The patriot. [volume] (Indiana, Pa.) 1914-1955, 1917-12-15
Like Living Inside the MeChan.
ism of a Watch.
EVER ON watch FOR ENEMY
Correspondent Says Human Beings
Could Not Remain Submerged in
Submarine Fifteen Hours a Day for
Many Days-Heart of the Ship Gen.
ters About the TWO Periscopes.


or in the air, the thick of the fighting is
near. The same is true Of fighting un.
der the water. I have just returned
from passing two days and three nights
under the Adriatic sea in the NJ, q
French submarine, says A. r. Decker,
in the Chicago Daily News. We were
cruising for hostile undersea craft that
sail on their piratical expeditions from
CattarO for the Mediterranean and the
Atlantic, and for enemy surface ships
which might dash out at night from be-
hind the Dalmatian islands to attack
the southern italian bases, or the
drifter line across the Otranto straits.
Commander R Of the submarine
In which / was to sail led the way down
q perpendicular ladder into the main
corridor of the M and showed me
the compact but comfortable quarters
three small, woOd-trimmed state
rooms for the officers and a locker
where I could install shakedown. 1t
was already hot as sin and l was glad
to strip and don the blue jumper and
Overalls which were loaned me. Then
could at least perspire without think
ing of my clothes.
Slipping Out of Harbor.
I gave but a hasty glance around at
the countless valves and cOnduits, and
then hastened above, taking care to
protect myself against the cold. We
are getting under way. Commander
R was in the coming tower. He had
slipped on q tunic over his jumper and
wore his service cap, as did the other
officers, one of whom was at the stern
and the other at the bow, superintend-
ing the departure. l climbed out Of the
coming tower and took a place
amongst the crew grouped near the
wire railing. The evening air was cool
and refreshing, as we backed, turned
and went ahead until we swung on our
course toward the outer harbOr. The
silent-sunning electric motor brought
us along so smoothly we seemed to slip
through the water, gathering headway
until neat, welI-turned waves fell OFF
the bows.
With much putting and snorting the
duty of turning the screws was taken
from the electric motor and turned
over to one Of the oil engines, while
the remaining oil engines charged the
accumulators against the time when
we should have to submerge. Our
speed increased and in a half hour the
old castle and the landmarks Of the
quaint southern Italian town had fused
in the glow of vivid sunset. When
the moon rose was still breathing the
cool salt air, for one stay of five min
utes In the heat below decks haC
driven me above. 1 stood in the con
ming tower, ready at a moments no
tice to dive out of sight. Sailors were
in a forward hatch, the only remaining
one left open. Not a soul was OD the
bare decks which seemed weird In thu
moonlight. Long ago, the wire railing
had been dismounted and slowed be
low. Our sharp prov cut it's wa!
through a slightly ruffled sea, spread
ing a gloom of phosphorescence iD ou
wake. A. full moon lit up the AdrtatiC
enabling us to see a long distance.
But the call of sleep won over tn
rareness Of the situation. Before day
light I was awakened by the stopping
of the oil engines Climbing into tn
coming tower, l found that COmman
der R was preparing to submerge
Sailors Won't Close Hatches.
We already had been partly sub
merged, that is, a sufficient number o
the water compartments had been file
so that the filling of a few more wOul
cause the NJ to dive. We Wer
nearly balanced. During the nigh
hours the Diesel engines had bee
storing energy into the accumulation
and now the switch was made. A las
order came through the speaking tub
and we slowly sank. Commando
Rs arrival told me that we Wer
entirely under water. He was the las
man to descend the coming tower Lac
der after he himself had closed an
bOlted the hatch. 1t is strange bU
sailors on submarines do not like t
open or close the matches. They feE
that the water will enter and engu
them. However the weight of the WI
ter is such that it is impossible
bulge the matches once the ship
partly under water.
At 4:3O o'clock we were under tt
Adriatic and our real submarine lii
began. No physical sensation told n
that we were below the sea. My breatl
ing was normal and the only objection
able feature was the heat. But as Il
hours wore away l began to realil
that submarine life is one of the mo-
painful that human beings can endur
The heat is terrible, 80 to 80 degree
centigrade $50 to 90 degrees Fahre
heit) in the section of the Adriatic
this time Of the year, and the humidit
is as bad, condensing on the structur
wsrk and trickling down ones neck u
noticed because of the perspiratiOn TIL
is already pouring down. 1t was so b