Nebraska Newspapers

    THE SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE. NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA.
OF GERMAN Sill
DESCRIBED
Report of a Cruise by an Engineer-Lieutenant Tells of Grim Work in
the North SeaHow the Deadly Craft Slipped Out of the Kiel
Canal and Torpedoed a Destroyer and Crept Back to Friendly
Waters Tense Moments When the Enemy Is Sighted,
By H. R. BEYER,
Engineer-Lieutenant of the German
Naval Reserve.
(CorroRpondeneo of the Chlcnuo New.)
Kiel, Germany. At tho beginning
of last September, 1 had returned
from a patrol trip in tho Baltic Boa.
After having a day's rest I walked
through tho streets of Kiel at six
o'clock In tho morning, crossed the
harbor on one of tho ferries and then
a short walk of flvo minutes brought
mo to tho main gato of tho imperial
wharf. Tho sontrlns saluted at tho
double gato, hut nevertheless I had
to show my card of Identification to
an officer of tho wharf at the Inner
gate. Twenty thousand skilled work
mon wore working there In two shifts,
day and night, building nnd repairing.
I had to walk to one of the outer ba
sins where my boat was lying. Wo
had orders to leave at 9:30 a. m.
As I paBBcd somo of tho first-class
battle ships, I looked with pride at tho
llttlo dark gray bodies of tho subma
rines lying sldo by sldo along tho pier.
One might compare them to turned
up nutshells. By tho black lottcr "X"
on tho bow of thp second one, I recog
nized my boat. Sevcnty-flvo feet in
length and twelve feet in width nro
tho ovorall dimensions of tho craft.
Tho body of tho boat extended two
feet above water level and ten feet
below. The hull is built of flvo milli
meters (approximately thrco-slx-teenths
of an inch) Krupp steel.
Somo of tho new stylo boats, lying
not far from ours, nro considerably
larger and more powerful. Tho brldgo
on each boat Is almost In tho center
of tho upper deck, ten foot in height
and flvo foot square. Besides tho two
masts, supporting tho wireless, tho
exhaust of tho gas engines nnd tho
periscope, there is only a rudder to
be fccon on tho upper dock and two
on each sldo Just nbovo tho water lev
el. Tho rudder on tho rear of tho up
per deck serves as a help in steorlng
under wnter, 'and it is connected with
tho main rudder. In other words, it
Is an additional device for changing
tho courso and is of groat help whoh
tho vessel is submerged, for then turn
ing is naturally much more difficult
to accomplish. Tho sldo rudderB
servo tho purpoBo of allowing minor
up nnd down movements.
Getting Ready for the Start.
A fow Btops dou tho pier ladder
brings mo to tho upper deck of tho
U-X. Thoro tho crow ts busy getting
her ready for tho trip. Twenty-four
men form tho crow of our Binall bat
tleship. Twelve are regular enllors,
Including noncommissioned officers,
nnd tho rest are tho engineering force
under my command. AH of my men
aro skilled mechanics in gas onglnoB
and electrical work. German subma
rines aro driven by gas engines when
thoy aro running nbovo tho water lino
nnd by olectrlo motors when under
wator.
I receive from my assistant en
gineer tho report that ovorythlng 1b
"clenr for action," Thoro aro hun
dreds of things to bo looked nftor. I
inspect 'carofully every mechanical
part of tho upper dock, then descend
through tho manhole, thlrty-slx inches
in diameter, which is tho boIo en
trance and oxlt of the boat. 1 con
vince myself that everything Is right
here, as each piece of mechanism Is
of tho greatest importance for good
results of our trip. All gasoline tanks
aro at tho lower part of tho boat and
all have been filled, tho olectrlo bat
teries have been charged and drinking
water and food supplies havo boon
taken on. Tho deadly torpedoes aro
in placo and tho gas engines and mo
tors nro in excellent condition. Evory
pieco of nppnratus has been tested
and found satisfactory.
It is nine o'clock, and our captain
in charge, bearing tho rank of captain
lieutenant, arrives on board. 1 report
-.nu engineering division "clear for ac
tion-" Wo aro talking about impor
tnnt orders for our trip. At 9:30
fiharp wo aro on tho bridge, tho signal
goes through, every man 1b at his
placo. Tho mechanical tulegraph
rings nnd glvcB Bpoed orders to tho
englno room. "Clear for maneuver,'
half apoed forward, wo are moving;
salutes nro exchanged with our com
rudca while passing their boats. Will
they see us return?
Through Kiel Cana to the Sea.
Wo nro nolo to muko fourteen knots
nbovo water nnd nlno when sub
merged. Tho newest type of aormnn
submarine has been brought to
speed of twenty knotB above wator
nnd eleven knots below. Wo aro head
ing for tho Kaiser Wllhelm cnunl (tho
Kiel canal), connecting tho llaltlo and
tho North sea. Within threo miles of
our Btnrting plnco and yet within tho
eafest part of tho harbor of Kiel wo
enter tho canal und go through ItH
locks. Wo aro going full speed for
ward. Our C60 ton boat Is vibrating
with the motion of tho engines. Aftor
four hours wo loavo tho canal, which
has a longth of approximately forty
flvo miles, nnd wo outer the lower end
of tho Elbe river at Drunsbuettol. Ho
ing In tho vicinity of Cuxhnvon, wo
nro now meeting cruisers and torpedo
boat destroyers. A short saluto and
Hignnl nnd wo nro heading for tho
North Ufa.
BY II NAVAL OFFICER
Wo begin to feel tho famous motion
of that body of water. Waves rush
overboard, and so we descend through
tho manholo and take our places In
side Tho steady vibration nnd tho
nolso of tho exhaust and of tho en
gines, nnd tho not at all appetizing
Binell of oil nnd gasoline nnd also the
ocklng of tho boat mnko the interior
by no means a pleasant placo for any-
ono who Is nqt accustomed to It. Tho
only exit, our manholo, Is being
screwed down and mado air and wnter
tight. Since men havo to do tholr ut
most under Buch conditions, you can
well Imagine thnt It takes will power
and energy. And tho men havo It.
Our air pump for tho rear ballast
tank begins to show a llttlo trouble
nnd Immediately ono of tho mechanics
Is underneath it to make renalrs. He
Is working hnrd in a space where
thero Is no room to turn around, lying
betweon moving engine parts, Boaked
with oil and gasoline, but It Is done
willingly at a moment's notice. The
captain has taken his placo In the
chart room, tho most important part
of tho submarine. Ho Is Intently study
ing tho plnnes of tho poriscopo, the
only oyo of tho submarine.
Mechanism of the Torpedoes.
Thero nro different styles of pori
scopo In use. Ours oxtends approxi
mately sixteen feet nbovo tho uppor
deck and gives a very clear picture
of tho surroundings.
Tho torpedo, tho most Bplendldly
workod out weapon, but also tho moat
dreadful, may be called n small boat
In itself. Of a clgarllko shapo, tho
outer shell, built of steel and bronze,
conceals tho finest and most accurate
mechanical works, machinery and air
chafnbors, besides tho deadly explo
sive, ono of tho most important se
crets. Thero aro at tho rear of tho
torpedo two propellers driven by com
pressed nlr and a dial to bo used for
sotting tho rnngo tho torpedo has to
travel. For Instance, If wo flro tho
torpedo at n target 1,000 yards away,
wo set dial at, 1.P00 yards. Thpn If
tho torpedo has traveled' 1,500 yards
and liaH not hit tho target by that
tlmo, a flood valve opens, thus allow
ing tho wator to enter tho torpedo
and sink it, removing all danger for
shipping and provontlng tho enemy
from making studies of tho most se
cret weapon of every navy. tj)
When tho torpedo Is fired it Is
forcod out of tho tubo undor water by
compressed air of 250 to 300 atmos
pheres, approximately 4,000 pounds fo
tho squaro Inch. I will mention that
on torpedo boats wo carry a small
sized torpedo which Is fired from a
tubo nbovo tho water level and which
dropB undor water after leaving tho
tubo. Up to tho present time wo havo
not bean ablo to muko use of this
typo on uubmnrlnes, for tho reason
that wo must keep tho gravity point
of tho boat as low ub posslblo. This
dlBadvnntago Is noticed when reload
ing tho torpedo tubo on submarines.
It requires tho work ttf nn excellently
trained crow to bring an 8,000 pound
torpodo Into tho tubo correctly on a
moving boat and within nn small apaco
as is avallablo for tho torpedo room.
Getting Ready to Attack the Foe.
Aftor traveling for hourB wo nro ap
proaching tho lino of torpedo boats of
tho onomy on guard against ub and
now every precaution must bo taken
Tho ordor, "Clear for action!" Is go
ing through tho boat. Everybody at
hla placo has dono his duty for tho
last twelve hours without rest and
everybody knows that chances for
rest aro not very frequent. And yet
our captain takoB caro of that; ho haB
studied his maps and knows tho depth
of tho wator. Orders go through nnd
within fifteen aoconds our boat is
ITALIAN AMBASSADOR AND FAMILY
Count Macchi dl Colloro, Italian
uuu wnu iiih wuo unu two cuiiureu.
slowly going down. The ballast tanks
have been opened, water Is proceed In
and produces our downward movo
rnent. Our Instrument shows n depth
of forty-flvo feet when wo come to n
stop. All machinery Is investigated,
somo members of tho crew Btny on
watch, the othors aro rendy for a
warm meal and n rest. All this is at
tho bottom of the ocean, the only safe
plnco for tho submarine.
Tho food that Is aorved consists of
canned goods. Pork and beans, pork
chops with gravy, heated on an elec
tric stove, and peas are serVlng as o
main food and nlso tea with lemon tc
quench thirst.
After six .hours of rest, now orders
como, everybody takes his place, and
soon wo notlco on our Instrument that
we aro moving upward. Tho same
noise and tho samo smell of oil and
gasoline und tho snmo vibration. By
pressing tho water out of tho 'ballast
tanks our Blow upward movement has
been accomplished. Wo nro speeding
ahead Just below the surface. Tho
gas engines linvo been stopped since
wo begnn our first diving movement
Destruction of the Destroyer.
Aftor running at this depth at very
low speed for six miles we begin to
realize that tho tlmo Is near for en
countering one of the enemy's battle
shlpB. Carefully wo aro moving up
to get a gllmpso through tho peri
scope At a distance of flvo miles we
spy threo torpedo' boat destroyers of
tho enemy. Tho moment has como
when our captain has to show his skill
as master of the submarine. Ho Is
calculating tho distance, tho speed and
the courso of tho onemy'B boats. Ills
plans aro made. Wo aro going down
thirty feet; within tho next twenty
minutes it will bo shown whether his
llgures aro correcL Everybody is
ready for notion, every nerve, every
muscle Is strained for that which Is
coming. It mny bo a successful ful
fillment of our orders or It may be
death for all of ub. No sign of emo
tion Is to. be seen in tho earnest faces
of tho follows. Every ono 1b at hlB'
place. Orders aro repeated so that
all may understand them. Levers are
pulled and pushed; suddenly wo aro
moving upwards, tho periscope Is
reaching tho surface Mid ono look
convinces the captain that hla calcu
lations were correct.
Wc r.ro within 800 yarda of tho near
est deBtroyer. Our boat swings
around under water to a cortaln angle,
a signal goes through tho boat and
tho torpedo l fired. After thirty sec
onds a terrible thunder sounds across
the ocean, roaring and dying out at
tho horizon. Wo turn the periscope
and obscrvo thick black smoke where
tho destroyer has disappeared, somo
wreckage being blown within fifty
yards of ub. The veBsel had been hit
at Its center nnd destroyed almost In
stantly. At tho samo moment sheila
Btrlke tho water in our immediate
neighborhood. Wo havo been seen by
tho two other destroyer. Ono shell
well aimed would make us pay with
our lives for what wo havo just ac
complished. Almost too long wo tried
to watch the results.
The Return to Friendly Waters.
Within a fow seconds our periscope
has disappeared und wo aro bolow the
surface In a depth of thirty foot. We
havo fulfilled our Instructions and are
turning back. Onco more wo havo to
avoid mines nnd also tho torpedo
.boats which may try to pursue us on
our return. Wo aro heading accord
ing to orders for tho naval base at
W to report the results of our trip.
Arriving in safe waters wo speed
ahead above the wator level. The
collapsible masts of our wireless appa
ratus aro set up and a message Is
flashed that wo aro safe and return
lug with good results. Onco more tho
crew has escaped tho Iron grip of
donth, and tho "candidates for heav
en," the nickname glvon them In naval
circles, will spend a restful night in
tho harbor after very llttlo sleep for
tho last fifty-two hourB.
We enter tho harbor with smiling
snluteB to our comrados passing by.
A cheerful "Hurrah!" is glvon to us
by an outgoing submarine. Wo are
glad wo aro turning in, even if it is
only for a short time. Tomorrow we
expect now orders and we shall bo
ready again for our hazardous game.
ambassador to tho United States, hero
The Church and 1
the Liquor
Traffic
B7 REV. JAMES M. CRAY. D. D.
Duo of Moodr DiU lutitiiU
of Qiictio ,
T15XT "Woo unto him that Rlveth his
neighbor drink, that puttcst thy bottle to
lilm, that rnakt'Ht him drunken also.
ilubukkuk 2:15.
A demand is frequently mado on the
preacher to speak on tho relation of
tho church to tho
liquor traffic, but
tho relation of tho
church is deter"
mined by tho rela
tion of tho indi
vidual Christian.
What is that rela
tion? Let me ask
myself tho ques
tion, and seek to
answer It.
My relation to
tho liquor traffic
is that of a total
abstainer from all
Intoxicating drink
as a beverage.
And why it is so?
For reasons of a personal character.
A Personal Testimony.
1. I bolleve alcohol would injure
me physically. I havo tried to make
myself intelligent on tho subject, and
have read good authorities on both ;
sides of the case. While thero is a
difference of opinion among, wlso men
as to whether alcohol may not some
times bo given medicinally with bene
ficial results, thero seems to be unan
imity that its uso in any other way is
only harmful. As a man I may bo In
different to my physical condition in
somo respects, nnd be willing to pay
the cost of certain indulgences; but as
a Christian I am not at liberty to do
this, for If I am to glorify God in my
body, thatbody must be at its best al
ways. 2. But what injures me physically,
will sooner or later Injure me morally
as well. Indeed the effects of alcohol
in this sphere u'ro seen and admitted
more readily than in ' the other, and
yet thoy are only the outgrowth of
tho other. When man's physical and
mental powers aro weakened his
moral strength is easily assailed; and
hence blasphemy, ingratitude, anger,
murder, licentiousness, dishonesty,
and the whole brood of vllenesa and
Iniquity that mates tho civilized earth
a continual groan. My self-respect,
to name no higher motive for tho mo
ment, will not permit mo to deliberate
ly contribute to this misery and woe.
3. It is tho injury to me spiritually
though, that has the strongest power
In withholding the cup from my lips.
I know that I am an Immortal being,
and that I must give account to him
who shall judge the quick and the
dead. And I know that there is for
mo a future of eternal blessedness or
sorrow, and aorrow not only for what
I havo lost, but for what I must ex
perience in. retribution for my sins. 1
am afraid of hell, and I nm not afraid
to say that I am afraid of hell. Tho
drunkard shall not Inherit tho king
dom of heaven, and I want to inherit
it, and I will not be such a fool, God
helping me, as to sell that birthright
for a drink of beer or a glass of toddy.
My Duty to My Neighbor.
But all this Is merely personal, it
is my duty to myself; but my obliga
tion is broader, and I have a duty to
my neighbor too.
1. Thero Is tho duty of my exam
ple The apostle Paul by inspiration
of the Holy Spirit brlugs this out very
clearly in Chapter 8 of First Corin
thians. I may feel that personally I
am at liberty to do as I please In a
matter of this kind, I may "drink It
or lot It alone," but not If somebody
clso will be caused to stumblo because
I do not let it alone. I may thus cause
him to perish for whom Christ died,
nnd it will ho difficult under such cir
cumstances to glvo an account of my
stewardship with joy.
2. Thero Is tho duty of my vote.
What right have I as a Christian citi
zen to cast my ballot for a traffic that
damns men's souls? Thoro was a
time in my experlonco when I was
not so keen upon this point. I felt I
had done my whole duty when I
prenched tho Gospel and showed men
how they might be saved from sin
through faith In Jesus Christ. I still
believe this paramount, and nothing
must be permitted to stand in its wuy,
but I havo not dono all when I havo
dono that. There la tho dram shop on
the corner, a snaro set by the devil for
my neighbor's feet. As a Christian cit
izen, 1 havo tho privilege and respon
sibility of aaylng whether I would
havo It there or not, and I can preach
tho Gospel with more consistency
and power when by my ballot I nn
swer no.
ThlB brings me to tho text. Who
Is giving his neighbor drink? Who Is
putting the bottlo to his Hps? Who
Is making him drunk? Is It straining
tho situation to say that tho stato
does this when it legalizes tho sale of
Intoxicating drink and proflt8 by it?
But what is tho stato in a democracy.
except the aggregation of tho individu
als who composo it? And who nro
theso individuals in great proportion,
Bavo thoso who profess to know God
and Jesus Christ his Son, and obey his
commandments? O church members,
let ub throw oft our lothargy and In
difference, and in tho light of the sec
ond great tablo of tho law, clear our
skirts of our brothers' blood!
Beautiful Midsummer Toilette
The unusual und distinculshed ntvln
of this costume has been achieved
by tho employment of familiar mate
rials, white voile, verv fine In oual-
ity, filet lace, with an open mesh,
soutache braid, and pearl buttons aro
all staple goods well known and well
loved.
Tho pretty fashion of Dosinir ono
transparent fabric over another shows
to excellent advantaeo in the skirt.
Tho underskirt of voile is full nnd
round. Above the two-Inch hem thero
aro seven, narrow tucks an Inch and
a half apart. Just above tlje knees a
band of braiding, In an ornamental
scroll pattern, is applied all around
tho underskirt, llnlshine Its decora-
tion.
The overdress of filet laca does not
extend to the bottom of the under
skirt, but is shorter by about nine
inches. It is gathered in at the waist
line with tho voile, leavlnc a nanel
of the underskirt uncovered at the
front, for the lace does not extend
across the entire front of the gown.
It is caught up and fastened to tho
underskirt Just below tho knees at
each side, forming a slight drape.
In the bodice, which sucnests the
"moyen nge" inspiration, the draping
Panama Hat of
For many generations tho Panama
hot was woven in ono shape, and It
took much urging and good manage
ment on the part of those who bought
and Imported the genuino South Amer
ican Panama hat to persuade tho na
tive makers to produce other shapes.
Dut finally this was accomplished and
now one may buy n Panama In almost
any shape. Not all tho hats known by
this name are South Amoricnn prod
ucts, (thero are Panamas and Pana
mas), but whether made in Jnpan or
Connecticut, or brought from Its na
tive homo, tho Pannma Is a beautiful
product.
It is and Ib likely to continue to be
tho ideal hat for midsummer outing
wear, for sports and for traveling. It
Is soft enough to bo comfortable, and
uncrushable nnd firm enough to need
no support. It 1b mado with tho Inten
tion of fitting tho head, as to tho
crown, and for shading tho oyes, as to
tho brim. But in tho past fow seasons
it has been posslblo to get Panamns
with very wide brims, and these havo
added ono more to the number of
wide-brimmed straws used for tho
picturesque flower-laden millinery of
midsummer.
But tho hat that Is dearest to tho
henrt of lovers of the Panama is thnt
which keeps as close as posslblo to
the original, mannish shape or a va
of tho materials is reversed, and voile
appears over fllet net. It hongs straight
and boxlike from the shoulders to at.
least six inches below the normal'
waist line. Small tucks play a very im
portant part in its construction, ap
pearing over the shoulders and part
way across tho front. They supply
tho required scant fullness in tbe ma
terial that is caught in by the garni'
turo of braiding at the bottom. The
braiding la in silk soutache like that
in tho skirt, with the pattern wid
ened at the front. The long plalU'
sleeves are finished with Bmall tucks
in a group of seven on the forearm
and a second group of five on the up
per arm. A narrow pattern in the
braiding outlines the arm's-eye.
There is a tall standing turnover
collar of voile and a tlo of narrow
black velvet is brought twice around'
tho throat. It supports the collar
close under tho chin and terminates
in two long ends at the front.
Tho flower-trimmed leghorn hat.
with sash ends of wide black velvet
ribbon, and the low shoes of black,
and white kid, are details not to bo
lost sight of In completing a toilette
of exceptional beauty.
Enduring Beauty
riation that does not seem to change
its character. Threo popular shapes
selected from this Benson's showing of
Pananins are Illustrated here. They
aro to bo recommended as practical
and becoming and correct In type.
These hats are usually very simply
trimmed with bands of silk, ribbon or
linen. Flat roBettcs or hanging acarf
ends aro favorite decorations, and not
to bo improved upon. The wide
brimmed shupeB are sometimes
swathed with mallnes and finished
with huge bows of this fabric. Occa
sionally flowers or feathers adorn
them. But narrow-brimmed Panamas
aro trimmed In the simplest manner
possible.
The lino South American Panama,
if well oared for, will stand many
seasons' wear. Theso hats can be
cleaned and reblocked If ono wl3hea
to ehnngo tho shapo. But it is bettor
to Bwntho the hat In a wide silk or chif
fon scarf than to reblock It, and to
wear It In Us original shape. A hat.
so fine, bo shapely nnd sonslblo will
always look well.
It seems a pity to wear out a hat
whose making involves such pains
taking and wonderful work, by using
a hat pin. In a line hat It Is better
to bow hat fasteners in tho band and
secure it to tho head in this way.
JULIA BOTTOMLEY.