Evening star., 1932-11-13

explained briefly He stole a quick look of
triumph at Farway that said plainly, ut was
/ who discovered her"
THE captain peering ntsntly through the
! periscope gave orders briskly. Slowly the
S-5l turned end made for the strange craft.
The tempo of the electric underseas motors
Cuickened, but the speed of the boat was
diminished by long, breaking swell across the
new course, augmented by strong head-wind.
After few minutes the skipper called the
order to dive Diving valves swirled. There was
a steady hiss of air as the ballast tanks filled.
The deck changed angleg rs the bow sank
lower and the warm ara sticky feeling and
sense of suffocaticn thta freedom from the
uppsr air produced increased perceptibly.
With the periscope completely dipped, the S-5l
moved forward at full speed without danger oil
being sighted.
An omincus quiet prevailed in the submarine
The torpedo gunners had flooded their tubes,
and now, crouched in the confined spaces lar
forward. were standing by the gearing In the
c. o. C. the men controlling the operation OF
the small craft alternately watched their CAD
gets and the skipper uttering no word. The
latter watch in hand, conned the depth and
speed gauges. The very air was tense with
expectancy.
Finally the order was given to blow tanks
and emerge. The air-control valves were
opened and the tanks began to unwater. Com
lift.
Lieut. Farway sighted the enemy first. Sub
marine on the starboard bowl" he cried. The
two other officers quickly located her. but in
stead of being 500 yards away as the captain
had anticipated, she was all OF half q nile
While the s-51 was submerged she had altered
her course.
Keeping periscope depth in the rolling sea
was difficult because of the constant danger in
breaking surface and being sighted by the
enemy. There was only one thing to do, go
down to quieter levels and put en- full speed,
hoping to emerge within range OF the U-boat
The skipper again shouted orders to trim tanks
for diving.
When the Ssh again emerged, the U-boat
was bearing eight points off the starboard bow
and her distance was not more than 800 yardS
The strategic moment had arrived!
stand by!" commanded the skipper, his thin,
worn face pale 1t was not his own safety
alone, but that CT his ship and possibly OF the
whole convoy, for which he was battling
Live torpedoes the firing pins in their noses
drawn, were slid in the tubes-doors closed and
sealed behind them-doors at the other end
opened by powerful levers to permit the inrush
of water.
"Ffre!" The captain, without lifting his eyes
from the periscope box, pressed the firing key
There was loud hiss, followed Immediately by
another and two tcrpedoes hurtled at terrific
speed from the bow tubes. Through the swollen
sea swan the deadly silver fish, Finally, In
what might have been momsnt or infnity
there was q sharp detonatioh followed by
steady rumbling; and the three officers gazing
through the S-51s periscope saw large column
of water leap up suddenly just forward of the
U-boat's coming tower
"A hit!" Lieut. Bradford yelled.
IE had hardly spoken when there was an
I ] other explosion that shook even the S-51.
This time the three officers could plainly make
out smoke and spray that at first seemed to hide
the U-boat's coming tower and then to eradi-
cate it completely The lights Of the S-51 sud
denly went out, the electric switches having
been thrown out of position by the shattering
effect of the distant conclusion.
Another hit!" There was faint cheer from
tba ,,oo,, IL, tho do r. n