davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-27

1t was little surprise the admiral of the
port had prepared for US, and nothing could
have been better prepared to give us the true
favor of submarine warfare. We had had all
the sensation of being chased, fired on and
captured everything except being sunk in
midocean. Now we were TO have the other
experience of chasing and capturing the
enemy.
The vessel we were in was 500ton cruising
submarine. 1t had just come from eight
months guarding the Channel, and showed all
the battering of eight months of very rough
and stormy career with no time for lieup for
repairs 1t was interesting TO see the COM
mander hand the depth gauge wallop to start
it working and find out if the centre Of the
boat was really nine feet higher than either end,
We we're ffty-four feet under water and div
ing when the commander performed that little
experiment and we continued to dive while the
gauge spun around and finally stopped at a
place which indicated approximately that our
back wa. not broken. | suppose that was one
OF the things my friend the lieutenant referred
to when he said life on submarine was such
sporting proposition.
We boarded the submarine over the tail end
and balanced our way up the long narrow
block, like walking tight rope. to the turret,
where we descended through hole like the
opening into gas main into small round COM
partment about six feet in diameter exactly in
the midship section, which was the largest COM
partment in the ship. Running each way from
il the length OF the vessel were long corridors
some two feet wide. On each side of the cor
ridors we're rows Of tiny compartments, which
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-27
A Little Surprise Party Arranged
by the Admiral OF the Port

was I'm the first boatload that went over TO
the submarine. From distance II looked like
nothing so much as rather long piece OF AXIS
floating on the water. with another block set on
ton Of It and length Of hath nailed on the
block Ii lost none Of these characteristics as
we neared it. 1t only gained a couple Of ropes
along the sides of the AXIS, while men kept COM
ing mvsteriously out Of the block until round
dozen were waiting to receive US. The really
surprising thing was that the men turned out
to be perfectly good French sailors, with most
exceedingly polite French lieutenant to help
us aboard the little craft.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-27
One Eye on the Compass, the
Other on the PeriSCOpe

The turret was divided in two sections. In
the after part was the main hatch and behind
it stationary periscope, standing about thirty
inches above the surface Of the water when
the deck was submerged and only the periscope
showing There was no opening in the for
ward section of the turret, but the fighting
periscope, which could be drawn down into the
interior or pushed up to ten feet above the
surface when the vessel completely sub
merged, extended through the top.
1t is with this periscope that the vessel is
navigated The submarine sails at depth at
which the fighting periscope shows about egh-
teen inches above the surface, while the COM
mander, standing on two iron grips, with his
head shoulders and body in the turret and his
legs sticking down into the cabin, keeps his
eyes glued to the sights of the periscope which
he constantly turns from side 10 side to take In
all points OF the limited horizon. The part OF
the fighting per;scope that extends above the
water is a brass rod about two and one-half
inches in diameter, while its eye is only three
quarters of an inch in diameter. 1t is on this
tiny opening that both the safety and fighting
ability of the vessel depend.
For two hours, turn and turn about, the
commander and his second stand watch on the
iron grips in the turret, one eye on the perl
scope. the other on the compass And this goes
on for weeks on end. It is only when they lie
for few hours fifty 10 seventy-five feet below
the surface that they can get some rest. And
even then there is no real rest, for one or the
other OF them must be constantly on duty,
testing pipes and gauges. air pressure, water
pressure and thousand other things.
| met the next day another officer whose
mustache and eyebrows wee black as jet, but
whose hair was silver white. He was thirty
eight years DID, For six years and half he
had been a submarine officer, he told me.
"Why did you quit it," asked him.
"Too DID," he said.
as there an age limit" asked.
NO" he replied, but man knows when he
is too old for the work"
Yet nothing would Induce those who have
not YET found themselves too old to leave H.
One would think the sailors. at any rate, would
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-27

were the living and working rooms of the
ship Naturally, most of the space was given
up to the working rooms.
The officers quarters consisted of four tiny
corridor. The first two were the mess room
and chart room, and the second pair were the
cabins of the commander-a lieutenant-and
his second in command, an ensign. Behind
them was an electric kitchen, and next came
the engines first two sets Of Diesel engines, one
on each side of the corridor, each Of 400 horse
power. These were for running on the surface.
Then came four hunks for the quartermasters
and last the electric motors for running under
the surface The motors were run from stor-
age batteries and were half the power of the
Diesel engines. The quarters of the crew were
along the sides Of the forward corridor. The
floors of the corridor were an unbroken series
of trap doors, covering the storage tanks for
drinking water, food and the ships supplies.
The torpedo tubes were forward of the mems
quarters. Ten torpedoes were carried. The
ammunition for the deck gun was stored i'm
mediately beneath the gun, which was mounted
between the turret and the first batch, abait
the turret. Besides the turret there were three
haches in the deck, one forward and two aft.
There were thirty-four men in the crew.
Each uuartermaster was directly responsible
for six men, while the commander and his
second were responsible for five each. The
men are counted every two hours, as there is
great danger of men being lost overheard when
running on the surface, and in bad weather
they are sometimes counted as often as every
half hour.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-27
Witnessing the Formal DiSap-
pearanCe of the Horizon

Hurry, if you want to see her dive" he said.
climbed into the after section of the turret
and fastened my eye to the periscope. Around
the top of the turret circle of bulls eyes
and | was conscious of the water dashng
against them while the spray washed over the
glass of the periscope The little vessel rolled
very slightly on the surface, though there was
quite bit of sea running ] watched the
horizon through the perlscope and watched for
the dive, expecting distinct sensation. but the
first thing ! noticed was that even the slight
roll had ceased and was surprised to see that
the bulls eyes we're completely under water.
The next thing there was no more horizon The
periscope also was covered and we were COM
pletely beneath the surface.
"Did it make you sick?" the commander
asked, when | climbed down from the turret,
and when | told him no he was surprised, for
he said most men were made sick by their first
dive
The thing most astonishing to me about that
experience was how submerged submarine
can thread its way through a mine field. For
though the water is luminous and translucent
one can hardly make out the black hull Of the
to be on top of you before you could see it.
The men who watch for mines must have
sense for them as well as particularly powerful
sight.
We continued to dive until we were sixty
eight feet below the surface, too deep to strike
any mine, and there we ran TRANQUILITY on our
electric engines, while the commander nav-
gated the vessel and the second in command
opened champagne in the two by four mess
room. After half an hour Of underwater work
we came near enough the surface for our light
ing periscope to stick twenty inches out o. the
water and searched the lonely horizon for q
ship to attack.
1t was not long before we sighted mine
trawler, steaming for the harbor, and speedcd
up to overtake her.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-27
When One Is 81 and Unmarried
Summarizing Is "Greaf Sport

Recalling my geography, il seemed we had
pretty good chance Of being seen.
Are you submarine oficer?" asked.
lie told me that he was. and added that ne
would not change his work for any other branch
Of me service. told him that had always
understood submarine service was particularly
unpleasant, and trying on the nerves.
Oh no. On the contrary. II is very res'iui'
ne sad. "and extremely interesting and great
SPORT
How old are you?- asked.
lie was ,hirty-two and unmarried.
Perhaps that accounts for IT," said.
Perhaps" he agreed. Il don't knoy. but II
the sporting interest that makes the subms-
rne service so fine"
lie told Of cruising in the NORTH Sea. watch
ing for German torpedo boat. fof weeks on
guard duty in the Channel assuring the ser
'iee between France and England. and Of other
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-27

find the life tiresome or too dangerous. talked
to several of them about it, but they all agreed
that they would not change.
as this life better than on a battlcship?' |
asked one sailor.
"Oh. yes" he replied Il would not so back
to battleship'
What makes it BETTER" ! asked.
at is more tranquil" he answered.
Tranquil, sixty feet under water and your
life hanging on gauge that needs good
heavy wallop to make it work.
When we dropped through the hatch into the
interior of the submarine and the cover was
clamped down over our heads the commander
at once ordered me back into the turret.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-27
A Submarine i'm a Rough Sea Is
Like the HaySfaCk'S Needle

That, as learned, is one of the greatest
dangers of the submarine. Of course, we have
all been told it many times, but when the thing
is once experienced it is truly appreciated, and
not until then. The approach of the submarine
is more insidjous than the taste for absinthc.
There is merely that little white wave only
occasionally to be seen--the white water curl
ing around the periscope-and with the sea
running at all high there would be no white
wave that could be distinguished from the
white tops of the other waves. Then, if the
submarine chooses TO remain near the surface,
one can after long time of very close study
make out the periscope as very small stick,
like piece of lath. poking up out Of the water.
But it only sticks up little more than foot
when IL is the most willing to be seen, while if,
as in our case, it is not willing TO be seen. the
submarine. having located its prey, dives
deeper and all trace Of 1t is lost, the next thing
being torpedo coming from an entirely diff
ferent point on the horizon
Our officers were experts At watching FOR
submarines, and though the little white wave
made by the periscope disappeared, they
cauph, the white wake Of the torpedo coming
toward the port quarter and sheered eff to
escape it, The torpedo passed harmlessly by
our stern. but the adventure was not ended, for
hardly a minute later We heard shot from
of the starboard quarter and, turning In that
direction. SAW that the submarine had come to
the surface and was busily firing at US 10
bring us 10.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-27
"NO Use Wasting a Torpedo on a
TraWler"

"Pikers" said our commander, as we circled
twice around the trawler; they can't find u.s.
Five men on the trawler were scanning the
sea with glasses, looking for submarines. We
could follow all their motions, could tell when
they thought they had found US and see their
disappointment at their mistakes, but though
we were never more than five hundred yards
from them did not think they were pikers be-
cause they did not find u.s. had tried that
hunt for the tiny wave Of periscope.
"No use wasting torpedo on those fellows"
said our commander. 1--WE will use the gun on
them"
"How far away can you use torpedo
asked.
1.-TWO hundred yards is the best distance he
said. "Never more than five hundred a tor
pedo is pure guesswork at more than five hun
dred yards"
We crossed the bow Of the trawler, circlcd
around to her starboard quarter and came to
the surface, fired nine shots and submerged
again in forty-fve seconds.
The prey secured we ran submerged through
the mine field and past the net barrier 70 come
to the surface we'll within the harbor and pro-
coed peacefully TO our moorirg under the shelter
Of the guns Of the land forts.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-27
A Land Battery Which Required
a Deal of Convincing

Thus. on the afternoon in question par
ticipated in all the phases of submarine war
fare. including entering harbor protected
with net and floating mines, filed with war
sb;ns and surrounded with land batteries. Pos
sibly the most exciting moment OF all IN an
afternoon filled with thrills was when one land
batterv uncertain of our identity, fired three
shots across our bows and we had to lie to and
prove who we were with string of signal flags
before we could proceed on our tortuous path
among the mines.
Our little vessel, put at our disposal by the
French Ministry of Marine to view the de-
fences Of certain formidable naval base on
the coast Of France. was calmly traversing the
waters near the mouth Of the harbor, when
Young officer. standing beside me on the bridge
said: ave must look out for submarines near
here"
"Germans?" / asked.
"Oh. yes" he replied, Germans, of course
We had already passed through the net that
protects the mouth of the harbor and had been
warned that we were going through mine
field and that sometimes, especially IN bad
weather. the mines got loose and drifted about
casually. getting in most anybody's way. Now
We had the added pleasure of possible en-
counter with q German submarine.
How many German submarines are there IN
the Mediterranean? ! asked.
About thirty five" he said
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-27

WAR correspondent completed his in practical
pcence trip in submarine is listed among his missed OPP
reader, following the greatest OF
sboud
offers its thrills with him. Now
that vessels of the War Zone
with the mIness and special interest attach to the
of the OF France
reader like thc author may the right to differ
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-27

ITO APPEAR on the surface, fire nine
shots at an enemy vessel and dlsap-
pear in safety, untouched, below the
surface. all in the space of forty-five seconds
this. believe. constitutes submarine record
Yet this feat | witnessed two days ago as an
observer on board a French submarine in &C
tive service.
Before this | was passenger on vessel
,ba, was attacked by a submarine. torpedo
was launched at us from below the surface,
while VIC we're enxiously trying to pick up the
neriycope of the submerged vessel, for we were
IN dangerous waters. We had just discovered
The periscope when the torpedo was sent at US.
Five minutes later the submarine came to the
surface and fired round at us from the gun
abaft the turret; we lay to and the passengers
we're transferred in a small boat from the pas
senger vessel to the submarine 1t was then
hat was on board the submarine while 1t at
lacked another vessel.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-27

weeks submerged in the Adriatic, blockadng
the Austrian ports.
Eve had to pick our way through the mine
fields submerged" he said, "and then lie forty
hours submerged on blockade duty. When our
turn ended, we would pick our way back
through the mines for rest"
But surely that was trying on the nerves"
said.
"Oh. no." he declared. "Not at all. We had
a good rest there. There was nothing to do
but sleep and watch"
what was the worst part of that service"
/ asked.
"The hydropanes" he answered readily.
"They were always flying over the harbor look
ing for u.s. and there was always the posi-
bility that one of them would discover us and
drop bomb"
an that event what would happen to your
I asked.
"No one would ever know he replied, "un-
less we sank in shallow enough water to be
raised.
He said it in the most casual manner.
"Has there ever been fight between two
submarines?" was my next question.
He had been in two in the North Sea, he told
me. "If you are on the surface you fight with
your guns" he said, "but, if you are under the
surface, you go at it with torpedoes. There is
not much chance with torpedoes because you
can only see the periscope and you have no
idea which way the other fellow is going.
Nothing happened in either fight had We
both got off safely"
During this conversation both of us and four
of the ships officers had our glasses on the
sea, watching for submarines One of the
ships officers now announced a suspicious look
ing white wave on the port bow. 1t was sus-
picious because it moved, but it was very tiny
little wave only about three feet long and the
breadth of carpenters hand. No one would
ever have suspected it without expert advice.
Macon beacon., 1917-10-05

Department Of Agriculture VIII Wage
Battle on Hog Cholera and Dreaded
Cattle Tick.

CFrom the United States Department OF
Agricultural
A more intensive fight than ever be-
fore will be waged by the United
States department of agriculture on
hog cholera and the cattle tick with
funds made available by the recently
enacted food production bill. Between
them, hog cholera and cattle-tick fe-
yer cause annual losses OF approx
mately $60,0O0,000. In an effort to
stem these losses and 80, In effect, to
increase meat production, the depart
ment will put greatly enlarged stan
OF specialists to work In the field with
In the next few weeks. Tick eradica-
ton, which is essential to building up
cattle raising In sections OF the South
now infested by ticks, will be extend
ed In all affected states. Twenty-Five
veterinarians will be added to the de-
partment's staff to carry on the work
against hog cholera throughout the
hog.ralsing sections Of the country.
Macon beacon., 1917-10-05
How Houses Explode.

The most remarkable phenomenon
connected with tornadoes is the ex-
plosion Of houses, which literally
burst, scattering their fragments in all
directions. Sometimes substantial
dwellings are carried high into the air
and then explode. 1t is now under
stood that this Is due to the fact that
the funnel cloud" (revolving at rate
of at least 500 miles an hour) has a
vacuum inside. Thus 1t sucks up
everything in Its path, even emptyIng
wells. 1t sucks all the ar from around
house over which 1t passes, and the
house Ga vacuum being thus created
outside Of it) promptly explOdes, ow-'
ing to the pressure Of the air, at 30
pounds to the square inch, from with
In. The house, In word. Is trans
formed into bomb.
Macon beacon., 1917-10-05
Mammal Got Into Trouble Through
Nosinc Around Too Promiscuous-
Iy Anssng Strangers.

Seals are very plentiful among the
Orkneys, and are sometimes caught
when asleep on the skerries. They are
attracted by musical sounds, and at
one time considerable number were
said to make their appearance In the
bay of Hoy when the bell of the parish
church close by was rung.
Seals are usually much on their
guard against the approach Of men,
but when unmolested frequently come
close to boats or people ashore. An
instance Of this occurred recently of
Skraill bay, in Sandwich, where some
yawls were at haddock fishing, writer
In the Edinburgh Scotsman says.
A seal made Its appearance, and
showed great curiosity as to what was
going on. 1t swan repeatedly between
two boats a short distance apart, and
ultimately devoted Its attention to one
OF them, diving under the boat and
coming up first on one side and then
on the other. At last It made spring
at fish which was being hauled out
OF the water on hand line. 1t failed
to get proper hold. but the fish was
thrown back to afford another chance,
which the seal quickly seized. 1t kept
SO near that eventually one of the fish
ermen got hold Of its tail, and by the
assistance Of another It was taken into
the boat.
It was a young one. about three feet
In length. 1t did not seem to appreciate
Macon beacon., 1917-10-05
(THE END.)
The GeoIoalsts' Clock.

The fossil shells Of the early inver.
tebrates are always of great impor-
tance to biologists, for they indicate
the period In which the rock beds that
contain them were formed--in other
words the age Of the rock. Every
fossiliferous rock bed contains char
acterstic forms. or groups Of forms,
that determine the period In which 1t
was mud or sand. The economic i'm.
portance Of geology has been repeated.
ly shown. In the earlier exploitation
of anthracite coal, thousands OF dol.
lars were wasted searching for coal
beds In New York until the geologist
of the state showed that the beds in
that state could not contain coal,
since the fossils showed that they be.
longed to the Devonlan age, whereas
the Pennsylvania anthracite coal
beds are of the CarbOnlferous age, n
much later period. That discovery
stopped the useless expenditure. The
study of the animal and plant remains
that are embedded In the rocks has
thus become an important part Of ge-
ology, and although the specialists en-
gagged In the study are few, their work
Is Of the highest importance.
Macon beacon., 1917-10-05

the ones We like best until something
happens to EN-, but II you'd heard the
prayers the folks Of Jonesville have
been sayin' lately you'd know you was
our favorite" Then. with a meaning
twinkle In his eye, he told her, gravely:
ut seems pity that aln't younger
and better.lookln'. l would sure cut
short your grief" Then he raised his
hat and rode away. chucklinG.
Alaire turned to Dave In dismay.
HE knowsw she cried.
"Tm afraid they all know. But don't
worry; they'll respect our wishes"
Father O'Malley had ridden on ahead
with Benito and Dolores; Dave and
Alaire followed leisurely. Now that
the moment Of their parting was at
hand, they fingered by the way, delay
ing 1t as long as possible. feeling nat.
ural constraint at what was In their
minds.
How long--will 1t be2' he asked
her, finally. "How long before l can
really have you for my own?"
Alaire smiled into his eyes. Not
long. But you'll be patient, won't you.
dear?"
He took her hand In his and they
rode on silently, a song In the heart Of
each of them
(THE END)
Macon beacon., 1917-10-05
By Rev Beach
Copyright BY Hospsr q BrOAhsrs

THAT would be heaven. but there can
be no sitting down for me-"
Garcia, who had been standing In his
stirrups scanning the long, fat road
ahead. spoke sharply: "Caramba !
Here come those very soldiers now !
See"
Far away. but evidently approaching
at smart gait. was body Of mounted
men After one look at them Dave
cried:
Into the brush, Quick!" He hurried
his companions ahead Of him, and
when they had gone perhaps a hun
dred yards from the road he took
Juan's repeater, saying: Ride in a
little way farther and wait. I'm going
back. If you hear me shoot, break for
the river. Ride hard and keep under
cover as much as possible" Before
they could demonstrate he had wheeled
Montrosa and was gone.
This was luck, he told himself. Ten
miles more and they would have been
safe, for the Rio Grande is not diff.
ficult river either to ford or to swim.
He dismounted and made his way on
foot to point where he could COM
mand a view, but he had barely estab.
llshed himself when he found Alaire at
his side.
"Go back" he told her. But she
would not, and so they waited together
There were perhaps dozen men In
the approaching squad, and Dave saw
that they were heavily accoutred. They
rode fast, too, and at their head gal
loped a large man under wide
brimmed felt hat. 1t soon became evi'
dent that the soldiers were not uni
formed. Therefore. Dave reasoned
they were not federals, but more prob
ably some rebel scouting band from
the south, and yet He rubbed hit
eyes and stared again.
Dave pressed forward eagerly, in
credulously; the next instant he hat
broken cover with shout. Alaire wal
at his side, clapping her hands ant
laughing with excitement.
The cavalcade halted; the big maj
tumbled from his saddle and eam'