The Sentinel=record. (Hot Springs, Ark.) 1900-current, 1918-04-10
FACED MOST SEVERE
STORMS DURING WINTER
The Boats in Many Instances Were
Forced to Make Their Way Under
Ihelr Own Power When the Tow
Lines to Ships They Were Attached
to Parted During 'storms.

Washington, April 9--ln the face Of
bitter winter gales American subma-
rines primarily designed for operations
on the home coasts have crossed the
Atlantic TO engage in the common ngbt
against Germany u boats. They are
now aiding allied naval forces as are
American destroyers and American
naval airmen and they have been in
the war zone for some months
Secretary Daniels revealed the fact
that the submarines had gone ever
there" in his address at Cleveland last
Saturday at q Liberty loan celebra-
tion, but gave no details. II Is now
possible. however to tell for the first
Time of mid winter passage of the
boats across the seas in the face Of the
most severe weather known in years.
In the perilous passage the best ira O.
ditIons of the service have been main
tanned.
The first submarines to leave got
under way in early winter. Arrange
ments for the trip were made without
hint appearing in the papers and in
fact until Secretary Daniels spoke. no
word of the participation of the under
water boats IN the war against Ger
many had been published. The navy
had some experience with long dis
tance work with submarines on which
to draw. Boats have been sent to
the Philippines, to Hawaii and to Pa
mama, but always IN mild seasons OF
the year and with plenty of time for
precautionary steps.
This time. however. they were to go
in winter and terrible winter at that.
with the Atlantic in it8 ugliest mood
The steps taken TO get them across
cannot be disclosed, but the fact that
the department has no disaster to re-
cords is pointed to as proof OF their
efficiency.
Officers and men of the submarines
faced hard days as they put out.
cramped in narrow quarters and with
storms in prospect they steerod to
sea with complete confidence in them
selves and their boats. A laconic re-
port of uneventful voyages bore out
that confidence.
Tn mid-December others got started
While 1t was fair on sailing day.
ahead Of the submarines a 100 mile
gale was brewing. Into 1t they
ploughed. roughing and tumbling
The commanders reports have not
heen made public. but among the
crews probably are men who recalled
The first employment OF the subma
rines at maneuvers when seasicknes5
all but put the flotiia out of commits
sion. But there was no faltering. The
boats were going to the front In real
warfare this time.
Even when tow lines parted in some
cases unknown to the tugs aud accom-
panying craft, the submarines battled
forward alone A majority Of them
reached their destination under their
own power ready for duty
Some of the boats were driven far
from their course. They showed up
at different ports but promptly put to
sea again and reached their station.
One boat was the hard luck vessel
of the lot Separated from the flotilla
in the first storm and its compass out
Of order, it turned homeward only to
strike two more gales in quick sue
cession. However, it made port sue
cessfully and undamaged.
with new fuel and supplies aboard
and with a man or two, worn out by
the ong struggel with the elements,
replaced In few days the boat put to
sea AGAIN il went through that time,