A SUBMARINE IN A STORM.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 39, 15 February 1916, Page 8

A SUBMARINE IN A STORM.

(From Our Special Correspondent.) LONDON, December 31. An Englishman attached to a submarine flotilla operating in the Mediterranean war zone writes of a recent experience during a gale as follows:— We left 'on a mission' and stopped outside in a 6mall bay, where many ships were moored awaiting instructions. A terrific gale sprang up from the north, and we had ships breaking up all round; dragging anchors and drifting on a lee shore. A torpedo-boat bore down on us and broke our securing wires. We had orders to 'abandon ship,' but we stuck to her and worked for three and a-half hours in tho driving snow, often in water up to our armpits. Finally we lescued her and managed to secure her, only to find both propellers damaged and one engine displaced, ona of our flood tanks badly holed, cleats pulled out, our tail twisted, and our frames bent and scrams opened. "At 7 a.m. we broke adrift, and to save ourselves we had to risk it and subherge. There we sat on the bottom for six hours, then started dragging on to a wreck and bumped away! We did the only thing, 'olow tanks,' and up in it all again on the surface. The pressure was so great, that when the air valve was opened my ear drums cracked and my feet went woolly, like walking on air! However, the wind had lulled, and we tied up and finally got back to our depot.

"It was a bad experience for one' 3 first 'sink,' and I thought I had lost my chance of 'doing a bit,' but I am now writing this hurried line, as I am off again for 'somewhere.'"