LIFE IN A SUBMARINE.

Colonist, Volume LVIII, Issue 14262, 17 November 1916, Page 6

LIFE IN A SUBMARINE.

XELSOX. BOY\S EXPEEISfCES.

An interesting description of life ia a- submarine is given in a te&ter received from a relative by Mr Henry Baiget, of Waimes, street. The writer was previously in the air service, and then on a regular -warship. In the .course of his,letter he gays:■''My 'boat' <as submarines aro called in the service) is brand noy/, «nd a be&uty, too.-For speed, cruising capabilities, and armament these boats are as good as the Jbest of- the..German boats, and they iilso Mve a reasonable' margin of com-, fort for those who go in them. As for excitement, well,-in peace times, flying offers twice the fun, for, actually, 'diving and rising and cruising tinder water is a very dnll pastime. But Tinder the present eooditions Una is by xar the Imest game for fun I've tackled yet. - . .. "Wiien ,tlie dipper orders diving stations, anything movable on dcdJi —lussts. • compsst, conniiiir tower Kereon, wireless gear, and other odds and finds—are secured Hatches am closed, and the corining-tower 'lid' secured, nnd everything is ready for diving." The skipper takes his .place'iit the p<-ri'soope, and the-".navigating; lieutenaiib (whiich. is my self,, here) is beside him to give him the necessary information coneerriing the navigation of the ship. The first lieutenant, whons electrician and torpedo lieutenant, is 'looking over his beloved motora and his maze of elcctri-

eal gear. The remainder of the creware in varjoiis places. When-all is '" ready, the skippei- gires an order, and tanks are iloodecl, i motors start r«nning, and the: boat begins -to.dive.- The otily kno-?\leclg:e; ono has of h*er diving is the slight Hpwßward direction of v her.-hoTs-j and the indicator £hovnns;'..the" ),, increasing depth: Tho electric niotors .'.:; which -propel>■ her. under ivater rim >as " gui ©tly as a -clock, and no unpleasant-ness,-whatever is noticed. When;at the

fpquu-ed depth she is 'levelled vat, 5 and o,oes along as smooth as glass.*' The Setter mentions the care thuz has to be fcaken in certain waters to avoid detection by tho numorous small enemy craft that are about, and by the Zeppelins hovering overhead. '"The enoroy." adds the writer, "is awfully, shy about sendingvhis big ships- out. We don't worry small fry, for we want big aaihe for1 our expensive azaaronition."