The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-02-15
Gas!
And How U-Boats De-
prived New York Of Coal.
Gas!

All explosives generate an enormous
amount OF gas. High explosives xen-
crate an extra volume Of gas; a cubic
inch Of water expands into q cubic
foot Of steam at atmospheric pressure.
This is LIS times the volume Of water.
When depth bomb il exploded under
water. the gas causes enormous pres
sure in all directions. What gives
way? The water between the bomb
and the surface is Spushed upward, it
IL thrown into the air until the gas
can escape. But IL submarine is
nearer to the exploding bomb than is
the surface, it is the shell Of the boat
which has to stand the fearful and
sudden pressure. 1t yields; it may
crush like an egg SHE'LL or perhaps
the plates start and the air in the u
boat escapes, water fills 1t, and 1t
sinks. We all remember how, last
spring, the U-boats used to rise, train
| their 3-inch and 6-inch guns on their
victims and either use no torpedoes or
complete by gunfire the destruction
begun by torpedoes. For a while they
had an easy time. Time and time again
| one torpedo was not enough.
Then the convoy system began. Yes
| sells no longer browsed over the sea
like silly sheep, the prey Of every wolf
but they were herded by the swift
destroyers. The U-boat, even IL it
found itself in the path of a convoy.
no longer dared rise. From less con-
| spicuous periscope 1t had to risk q
| single torpedo shot, then dive as fast
as possible. Even if the vessel was
struck it was often only crippled, pro-
peller damaged, engine stopped or
some compartment leaking. 1t was
perceived that II these cripples could
be towed to port they and their freight
could be saved.
| We are now getting nearer to the
cause of the coal shortage in New
York. To tow the cripples to port
ocean tugs were needed. Ocean tugs
called from our Atlantic coast became
part of the convoy. We have all heard
much OF the necessity Of building ships
fast and well, but the ocean tug saved
ships already built. loaded, and near
the other side. Every tug was worth a
whole shipyard, because. as we have
found out. it takes years to build an
ocean going freighter, but it only takes
|
the maliciously and stupidity and in
eptly damaged German ocean monsters
In our harbors.
In this matter Of repaired ships il
was again to laugh that the Germans
could not conceive that our ingenuity,
cur acetylene and electric weddings,
would repair their cracks.
Perhaps, however, we also are some
what shortsighted in not at once build
ing ocean tugs. I remember some tugs
turned out in 30 days at one Of the
New England shipyards. Ocean tugs
in great numbers would have proved
more useful over there and here at
home than the boats whose launching
is still far distant.
So to save crippled ships. our Amer
lean ocean tugs were called to the
other side: they became part OF the
conveys; they were the stretcher-
rhearers of the sea. Vessel after vessel
was saved; U-boat losses were dimi-
rished week by week.
But what became of the ocean coal
trade? 1t was diverted to the already
heavily congested railroads. Coal had
!; to be carried over long rail hauls to
distant cities. Terminals became con-
gested and loaded coal cars blocked all
, the sidings. 1t took far more cars over
longer hauls.-From Submarines and
Coal" by Harrington Emerson. in the
American Review Of Reviews for Feb
ruary, 1918.