The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1917-10-19
THE REcolL OF
THE SUBMARINE

mas almost no trlends among the nations.
We have also said that We believed such
q course by the kaiser must in time have
9 reaction among his own people, be-
cause We belived that the Germans at
heart were just as kindly and charitable
as the people Of any other nation.
Last week there came an example OF
the latter feeling in the news that there
had been mutiny in the German navy.
That there was mutiny ls verified by the
fact that the matter was taken up by
the Reichstag and that three members
Of that body were accused of aiding and
abetting the rebellion and that later
news is to the effect that the premier is
likely to resign in consequence and that
the minister of the navy has resigned.
How far the mutiny really developed is
of course nearly all guess work, because
the Germans would naturally minimize
while reporters and gossips would mag.
nifty.
The point however is that there was
and probably IS more or less dissatis-
faction among the sailors of the Ger
man feet. This is natural for many
reasons. The German navy as such has
been bottled up for more than three
years doing nothing. That in itself
makes troub bles, for it is human nature
when mon are closed up without oppor-
tun1ty of action to quarrel among them
selves or to make trouble for their
officers. This is equally true in the
navy, on board merchant ships, in pris-
ons, or IN any gathering Of men in con.
fnment.
One of the principal reasons given for
the present mutiny in the German feet
is given as the reluctance of the sailors
to serve on board the submarine. The
dispatches intimate that the reason for
their refusing to serve is because of the
danger of such services. Personally we
doubt it that has much to do with it.
II the kaiser thought it would pay, We
have no doubt he would have no trouble
in manning any number OF "ralders'' of
of the ordinary types OF sea going vessels
though the men would know that such
vessels could sail tho. seas but a brief
time before they wonld be caught or
destroyed. The excitment of raiding
cruise would balance the danger. Sew
eral such ships have been sent out by
Germans and the crews we're willing to
serve.
Then why should the seamen object
to what might seem similar service on
submarine?
Because the vessels, the experiences,
the work, and the results are very differ
ent and very much more dlsagreeable.
No more uncomfortable seagoing
craft has ever been invented than sub
marine. They are small at the best and
nearly all available room Is taken up
with engines, apparatus, stores, amuni
tion, torpedoes, etc. This leaves very
little space below for the twenty or
thirty men work, cook and sleep. When
submerged the air while chemically
purified Is breathed over and over again
and always mixed with the vapors and
smells. of the gasoline and engines
grease oils, as we'll az other impurities
caused by the crowding together of
lot Of humans in 80 small space.
When running on the surface. thess
boats which are built without any re-
gard to seagoing qualities roll and tum-
BILE like chips on the waves and billows
of the sea which is never at rest. There
is no deck room of such size that the
crew can more than merely stand upon
it. Thus whether man is above or be-
low decks he cannot take more than q
half dozen steps in any one direction.
Not only this, but even in fine weather
the U-boat must be "wet'' that is. she
has the protection from the wash OF the
waves and when there is wind the
decks must be practically untenable be.
cause Of the waves washing over
the narrow bow and low sloplng sides.
When in action all these men ex-
cept one at the perlscope. are working
as blind men. They have no Knowledge
Of what is occurring on tho surface.
They are even worse of that rats ia ! /
trap, because the rats can sec through
the wires. They know not whether the
subis to be their coffin within 8 few
moments or whether the@sub will con-
vert some great passenger ship With Ill |
its load Of human freight including per.
hsps women and children into ! great
mansoIeum to rest on the bottom 81 tho |
ssss until the crew OF the U-boat and |
the innocents Of the unarmed merchant |
ship come 70 Judgment on The last great !
dry,
Necessarily Tho men who sssve o. sub-
masise must b ofssps psrior int slli saoe.