The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-01-05

many's line of sea-borne supplies -an attack such as U. s. subs are now making against the ship lanes
 feeding Japan's forces in the In- dieA
 By PAUL MANNING
 (NEA Service Stan Correspondent) A North Sea Submarine Base, Jan. 2Straight ahead, out across the body of water which stretches from this rain-swept base to the coastline opposite, Is a German life line.
 It sweeps from the iron ore mines of Narvik, in Norway, down to the wharf sheds which line the southern most coast of the crescent-shaped Bay of Biscay.
 To cut that lifeline is the job of the squat, low-lying submarines, being fueled and re-fitted at the dockside of this estuary. It is not easy.
 A submarine patrol can be long, nerve shattering time. Rain and fog often blanket this North Sea, which winter winds can whip into 40-foot waves that make rudder and propel- Ter control impossible, If you've the temerity. to surface after German ship in such weather.
 Shy, apologetic. 2e year old Lieut.. Denis of His Majesty's navy, at- tached to this submarine hotilla, ex- plaiaed this as we clambered down the slippery, oil-covered rungs of a stefl ladder into torpedo room on inspection tour.
 In eighteen months this submarine had been through plenty. The Mediterranean first, the North Sea later, re-f1tting now They were tearing the engines apart, painting the heavy metal doors of the twin forward tubes, getting ready for the next trip out.
 CUNNING FOR
 NAH FREIGHTERS
 The last Nne-cutting trip out. Den his said, had been worthwhile. It made up for the inactivity of two previous trips.
 The Germans send their freighters down the coast in groups and for long weeks nothing happens, but this time they intercepted part of a convoy.
 Along the surface by night, and below by day, they had proceeded to the area which was to be their patrol zone, unless something forced them back to base.
 Enroute once, they had received from "shore-operations" what Den nis terms "a tinkle by radio" Ex- cept for that cryptic lone message, they were on their own, as com- pletely cut of as the crew of a giant four -engined bomber. fighting a slow passage through bad skies to Berlin and back.
 In steady, monotous fashion they had moved closer to the zone and the German shore. The fog and the rain obscured their vision most days, but 1t also permitted them to sur face more frequently and let the fresh, cold, North Sea air flow down through. the open hatchway.
 One nightfall they were on the surface, one mile from the German occupied coast. The stars were out and the sea had abated and from this close distance they had no trou- ble visualizing the steel-helmeted artilleryman who stood restlessly by the side of guns and searchlights which guarded that strip of high cliffland.
 The German convoy broke slowly from out of mantle of light fog, Dennis said, holding the captain and himself transf1xed. Then the spell ended. A sharp order. and their sub was sliding below the surface, headed for the enemy vessels.
 Swiftly they drew closer to shore. The convoy was hugging the high walled shore line which broke almost straight to great depth down into the water below. At four hundred yards from land, the captain parked Port torpedo
 They could hear the terrific ex- ploei0n which followed 8 short mo- ment later.
 That frieghter must have gone 100 feet in the air." Dennis said. "All munitions, probably, for the de- struction was so complete. Whole lorries were tossed to an incredible height, and for that one moment as I looked through the periscope l felt sick"
 SINKING A SHIP
 WITH GUN FIRE
 They had twisted their course by then. A German cruiser was moving in and out, trying to see 8 periscope at night.
 They sank one more ship and then there were no torpedoes. But they had shells, so they submerged. Den- his said many times they had re- hearsed unlimbering their gun, for just such situation, but never had 1t worked SO smoothly.
 Calmly, in line before the steel runged ladder, the gun crew and shelf handlers stood. The Captain looked around once, gave the signal to blow ell tanks and then with . rush the submarine burst to the surface. The crew was up on deck fast tearing away the muzzle and