The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1916-08-25
Operation of German
Submarine Described
by a Naval Officer
Continued from last week)

gasoline and the same vibration. By
pressing the water out of the ballasr
tanks our slow upward movement has
been accomplished. We are speeding
ahead just below the surface. The
gas engines have been stopped since
we began our first diving movement,
We are running with motors driven by
our storage batteries. At present we
are travelling at depth of twenty-five
feet We know that we are in the
mine region of the enemy.
Destruction Of the Destroyer.
After running at this depth at very
low speed for six miles we begin to
realize that the time is near for en-
countering one of the enemy's battle.
ships. Carefully we are moving up
to get glimpse through the peri.
scope. At a distance of five miles we
spy three torpedo boat destroyers of
the enemy The moment has come
when our captain has to show his skill
as master of the submarine. He is
calculating the distance, the speed and
the course of the enemy's boats. His
plans are made. We are going down
thirty feet; within the next twenty
minutes it will be shown whether his
figures are correct Everybody is
ready for action, every nerve, every
muscle is strained for that which is
coming. It may be successful full.
fillment Of our orders or 1t may be
death for all of us. No sign of emo
ton is to be seen in the earnest faces
OF the fellows. Every one is at his
place. Orders are repeated SO that
all may understand them. Levers are
pulled and pushed; suddenly we are
moving upwards, the periscope is
reaching the surface and one look
convinces the captain that his calcu.
lations were correct
We are within 800 yards of the near.
est destroyer. Our boat swings
around under water to a certain angle,
signal goes through the boat and
the torpedo is fired After thirty sec.
onds a terrible thunder sounds across
the ocean, roaring and dying out at
the horizon. We turn the periscope
and observe thick black smoke where
the destroyer has disappeared, some
wreckage being blown within fifty
yards of us. The vessel had been hit
at it's center and destroyed almost in.
stantly At the same moment shells
strike the water in our immediate
neighborhood. We have been seen by
the two other destroyers. One shell
we'll aimed would make us pay with
our lives for what we have just &C.
complished Almost too long we tried
to watch the results.
The Return to Friendly Waters.
Within few seconds our periscope
has disappeared and we are below the
surface in a depth of thirty feet. We
have fulfilled our instructions and are
turning back. Once more we have to
avoid mines and also the torpedo
boats which may try to pursue us on
our return. We are heading accord
ing to orders for the naval base at
w to report the results of our trip.
Arriving in safe waters we speed
ahead above the water level. The
collapsible masts of our wireless appa-
ratus are set up and a message is
flashed that we are safe and return
ing with good results. Once more the
crew has escaped the iron grip OF
death, and the candidates for heav-
en-" the nickname given them in naval
circles, will spend restful night in
the harbor after very little sleep for
the last fifty-two hours.
We enter the harbor with smiling
salutes to our comrades passing by.
A cheerful "Hurrah!" is given to us
by an outgoing submarine. We are,
glad we are turning in, even if 1t is
only for a short time. Tomorrow we
expect new orders and we shall be-
ready again for ol1r hazardons oama