Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-26

exposed. and 1t speaks we'll for the
morale OF these young officers and
men and their gallant faith In their
captains that they have invariably car
ried out their duties quietly. keenly
and confidently under conditions that
might we'll have tried the most hard
encd veteran.
The hardships undergone during
stormy weather are terrible. During
the winter months westerly gales were
frequently experienced in the Blight
and these gales were Invariably &C.
! compan!ed by high. steep seas when
made 1t impossible to open the con-
ming tower hatch. Vision was limited
TO that through the periscope and was
only cable or two between the seas
which continually broke over them.
There was no rest at the bottom.
even at twenty-five fathoms. as the
vessels rolled and bumped dangerously.
Ihey were. consequently. compelled 20
Keep under way at depth clear Of
the keels OF possible ships. When bat
terry power became low the submarine
mad perforce TO come to the surface
TO recharge. While on the surface it
was essential to run the engines in
order TO keep head to sea. and through
the ventilator-which with the engines
running must necessarily be kept open
much water was shipped.
The seamen got very little sleep
owing 10 cold. with these words the
captain of a submarine concludes his
report cruise in the North Sea.
1t is characteristic of the service that
he should make no reference to the fact
that while the crew had, got very little
sleep he had got infinitely less himself.
1.-THE weather had not been good
and throughout the six days the cold
had been intense-Artice, in fact. Al
times ice formed on the periscope very
quickly and obscured vision so that it
had 10 he dipped every Ave minutes.
On the surface the thermometer gave
no reading. though it had minimum
of eighteen degrees OF frost
To receive messages by wireless
was impossible. for the spray froze on
the aerial forming a coating OF ice two
inches thick
From time to time II was neces-
sary to dive to remove the icicles which,
over foot long, depended from por-
lions Of the superstructure. Tho
bridges screen froze like board and
only with difficulty could 1t be folded,
and the ice on the coats Of the officers
and crew did not thaw until some
hours after the garments had been
hung UP below
-Four ba,tleships of the Kaiser class
were sighted by submarine which
was patroilins off the Danish coast.
Probably there were others vessels in
company. but owing to low visibility
they we're not seen. After getting into
position TO attack, the submarine broke
surface owing to the heavy swell and
Il was necessary to go full speed to
get her under again.
Just before the periscope dipped,
sights were got on the third shin IN
the line and four torpedoes were fred
ne range was estimated at 1000 yards
l"o !oud explosions were heard, and
the commanding officer OF the suh
maine was Of the opinion that the third
and fourth ships in the line were each
hit by torpedo.
AS the submarine was about to rise
TO observe the results OF the shots
destroyer was heard 10 pass very close
overhead. and after that she was CON
tinual!y harassed by destroyers. Two
aepth cargcs exploded in close prov
unity 10 heF, and sweep was dis
tlhct!y heard TO drag over her hui,
ror Two hours the destroyers searched
o'!ieentiy for her, but without success
some failures may ne described az
moro glorious than victories. and ,be
attempt OF submarine to pass througb
'he sound into the Baltic is surely
one OF these. replete as il ia with nlncL
and persistence
was Snokn that the German
meet was exercising in the Baltic. and
'hrae subm arines y. Y and z. were de-
sa!'eu 10 make the passage OF tho
SOUND and attack II was essential ,bnt
lne three vessels should pass throurb
IN" Sound the same night. bur IN.
fortunately developed certain defects