WITH THE KAISER'S NAVY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16315, 23 February 1915, Page 8

WITH THE KAISER'S NAVY

GERMANS NOT OVER-ELATED. AN AMERICAN'S IMPRESSIONS. (Fbom Oub Own Cohbespondent.) LONDON, January 5. _ Under date Kiel, November 24, a special correspondent of the New York Tribune sends an account of his day with the German navy. He records that the Germans appear to be placing great faith in a new " super-Dreadnought submarine, one of which, U32,-he was permitted to inspect while her commander recited a list of British super-Drcadnousrhts -which he hoped shortly to send to the bottom: "' I have some friends in the Ajax: that is I had some friends in the Ajax,' said this officer, 'and! I will bo delighted to meet her, though the Lion or Tiger or even tho King George will do if we do not see the Ajax.' " " Despite this kind of conversation, wnicn appears to he general in Kiel, the Germans are not over-elated." The correspondent was taken in a steam pinnace around JOI Harbour " whore two battle squadrons, one of eight Dreadnoughts and the other composed of an equal number of older battleships, were riding at anchor." He went on board the Markgrnl. and found " all the gun crews being driven at top speed, some in pantomime and others with real shells." . " About five hours a day ,Tim drill is now the rule, I was told, ns many of 'the men are reservists and need plenty of work. They looked a particularly fine set of men, and wont at their work as if playing a game."

PANDEMONIUM.

Next the writer was invited to the forward turret, where the first lieutenant put his two 12in guns through their paces. " An English Derednought about seven miles away," the lieutenant suggested. He then blew a whistle, and the gun crews stood at attention. For the next 10 minutes pandemonium reigned in the turret. A touch of realism was added when one of the 12in guns jammed, and when the lieutenant shouted a last desperate: ordor, given when the whole gun crew had been put out of action, a frQfh lot of gunners swarmed up from below to take their places. "I can fire a s-liot every 20 seconds: that is. each gun every 40 seconds," the lieutenant explained. All the 6in guns on both sides of the Marktrraf wore in mock action. Tri the hospital wards other members of tlip crrw were getting practical instruction in first-aid work, while the supposed seriously wounded were b"ing carried in and placed on operating tables. Elsewhere in the Dreadnought imaginary firos were being extinguished, and mon _ wore being trained for every possible contingency. "Perhaps tho most intrr'sfing of all was the torpedo practice under ln.tt.lo eonditions ; To save time water was not pumnrrt out of tho torpedo tubes before reloading as in peace practice, but it wis allowed to flood thr> room inches deep. ITrre, too, mon were bring driven alon? at hipb pressure, and were crivon one minute five srvcmds for swinging a torpedo down from the coiling, whore six snr.ro torpedoes were fastened. ramming it into the torpedo tube and mnHng ready to fire." The Amer-onn visitor says that nil the officers at Kiel aro lookinrr forward to t.tkirg part in tho great docidinrr naval engagement. All .irr> oortnin that it "will oom<\ and nil equally r-ooured the idea that the Gorman shins nro nfraid to come out to fignt. "Thf> En"li?.h will find th" Herman warshins in t.hf North Ron now if they cro to loo''- for t.hrm." one ofßcrr romn"kcl. "The TVitish r.i'mericnl superiority is chiefly in smaller shirs." rmothrr said. nou<rhts w" ar. ,, not sit puo'n n. prr.it. disndvnrtT.",. E'lt more superiority in toinn'rc fiif! n'lilitv wi!l not tho drc'di-ig fartrre ,' n tho crront linttlv."