The Spectator., 1915-06-01
By H. R. BEYER, Enoineer-lieutenan of the German Naval Reserve.

Engineerlieuten of the German
 Naval Reserve.
 Correspondence of the Chicago News)
 Kiel, Germany.-At the beginning of last September, I had returned from patrol trip in the Baltic sea, After having a days rest l walked through the streets of Kiel at six o'clock in the morning, crossed the harbor on one of the ferries and then a short walk of five minutes brought me to the main gate of the imperial wharf. The sentries saluted at the double gate, but nevertheless l had to show my card of identification to an officer of the wharf at the inner gate. Twenty thousand skilled work men were working there in two shifts. day and night, building and repairing. l had to walk to one of the outer ba- sins where my boat was lying. We had orders to leave at 9: 30 a m.
 AS I passed some of the first-class battle ships, looked with pride at the little dark gray bodies of the subma- rines lying side by side along the pier. One might compare them to turned up nutshells. By the black letter TX" on the bow of the second one. recog- nized my boat. Seventy-five feet in length and twelve feet in width are the overall dimensions of the craft. The body of the boat extended two feet above water level and ten feet below. The hull is built of five milli- meters Approximately three-six teenths of an inch) Krupp steel
 Some of the new style boats, lying not far from ours, are considerably larger and more powerful. The bridge on each boat is almost in the center of the upper deck, ten feet in height and five feet square. Besides the two masts, supporting the wireless, the exhaust of the gas engines and the periscope, there is only a rudder to be seen on the upper deck and two on each side just above the water lev el. The rudder on the rear of the up- per deck serves as a help in steering under water, and it is connected with the main rudder. In other words, it is an additional device for changing the course and is of great help when the vessel is submerged, for then turn ing is naturally much more difficult to accomplish The side rudders serve the purpose of allowing minor up and down movements.
 Getting Ready for the Start.
 A few steps down the pier ladder brings me to the upper deck of the thn ic h,tc int her ready for the trip. Twenty-four men form the crew of our small bat tleship. Twelve are regular sailors including noncommissioned officers, and the rest are the engineering force under my command All of my men are skilled mechanics in gas engines and electrical work. German subma- rines are driven by gas engines when they are running above the water line and by electric motors when under water.
 I receive from my assistant en- gineer the report that everything is "clear for action" There are hun dreds of things to be looked after. inspect carefully every mechanical part of the upper deck. then descend through the manhole, thirty-six inches in diameter, which is the sole en. trance and exit of the boat. l con vince myself that everything is right here, as each piece of mechanism is of the greatest importance for good results of our trip. All gasoline tanks are at the lower part of the boat and all have been filled, the electric bat teries have been charged and drinking water and food supplies have been taken on. The deadly torpedoes are in place and the gas engines and mo- tors arc 'n excellent condition. Every piece 0. apparatus has been tested and found satisfactory.
 It is nine o'clock, and our captain in charge, bearing the rank of captain lieutenant, arrives on board. l report the engineering division clear for ac- tfon." We are talking about impor- tant orders for our trip. At 9:30 sharp we are on the bridge, the signal goes through, every man is at his place. The mechanical telegraph rings and gives speed orders to the engine room. Clear for maneuver, half speed forward, we are moving salutes are exchanged with our com rades while passing their boats. Will they see us return?
 Through kiei Canal to the Sea.
 We are able to make fourteen knots above water and nine when sub merged. The newest type of German submarine has been brought to a speed of twenty knots above water and eleven knots below. We are head ing for the Kaiser Wilhelm canal (the Kiel canaD. connecting the Baltic and the North sea. Within three miles of our starting place and yet within the safest part of the harbor of Kiel we enter the canal and go through it's locks. We are going full speed for ward. Our $50 ton boat is vibrating