El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-03-25

b-FHE startling fact has been amply demonstrated
that the Germans send their dreaded sub
marines across the Atlantic Ocean to the
shores Of the United States.
We need not pay much attention to the report
that the German submarines already using
base off the Maine coast for the purpose of operating
against British shipping. The mere fact that they
could do so is Of vital importance to the United States
and should be fully realized by those who wish to
protect our coasts against all possible serious war
dangers.
Remember that the appearance of fleet of enemy
submarines Off our coast with bases OF supply to
maintain them in prolonged service would mean the
stOppage Of all commerce on our coasts ana IN our
harbors and the tOrpedong Of passenger boats un
less We had the most uptodate equipment to deal
with them.
To meet them we need not only fleet as large
any other nation but large auxiliary feet of sub
marines. aerOplanes and fast patrol vessels.
BY sending a submarine through hostile waters all
the way from Emden the naval base on the North
Sea, to the Dardanees, distance OF 4lOO miles the
German navy has proved its ability beyond question
TO send submarines TO New York distance practically
equal TO that already covered.
These vast distances are rendered possible by the
revolutionary construction Of the new petroleum.
driven type of German submarine. The water bal
last tanks, which essential feature Of the sub
marine enabling her to rise and submerge are filled
with petroleum at the start Of the voyage. AS the
1uel tanks are exhausted the petroleum from the bal
last tanks flows in and its place is taken by water.
The petroleum engine drives the submarine while
1t is on the surface and at the same time accumu-
lates power in the electric engines which Drive the
boat when submerged.
Sklful handling Of the submarine increases its
cruising radius in various ways. Steamships may be
engaged OF forced to tow the submarine in midocean
when out Of reach of hostile cruisers in order to econ
Omize fuel.
In making its now famous voyage to the Dardan-
Giles the German undersea boat had to thread her
through the North Sea. almost constantly within
sight of British patrol vessels It would have been
impossible for her to 90 south through the Straits
of Dover because this is narrow that it is almost
completely filled up with mines and other distractions
led he
go around the far north Of Scotland This added
15OO miles, almost entirely within sight of the British
Isles, to her journey.
When the submarine reached the Straits of Glib
raltar there numerous British cruisers constantly
patrollng the narrow waterway to be passed. The
submarine had pressed several Spanish steamers into
her service The British patrol vessels went to in
vestigate hese suspicious looking ships, which then
turned back to While they were doing so the
submarine submerged and kept on through the straits
in eastward direction toward the Dardanelles The
signs Of its presence. which might have been detected
by keen observation. we're missed while the patrol
vessels were chasing the decoy steamers.
The new German submarine is a comfortable sea
going vessel when the surface, or in Surface
trim as it is called The decks well above water
the craft is able to open her hatches and the ship
is navigated from the bridge. She has a long fiat
deck carried on a light superstructure, which has
nothing to do with the submerging Of the vessel as it
perforated to allow water run freely in and out
The deck is surrounded by rail consisting of
stanchons and wire rope. She carries two masts
hinged at the deck, which be raised to a vertical
position for carrying the wireless When the ship is
boAb 10 SuDlueIBe the wireless IS removed, the Two
masts are folded on deck and tied down. the hand
railing the bridge and its fittings are taken down and
sent below. After the last Of the has disap
peared through the hatchWay it is closed and bolted
securely from within
The submarine then is in the awash condition. the
main ballast tanks being filled and all matches and
other openings tightly secured In this condition
she has slight reserve buoyancy OF a few hundred
pounds. The oil engines are disconnected and
electric motor started. As soon as She has vav ON
the horizontal diving planes are depressed and the
ship descends at moderate angle until the desired