New Britain herald., 1924-12-15
ENGINEERS RIDE
 IN SUBMARINES
Experience Life Under Waves Of
 Long Island Sound

"fIoy. wait minute" The cry ! came from q half dozen or moro l New Britain men who dashed up to i tho pier of submarine S-4S at the New London submarne base about 1 1880 o'clock Saturday afternoon. l But the SIS, was steaming out to aea, or at least to see the Long IsluuQ sound,
 yho helutcd arrivals belonged to a group of S4 members of the New | Imlaln branch of the American So. ciety of Mcchanical Engineers They were guests for the day of the off lals at the submarine base. Some how or other they had sgotten lost III the shuttle and the boat upon which they were supposed to ride had gone off without them.
 It all happened when somebody made mistake in counting noses. Secretary Austin L. Stowel had gone with party of l5 on the S-l which steamed out ahead of it's sis- ter boat. The remainder of the party was complete, it was thought except for seven, who arrived shortly after the S-l and went on board the S-4S, which followed out into the stream.
 But another carload of engineers who were supposed to have gone on the first boat, were seen tearing madly down the hill and into the boat yard, the men waving their hands and shouting and the auto horn honking for all it was worth. In the coming tower of the S-4S, somebody saw the belated arrivals and the boat stopped in midstream, a tug which was laying by with steam up was pressed into service, the late arrivals carried out and taken aboard the submarine a few hundred feet from shore, and all was serene.
 The engineers left New Britain shortly before o'clock in the morning. Some of the party went by way of Middlctown and Saybrook while others went by way of Hart ford and Colchester.
 Not knowing that arrangements had been made 10 serve luncheon on the boats, the men stopped at New London for luncheon, which meal, however, failed to interfere with the ropast which came later on the water.
 Arriving at the docks the guests were greeted by naval officials and the first IS immediately taken aboard the S-1 whih started for the . Sound.
 With the slight delay mentioned above, the others followed shortly afterwards on the SIS and soon were, for brief time riding above the waves" It was q thrilling ex- pcrience for those who had never before been on 0 submarine boat, and one that was full of interest, not only Of mechanical and scientific interest, but Of romantic interest as well.
 The boats backed out into the stream with the guests standing on the bridge, watching the recedtng shore, examining with interest the four-inch guns, the radio antennae, and on the S-l, the massive tube housing the hydroplane.
 As the boats swung around and headed down stream the visitors were invited 10 'go below" This apparently impossible stunt was &C., complished by a walk of a few feet over slippery deck in a high wind to what appeared to be a hole about the size of a sewer manhole, where circular "cover' had been raised. A long steel ladder went down through metal tube and through this tube the visitors climbed to the interior of the boat. It is rumored that one or two men who are bless cd with goodly share of avoirdu- pois were skeptical of their ability to navigate the manhoIe successful i ly, but by holding their breath they managed to get through by tight squneze."
 They were met below by a lieu tenant who took charge of the party and explained first the torpedo firing apparatus and the handling of the 'hjh proiectiIcs after which they were shown the crews quarters the gal. ley and the engine room with the kig oil burning Diesel engines. The oil storage tanks, the storage bat ferios the radio. the sounding ap. paratus, the wonderfully intricate and complicated gyroscopic compass, were explained in detail by the off, cials of the boat to their guests. Luncheon was announced. Served hy negro walters with 3 meal cooked hy an expert negro chef. the visitors had lunch aboard the boat. six feet below the water line and as they ate they could hear the waves splashing over their heads.
 Luncheon over, other signs of ac- 'ivity began to appear. Mysterious orders were given which sounded 10 'he norices like rig for dive" Members of the crew jumped 10 DO. sitions, hatches were closed down. valves were frightened. mysterious wheels were turned, signals were