SUBMARINES' LONG VOYAGE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2641, 11 December 1915, Page 6

SUBMARINES' LONG VOYAGE

CANADA TO GIBRALTAR,

A flotilla of submarines built in American yards have sailed in safety from Canadian waters to Gibraltar, and they made the passage under their own power and without extraordinary discomforts to their crews. That is the testimony of some of the men in letters to their relatives at Toronto. Convoyed by large • warships, the little squadron of four vessels, fresh from the yards at Montreal at which tlioy assembled, proceeded down the St. Lawrence River, and after a stop at St. Johns, Newfoundland, put .to sea, bound for Gibraltar. No extremely rough weather was encountered, and all the vessels were able to make tlie long run under their own engines. vision had been made, however, for giving assistance if it had been needed. The flotilla formed part of a group of ton submarines wjiich tho British Government had contracted should bo built in the United States, but the authorities decreed that tlieir construction would constitute . a breaifc of United States' neutrality. Thereupon the parts were shipped to Canada, and tlio boats completed in Montreal shipbuilding yards. By the middle of July these four submarines were ready for sea, and naval officers sent, over from England oonducted a series of trials on the St. Lawrence. When it was satisfactorily established, that the vessels were thoroughly seaworthy they were despatched from Montreal under convoy. The submarines voyaged seaward and along the south coast of Newfoundland to St. Johns. The only misadventure was the loss of one of them in a fog for two days. They remained in tho harbour of St. Johns for four days to have their machinery adjusted,- while the convoying cruiser took on supplies for all tho boats. One hundred men of the Newfoundland naval reserve • and 200 soldiers of the Newfoundland regiment went aboard the cruiser to join the 'British sea and land forces. . Thoroughly outfitted, the cruiser turned her prow seaward; suiting her pace to the wallowing 6tride of her proteges. The latter travelled on the surface throughout the voyage, propelled by crude oil engines. Each carried a crew of two officers and 16 men. The British officers, whose first experience it was on an American-built, ship, were well pleased_ with the seagoing qualities of the flotilla. The vessels are not as large as some of the English-built ships of the class, having been designed more for off-shore operation than for deepsea work. When submerged they are driven by ■ electrio motors, but on the voyage to Gibraltar electricity was only used for heating and cooking purposes.