Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-04-23
PENDULUM PLAN
TOBE TRIED OUT
IN F.4 SALVAGE
Naval Officers Watch Results
of New Experiment With
Great Interest
ABRUPT SLOPE OF BOTTOM
PROVES GREAT HANDICAP
Difficulty of Hauling 800 Tons
Up Steep Incline Is
Tremendous

The sunken submarine F-4 was
raised eight feet this morning, and
towed approximately 60 feet shore
ward. Salvage operations were halt
ed by the parting Of one Of the lines
which held the stern of the submar-
inc to the lifting scows, and this will
have to be repaired before work can
be resumed According TO what luck
is met with in getting a new line fast,
operations will be resumed.
The use of the Maryland as a tow
ing vessel proved a success and while
navy officers are extremely conserva-
tive In their predictions. it seems to
be the opinion that the present pla1
OF operations is the right one.
= At 2 o'clock this afternoon actual
towing and lifting work was at
standstill to await the fastening of
new line to the F4. .A.
The amount Of lift obtained through
this mornings operations can be &C
curately determined by the amount OF
cable on the drums, there being abso.
lutely no stretch left in the lines that
connect the F4 with the lifting scows.
Eight feet more cable is reeled in and
therefore a lift Of eight feet has been
secured. The pull inshore can only
be estimated and the figures range
from so to IS feet.
With the Maryland on the job as
towing vessel. II is hoped that sub
stantial shoreward progress will be
made with the sunken submarine F-4
within the next few hours. Much de-
pends on the developments of this
afternoon, and il the plan now in op-
Grafton fails. those In charge of the
salvage work will be hard pressed for
a new one. There is no disposition
toward pessimism by the navy Off
GERS who have the task in hand, but
1t is generally conceded that the un-
dertaking is stupendous, and that
large element of luck will be essential
to a successful conclusion.
This morning shortly before s
O'Clock the Maryland worked her way
out from the navy dock and maneu-
vered into position shoreward from
the lifting scows from which the sub
marine is suspended fore and aft by
four wire cables. 1t took all morning
to get the cruiser into position and
pass the towing gear from the Mary
land to the scows, the work being ac-
complished, however, without hitch
or accident Weather conditions
greatly favor operations, the sea be.
ing as smooth as the proverbial mill
pond, and there being no wind to in.
terfere with operations.
The plan which is being tried to
work the submarine into shallow
water is said to be entirely new. and
naval officers are watching results
with keen interest The F4, a water
logged shell, and suspended from the
lifting scows on nearly 300 feet OF
wire cable, forms a great pendulum
which will swing backwards towards
deeper water if sufficient impetus Is
given to the scows in a shoreward
direction. 1t is believed that a pow
erful strain on the scows will cause
the F-4 to swing out far enough to |
enable a considerable lateral move
ment to be secured before she
grounds on the slope Of the sea floor.
The scows could then slack off to |
position directly above the submarine,
take up the slack on their hoisting |
gear, and repeat the shoreward rush |
and pendulum swing.
Were the slope Of the bottom less |
abrupt, ordinary pontoon methods
would probably accomplish results, |
but the sea floor rises so abruptly |
that with an ordinary lift of six to ten
feet. only a very short distance can
be gained toward shore.
There is the chance that with the |
tremendous towing power of the |
Maryland, something will be carried |
away en- the scows or on the submar-
inc itself, but this is a chance tha: |
must be taken. 1t is figured by the |
navy men that the tow line itself will |
part before the four heavy wire |
cables which hold the submarine in a |
sling will give way.