3500 MILES UNDER THE SEA.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 22 March 1901, Page 4

3500 MILES UNDER THE SEA.

How a Submarine will Cross the Atlantic.

Preparations arc making for the most interesting event in ocean travel since the first steamship crossed the Atlantic. A submarine boat is to be sent from America to Europe under her own power. She is the invention of John P. Holland, whoso submarine torpedo boat Holland, now the property of the United States Government, figured extensively in the recent naval manoeuvres at Newport, and is known for the present as "No. 7." She is now fitting out at Eli zabethport, New Jersey, for the Transatlantic journey. . For some years submarine boats have pottered about the harbours both in the United States and in Europe. But (hey have never ventured far from the coast. A boat oE this type made a journey of 150 miles along the shore on one occasion, and this has been the long-distance record. A tour of great oceans in a submarine, it has been generally supposed, would always remain a dream of Jules Verne. The inventor of the Holland toipodo boat has now determined to make this dream a reality. His new boat will go to Bermu'a, thence to Faya!,<hen to Lisbon

ii ['oc u.;>il. l'his is a m ; > of 349(5 mi le» Just when th& trip will be made is not yet definitely determined upon, but it will probably be some time yet. What the Voyage will Prove. The plans for the voyage have been very carefully and thoroughly laid cut, and no fear of failure is entertained, The trip is to demonstrate the fallacy of the opinion still entertained in naval quarters that submarino boa's cannot sustain themselves far awav from the base of operations : that they are useless as offensive weapons against a country on the other side of the sea, and that their misyion, if they have any at all, is for coast defence merely. The second object of the trip is to show tho boat in foreign harbours to foreign Gavernments. Mr Holiand has the utmost confidence in the ability of "No. 7" to make the trip to Europe in safety. He himself will bo in command, Including tho inventor, thcro will be eight men aboard the little craft. Their quarters will be pretty close but they feel certain that they will not be too close for comfort. Whenever the possibility has been discussed of navigating a submarine for a long distance, it has always been asserted that it would bo impossible for a crew to stand tho confinement.

Tho voyage to Lisbon is expected to determine this matter. As the projected trip is a first experiment, an extra crew will be carried in a tender that is to convoy "No 7" to guarantee the men against actual hardship. This tender will be a small tramp ship- She will keep her little consort constantly in sight if possible, so long as the latter remains on surface. But, as the stormiest period of the year is to be selected for the journey, it is more than possible that the two vessels will part company long before tho end of tne game. The Calm Baneath the Waves.

" The fellows on the other ship will wish they were with us when it comes to blow, " Mr Holland said in describing his storm tactics. " While they and the other unfortunates who may be aboard on the surface are being knocked about by the waves wo will calmly sink where it is still and placid. " A boat built on tho lines of our submarine rides much more easily than surface boats. Sho acts like a water-soaked log when running awash. The water rolls over and off of her, imparting little or no motion. The most squeamish person would not get seasick. Wo will be amply provisioned against all possible delays on account of weather. I cannot well conceive how anyone could be much better off or any safer against accident. I look forward to an easy journey. " " How will you rest at night ? " " In hammocks swung from the ceilingWhile we will not have room enough to take evercise on a bicycle, we will be able co get our sleep about a 3 comfortably as most sailonnen, and we will not have to tat our meals standing. "

The vessel will be driven by a gasoline engine of the Daimler pattern, which Count Zeppelin uses in his navigation of tho air. While she is travelling on the surface sho will generate power for an electric engine that drives her below the water.

Comfort on Board. The cooking will be done by electricity. Tho arrangements for his department are such as would fill tho average fiat dweller with delight. Where you have not an ineh of space to spare for anything except necossary equipment the problem of fitting in your domestic outfit i* a pretty on?. In the kitchen arrangements of •' No 7." this problem has been fully met.

There i 3 an automatic arrangement for discharging the air in the ship and renewin" it with a steady supply from the compressed air tanks that are always kept filled under high pressure. As a result of this arrangement, there will be found none of ho usual stiffincssfound in tho atmosphere of surface ships. A unique arrangement has been introduced in " No 7 " for handling tho water ballast, a particularly important element in submarines. Nearly a ton of water can bo ejected from the ballast tanks in three seconds as she is rising, thus allowing her turrot to project above tho water for the purpose of observing the onemy.

Almost at the same instant the tank is again filled from the outside, so that she pops up and then down again with incredible rapidity, giving her captain in the turret just time enough tt get a full view of whatever may be on the surface, and the enemy no time to sight her guns and fire. Throughout this article the new boat has be n referrod to as "No. 7." This is at present her official destination, she being the seventh vessel built by Mr Holland, counting from the very beginning. Bjfore she casts loose on her great trip across seas the little vessel is to be formerly christened. She will probably bo called the Bushnell, in honour of the man who operated the first submarine in America.

Everything about her will be thoroughly tested before the long journey is begun. If she proves as satisfactory and seaworthy as her builders expect, tho final preparations will be made as soon as the foul weather comes. Mr Holland say 3it will p'.easo him best if he cast loose in the teeth of a raging storm. Ho has such absolute confidence in tho littlo craft that ho is eager to jump in tho most difficult conditions at tho very outset. The start will be made from the Holland Company's yards in Bayonno.