Home › With the American Submarines › With the American Submarines: Bill

With the American Submarines: Bill

Captain Bill sat in a retired nook, if a submarine can possibly be said to have a retired nook, with a chart spread open on his knees. The night before, he had picked up a wireless message saying that a German had been seen at sundown in a certain spot on the edge of his patrol. So Captain Bill had planned to run submerged to the spot in question, and then pop up suddenly in the hope of potting the Hun. Some fifteen minutes before sundown, therefore, the Z-3 arrived at the place where the Fritz had been observed. "I wish I knew just where the bird was," said an intent voice; "I'd drop a can right on his neck."

The sentiments of the captain of a destroyer.

These sentiments were not those of anybody aboard the Z-3. An American destroyer had also come to the spot looking for the German, and the gentle thought recorded above was that of her captain. It was just sundown; a level train of splendor burned on the ruffled waters to the west; a light, cheerful breeze was blowing. The destroyer, ready for anything, was hurrying along at a smart clip. "This is the place all right, all right," said the navigator of the destroyer. "Come to think of it, that chap's been reported from here twice." Keen eyes swept the shining uneasy plain.

How a submarine crew takes orders.

Meanwhile, some seventy feet below, the Z-3 manoeuvred, killing time. The phonograph had been hushed, and every man was ready at his post. The prospect of a go with the enemy had brought with it a keen thrill of anticipation. Now, a submarine crew is a well-trained machine. There are no shouted orders. If a submarine captain wants to send his boat under quickly, he simply touches the button of a Klaxon; the horn gives a demoniac yell throughout the ship, and each man does what he ought to do at once. Such a performance is called a "crash dive." "I'd like to see him come up so near that we could ram him," said the captain, gazing almost directly into the sun. "Find out what she's making." Getting up speed.

The engineer lieutenant stooped to a voice-tube that almost swallowed up his face, and yelled a question to the engine-room. An answer came, quite unheard by the others. "Twenty-four, sir," said the engineer lieutenant. "Get her up to twenty-six."