The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1915-06-17
BY n. r. BEYER,
Engineer-Lieutenan of the German
Naval Reserve.

Kiel, Germany-At the beginning
of last September, | had returned
from patrol trip in the Baltic sea.
After having a days rest l walked
through the streets of Klel 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 imperlai
wharf. The sentries saluted at the
double gate, but nevertheless | mad
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 $3.50 a. m.
AS l 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 *
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 rudder to
be seen on the upper deck and two
on each side just above the water lev
ell 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, 1t
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
U-X. There the crew is busy getting
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.
l 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. / 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 are in excellent condition. Every
piece of apparatus has been tested
and found satisfactory.
1t 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 &C
ton" We are talking about impor
tant orders for our trip. At $3.50
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. vii
they see us return?
Through Kiel 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
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 anC
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 its
locks. We are going full speed for
ward. Our $50 ton boat is vibrating
with the motion of the engines After
four hours we leave the canal, which
has length of approximately forty
| five miles, and we enter the lower enc
| of the Elbe river at Brunsbuettel. Be
ing in the vicinity of Cuxhaven, We
are now meeting cruisers and torpedo
| boat destroyers. A short salute ant
signal and we are heading for the
| North sea.
| .~~~~~~~~-~-~~~~-~~~
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