submarine Is sllkSae ged. cnIy the
tops Of the periseopes are visible ahove tka
These are diilcult TO see and stiil iehit to
hi, and this accountR bor the appafent case VIA
which submarine can steal sis, within taaRh of
Il hatkleshin and IRE ia iofnaii5