SHOT FROM TORPEDO TUBE.

Taihape Daily Times, 3 August 1918, Page 7

SHOT FROM TORPEDO TUBE.

The Silent Navy deems it unwise to talk of the activities of the Eoyal Navy, preferring that they should register their blows and say nothing about it, writes Mr Mordaunt Hall, describing in the New York Herald a visit to the Clyde. He adds: However, there was ample proof that if the Kaiser’s ships had to be submarined. as they are occasionally in the Baltic and German waters the British are not losing time, but have the under-water craft ready for any emergency. 'This fact $1 kitov<n in pie North Sea, the English Channel and the Mediterranean, as British submarines, which have performed clever stunts, arc constantly on the watch for any prowling enemy craft. In this shipyard they were on the wavs and in the waters. New ideas are being tried out constantly and to the layman, at least, they have not been unsuccessful. But there are accidents, and I might mention one which goes to show the gift of the sailorman. A great submersible, which had been sent back to the yard following slight damage, was sent forth in/to deep waters near by for a test. The craft remained under water for the scheduled time and then came to the surface. The officers and shipbuilders wore satisfied that the craft was ready for war. However, it was decided to make a further test. The submersible dived and it was not very long before the anxious eyes above on another warship realised that there Avas something wrong.

It transpired that as soon as the commander of the submarine realised that the craft could not bo brought to the surface he ordered his men to shoot him out of one of the torpedo tubes. The gallant officer struck his head on the .bottom of a lighter and was killed. After a long wait a second officer volunteered and he came to the surface in .an almost unconscious condition He was hastened to the hospital, where he told the story of what as he surmised, had happened to the submarine.

Hour after hour the divers and others worked to bring the submarine to the surface. 'Liquid food was passed by some means to the officers land crew, until finally the bows of the craft were hoisted. Ultimately it became possible to converse by signals with those inside the craft. What food and milk could be put in by means of a tube kept them alive. Finally, when many hours had elapsed, the brave fellows in the submarine were asked what they wanted. Word came back to this effect: —

"Try and squeeze in a couple of packs of cards and we’ll be all right.’’ Even then, the submarine was at a terrible angle, with a dozen men drowned in her stern compartments. By the time the submarine was finally hoisted the officers and men released presented a pitiable appearance. "Those cards helped us a lot to pass the time and forget whore we were and the discomforts,’’ said a sailor, pfgus,Vchui paybthe