Evening star., 1918-05-28
BRITISH SUBMARINE
SILENT, POWERFUL
Underwater Navy, on Guard,
Performs Big Tasks Of
Which World Knows Little.
VEIL LIFTED FOR MOMENT

! VEIL LIFTED FOR MOMENT
The world knows the story Of
Britain's fieets-the simple tale of
the gaunt gray fighting hulks that
swing ceaselessly in circles from the
Arctic down to Ostend. barring effec-
lively tho egress from German ports
of naval merchant shipping. Only the
U-boats and an occasional raider have
been successful in slipping through
the steel Gordon.
Although much has been told about
the high seas fleets. but little has been
about England's efficient submarine
navy. However. there has been re-
ceived by the committee on public
information an official British state
ment, made public with the approba-
tion OF the admiralty, telling in de-
tailed form Of the exploits Of Britons
in combating Germany with her
favorite weapon.
Some Enter German Harbors.
/ AcdVlHk LILO HOIHo poIS oh Lib
lands east coast. or, perhaps. drop
ping down some Scottish firth, tho
submarines slip into the gray waters
Of the North sea and pick their way
through the German mine fields 50
that they may battle with the enemy
even within the confines OF his own
harbors.
One Of the most popular tales Of the
exploits Of British submarines,
which, however, is not contained in
the prepared statement, deals with a
young commander who audaciously
crept through mine-infested waters
into the very ,harbor Of Heligoland,
the German Gibraltar. AS he allowed
his periscope to show above the sur
face for an instant he caught a
glimpse Of an enemy U-boat riding
awash while the crew, lined up on
deck, smiled a greeting to the crowds
on shore and aboard harbor shipping,
who were noisily welcoming the
heroes" returning from a raid on the
Atlantic. A torpedo from the British
craft summarily cut short the cele-
bration and eliminated the U-boat as
a future menace to allied vessels. The
brilliant phase of the achievement ls
the fact that the English vessel sue
ceeded in escaping and returning to
lport unharmed.
| Besides detailing various engage
ments in which British submarines
have accounted for one or more enemy
| war vessels-it Is stated that more than
forty German warships have been at
| tackled successfully-the review tells OF
| the hardships incident to patrols In bad
weather.
Difficulties in Winter.
In winter, a cold, clammy chill per-
vades the submarine and at times the
thermometer drops SO low that tho crew
| find it difficult to sleep. Spray freezes
several inches thick on the wireless
antennae, rendering radio communi-
cation impossible. while the periscope
becomes useless at times because OF a
frosty mantle.
| The submarine rides very heavily in a
| seaway, and an even keel is difficult to
maintain even many fathoms below the
surface. When running on top for the
purpose Of replenishing the supply OF
electric motive power. the ventilators
must be kept open, with the result that
water is shipped in heavy quantities.
How much respect for the British un-
derseas navy Is entertained in Germany
| is told best in the official narrative.
| which runs in part as follows:
"Venturesome as the enemy Is with
his U-boats. he rarely allows his above
water craft beyond the confines Of his
marines are ever on the prowl for him.
and how vigilant and thorough is the
watch kept may be gathered from the
fact that though SO few opportunities
are afforded them our submarines have
successfully attacked no less than forty
enemy warships.
might and day the search is con-
tinued. according as circumstances may
dictate. The watch Is kept on the sur
face, or submerged save for the peri
scope. or maybe the vessels are on the
diving patrol, only coming to the sur
face every now and again to scan the
horizon for any hostile craft which may
come within reach.
"A ship being sighted. the submarine
dives to the attack. AS the ship is
probably steaming fast on a zig-zag
course a long time may elapse before
the submarine is In favorable position
to fire her torpedoes While this is
going on she must ascertain whether
the ship is friend or foe and at all costs
she must avoid being seen. II the
periscope is sighted the hostile ship
will make off with all speed and the
odds are that she will got away. An
irregular course and great speed make
her a difficult target and II the sea Ia
smooth she may see tho track Of the
torpedo fired at her and steer to avoid
1t. But in spite Of all the difficulties
tha submarines manage to drive home
their Attacks.