NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13703, 20 March 1908, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

THE SUBMARINE

Although it is only a very few year* since Britain's first submarine whs built, the flotilla is growing in numbers daily, and the torpedo gunboat Hazard is constantly making journeys from Portsmouth to Barrow to convoy new vessels from the Messrs. Vickers. The Admiralty has now taken the. construction of boats into its own hands, alTd at Chatham dockyard several are being built, the men engaged being sworn to secrecy. There are flotillas in. commission at each of the naval ports— Portsmouth, Dovonport, and Sheerncss—and by the end of the year there will bo no fewer than 60 of these- unique craft. Combitneter Murray Sueter, who now commands the cruiser Barbara in the Mediterranean, is perhaps next to Captain Bacon, of Dreadnougat fame, the most', experienced " submariner" .wo have in the navy. He has lately given to tke world the result of his fascinating experience with / under-water vessels. An ingenious shin's carpenter 'named Day constructed the first submarine of which we have any record in 1773. Ho converted an ordinary boat into a diving machine, and this apparatus was successfully submerged in Yarmouth Roads, at a depth of 30ft. The Admiralty, satisfied with the success of the experiment, then placed the sum of £340 at Bay's disposal, and with this he purchased a 50-ton sloop, which he fitted up for further trials. The vessel contained a specially constructed large air chamber, while round the outside of the ship were suspended a number of large stones to make her sink. When it was desired to bring the vessel to -the surface the stones were detached from within. A sue-, ceauful trial was made with this peculiar ship in Plymouth Sound. Elated with success, the inventor next descended to the great depth of 130 ft. The pressure of the water at this depth proved too much, and the vessel collapsed. The authorities endeavoured to raise tho ship, but gave in after the' first day, and there she lies till this day in the Sound. On bearing of the accident a London physician hurried off post-haste to Plymouth. The doctor believed that Day could be restored to life if the body was recovered before decomposition set in, his theory being that the animal functions were only suspended. However, the body was not brought to the surface, and the doctor was unable to carry out his wished for experiment.