Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 January 1914 — Page 2

The Stolen Submarine

Ad Aadadous Hazard of Nikolai, Independent Agent, as Related by His Lieutenant, Summers

Nikolai and I bad gone to Kiel to (attend the German yacht races. Such meetings are, of coarse, largely patronized by gentlemen who dabble In nahat Nikolai called "high finance.” (The police had gathered in a score land more of the fraternity and sent them out of the country; but those [were the bunglers at their trade. We | passed as wealthy Americans, and {hoped to reap a harvest. But my companion’s thoughts flew high above the common swindling. I {knew that when he announced his {coup, it would be something worthy (of his fantastic mind. On the third evening, while we sat together upon the esplanade, watching the yachts swing past, flags of all nations fluttering at the mast heads, Nikolai broached his plan. "These Germans are giving England a hard fight for the supremacy of the ocean," be said, as the kaiser’s yacht, having defeated her English antagonist, passed to the salutation of ten thousand throats. “And they’re not so far behind in actual war material either, England would give a fortune , for the plans of the new German subJmarine.’* r- r . ~~ » He handed me the Daily Telegraph iof two days previous, which ha had. purchased at the Casino. I had not {been a paper for the past week. Turnling to the column indicated by my •companion, I discovered that the (German war scare had assumed a new [phase. The column, which was headed in ’black type, dealt with the maneuvers (of a mysterious submarine ship, which jhad been seen at various points along (the British coast, sometimes as a halfisubmerged body that cut through the (water at an astonishing speed, at (others merely as the periscope, the eye of such craft, which alone was visible above the waves. It was obviously engaged in taking soundings and spying upon the English naval defenses. V “From these various statements of {those who have seen this craft,” the {newspaper went on to say, “it is evident, in spite of official denials, that it Ha none other than the new German {submarine, about which so much spec(ulation is rife. Its ability to travjel such a distance from its base (demonstrates the fact clearly, for no {other type of submarine vessel has [more than a very limited sphere of faction. The British government (would, doubtless, pay handsomely for la plan of this craft Meanwhile it (is reported that warships are search;ing for it —and, Messieurs, if you come •within the limits of our territorial [waters, look out for a broadside!” • “ ‘The British government would, [doubtless, pay handsomely for a plan jof this craft,’ ” Nikolai quoted, readting over my shoulder. “Well, why (shouldn’t we earn the reward, Sumjmers?” “How could we get the plans?” I (asked. “We won’t,” replied Nikolai. “What ido you say to taking the craft Itself {and steering it into Portsmouth hartor? It might be piracy on the high eeas, but —would England let it go before she had inspected it? And the reward would be big. * “You have never seen a submarine of the newer type, Summers,” Nikolai went on hastily, before I could interpose any objection. “Within those shells one man, and certainly two, can hold the entire crew at bay. How? Well, a stick of dynamite, retained in proximity to the steering gear, is a powerful aid. There are few sailors who would choose certain death by suffocation at the bottom of the sea in preference to life with a modicum of dishonor. Then, again, they keep no arms except a couple of pistols or so. A submarine is not an offensive craft One man, in fact, could easily overpower the entire crew. “Now, Summers, once we are aboard, this shall be your task. Meanwhile, I shall assume charge of the /steering apparatus and bring the vessel safely into Portsmouth harbor. There we deliver her to the authorises. All are arrested and detained pending the court’s decision. In the end the vessel is released, we are condemned to hang for piracy—and somebody opens our cell doors one night and a grateful government pensions as. Do you understand?” “It’s risky,” I suggested. “But it’s sure,” said Nickolai. “And the audacity of the scheme makes its fulfillment easy.” In fact, the Initial steps at any rate, proved no formidable obstacle. We knew that the Kiel naval yards must jbe the headquarters of the mysterious craft There was no difficulty in discovering the slip at which she berthed after each return Irom the English coast. The streets were full of German sailors; discipline, never so drastic in the navy as in the army, was a (trifle lax during the regatta week; (there was no difficulty in gaining adjmittance to the slip. %, >, Nikolai, in the uniform of a naval {captain, and I, attired as his; orderly, jdtd, in fact, penetrate the dockyard •many times during the ensuing week. jWe soon discovered that the Hertha. las the submarine was called, set forth tiwloe each week, for tier, explorations

By H. M. EGBERT

(CotOiisht, 1913. by W. G. Chapman)

of the North sea, returning to dock at three-day intervals to replenish her fuel. The crew consisted of picked men, veterans of the service, who were commanded by the Same officer on each occasion. So much we learned—or rather, Nikolai learned —during these nightly visits of ours. Nikolai spoke German as his mother tongue, and even naval officers grow garrulous after the fourth bottle. But as to the mechanism of the Hertha, or its objects in the periodical journeys, nobody could say. Our investigation must be made personally. It was on Thursday, June 29, that we laid our final plans. The Hertha had docked; judging by precedent, she would -set forth upon the following evening. The approach to the slip was guarded by a couple ol’marines, who were relieved periodically; but we had discovered where Lieut. Von Beeman lived, and believed it would be easy to gain admittance. ~ We were to wait in the proximity of his house until he left on the following evening to take up his command, We would follow close upon his heels and pass in a short distance behind him; under the circumstances it would be improbable that the marines would question us. But to ensure against any unexpected circumstances, Nikolai had a forged paper from the ministry of marine, detailing him, with his orderly—myself—to accompany Von Beeman upon his next journey. I confess I was trembling when, on the ensuing evening, we put this scheme into execution. It must have been In the evening, just when the long twilight was yielding to night, before we perceived the lieutenant leave his quarters and stride sharply down the street. We followed him, gradually edging up closer. At a short distance from the entrance to the slip he swung round on his heel. “Halt!” he cried sharply, seeing our uniforms and thinking us sailors. “What the devil are you men doing here? What ship are you from?”—— But that it was nearly dark I could have sworn Nikolai grew purple in the face from feigned wrath. “Attention, sir,” he bawled. “I am Captain Von Obermeister of the ministry of marine.” I saw the lieutenant bring his heels together with a click; he stood stiff as a ramrod and his hand went up to the salute mechanically. Nikolai sputtered and stormed inarticulately for a few moments. , “Schmidt!” he cried to me at length, “withdraw seventeen paces in accordance with the regulations.” I understood only the motion of the hand. But Nikolai explained to me subsequently that this was the formula prescribed in the case of an officer intending to admonish a subordinate. According to the rules of the service, no officer might rebuke another in the presence of an enlisted man. Hardly had I withdrawn when I saw Nikolai leap toward the lieutenant and metaphorically rend him. His voice, a continuous low basso, was hardly punctuated by the lieutenant’s high-pitched apologies. Von Beeman was limp and actually trembling when Nikolai, having concluded his lecture, recalled me, “My orderly, Schmidt, accompanies me,” snarled Nicolai. “You have read the order? Forward! March!”

And we passed into the slip where a long, low, oval craft was moored with ropes* against a sloping dock. As we approached, a half dozen sailors rose and stood at attention. “Will you step aboard, sir?” asked the lieutenant with deference. Nikolai accepted the invitation; I followed him; then came the lieutenant, the sailors trooping in behind him; and soon we were all ensconced in the hollow of the ship. A few moments afterward the rope was cast off and we glided down the sloping dock into the water. Soon we were skimming the surface of the canal Presently the waves began to rise; the lights ashore receded; a keen wind nipped our faces. I knew that we had passed into the North sea. The deck waß closed and we plunged into the depths, our periscope alone visible above the waters. The lieutenant himself stood at the steering gear,’ Nikolai beside him. Their gaze was bent intently upon a sort of camera obscura, very much resembling the ground glass of a photographic box, upon which were reflected the starry heavens, changing only as the ship altered her course. Three fathoms beneath the surface we could discern everything above us by the medium of this eye, which connected with a long, hollow tube, the top of which was fitted with a series of lenses and rose some feet above the water. Hence the presence of any vess.el would be as discernible as though we were in an open boat. We three were'gathered together at the end of Packed closely around us was machinery of a complicated and, to me, unknown type, though I recognized a barometer, a huge compressed air tank, a gasoline tank with a series of pipes and valves, and the Inevitable motor. Upon the side of the ship, close by. hung a

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, INI*.

couple of pistols, just as Nikolai had foretold. The men, stripped to the waißt and perspilrng from the heat, were gathered at the opposite end, some at work upon the machinery that liberated the compressed air, one tracing the chart, others engaged upon some duties connected with the mechanism of the boat. Our voices, when we spoke, roared and re-echoed within the close confines of onr quarters. I watched Nikolai, my heart beating wildly. Presently, quite casually he ran his fingers through his hair —the appointed signal I stepped to the wail and took down Hie pistols; examined them casually; they were loaded. The lieutenant looked up in mild surprise. And then It all happened. I stepped forward somewhat foolishly, and pointing the weapons ai Van Bee man’s face; even yet he understood nothing. -He - began to retreatTrom~mo, trying to speak, stunned by my demeanor. I pressed him back to the other end of the ship. The Bailors had risen to their feet and stood watching me open-mouthed, Nikolai bending over the camera, apparently wholly Indifferent. At that moment I seemed to be living in an unreal and grotesque dream. The lieutenant broke the silence. “My God!” he screamed in German, “the fellow has gone mad! Captain Von Obermeister!” Nikolai looked up. “At your service, sir,” he said. - “Take his pistols away. He is insane. It is the heat!” " ~ “Schmidt is "acting under my orders,” replied Nikolai. “Keep your end of the boat, lieutenant, or you die. j&d the first man,” he added, “that

stirs toward us dies. To work, men,” he continued in German. The stupefied sailors obeyed. Then Nikolai turned to the lieutenant again. "You are entitled to an explanation and you shall have it,” he said. “I represent the British government, and our course is laid for Portsmouth harbor.” He spoke in English, which, like all Gentian naval officers, the lieutenant understood perfectly. Von Beeman stared at him wHdly; then suddenly he burst into sobs. “Come, man,” said Nikolai, with some sympathy, “things are not as bad as they might be. At least you can have your life. And, if you choose to expatriate yourself, rather than return to face a court-martial —there are many careers open to you—” “Curse it, sir, I am not weeping over my disgrace,” cried the lieutenant furiously. “You insulted me, sir, in the streeta of Kiel, and that insult must be atoned for.” The sailors were muttering behind him. They understood the situaUon now. By ones and twos they left their work and mustered at his side. “Look out!” cried Nikolai sharply. “They are going to rush us!” He swung the wheel, and I saw the stars whirl on the silver plate beneath the Periscope. Then a faint smear of black showed itself among the leaping waves, which quickly resolved Itself into a miniature warship, with fighting tops and two long guns at the stern. A finger of light sprang from

it, quivered over the sea, and remained motionless. .Then from the vessel’s Bide a tiny blur leaped into the waves; It was a man of war. And the blnr at the side was a scout motor boat. We were discovered —I realized that in an ihstant. Heavens be praised, the English battleship had not been searching the seas for us in vain! if only Nikolai had waited a lew brief minutes longer, until they were alongside! Now we must stand off our enemies until the rescue came. All these thoughts flashed through my brain instantaneously. My glance had hardly faltered, but that moment of indecision was enough. With a concerted movement the sailors had hurled themselves on us. The rush was so- swift; so simultaneous, that the bark of my pistol was muffled in the cloth of the lieutenant’s uniform, and the bullet turned aßide. Then, wrapping me lnrhte embrace, he slipped to the floor, and we tumbled and sprawled over the slippery keel-platesc The rest bore Nikolai to the ground with me, and again the stars whirled upon the silver plate as the submarine, unguided, plunged here and there under the seas. Two mlnntes later we were trussed and bound and helpless. The lieutenant called off his men and stood over us, watching Nikolai with a sour smile. "Do you know what I am going to do with you?” he asked. “Surrender us to the German government, I hope,” said Nikolai politely. "Yonr nrttcleer oUwai would hot Justify murder.” “I am going to wipe out the insult you offered me in the streets of Kiel," shouted Von Beeman, hoarse with pas-

sion. “You called me a sheep’s head, you Impostor!” “Calfs head,” said Nikolai, “not sheep’s head. You shall have your satisfaction whenever you make it possible for me to meet you. The English laws against dueling are Btrict —” “I am not going to England,” shouted Von Beeman. "Look at the plate!” retorted Nikolai. A sailor had sprung to the wheel He steadied the swinging craft, and there, on the camera obscura, but filling it completely, was a scouting boat; it must have beeh almost upon us. Then, as I watched, I saw a flag float into the picture, and on it were the stars of the German flag. It was a German Warship, and not an English one, that had discovered us! More and more clearly came the picture of the scouting boat There could be no mistake. Our ruse had failed —and, when we thought that we had snatched victory out of defeat, once more the cup of hope had been daßhed from our lips. All chances was gone; probably death, at best, imprisonment for life, awaited us. The picture blurred; the submarine tiljted and rose to the surface of the sea. Through the thick glass of the window we saw the scout-boat lay-to a cable's length distant She was manned by a crew of lusty sailors, and in the stern sat an officer in the uniform of a German naval captain. We drew alongside and opened our deck. He stepped aboard.

Lieutent yon Beeman sprang to his side and began to pour out the story of our attempt. The captain’s brows contracted as he listened; Incredulous at first, he grew more and more impassive and cold. At last he turned to Nikolai “What have you to say?” he asked. “It is true,” said my companion. "What are you going to do?" The captain spoke more coldly, more formally than before. Nicolai turned to me. ‘ “He says that he Intends to hang us at his yard-arm before breakfast,” he explained. I looked around me desperately. Dawn was already flushing Hie east, the stars were paling, and, on the port how, outlined against the saffron sky, was the long loast line of England. “He cannot hang spies—even If we ,ara spies—in peace time,” I muttered. “It is against the code.” Nikolai translated, but the captain did not deign to noHce me. It was the lieutenant wha-interposed. “As for that fellow,” he said, pointing to me, “let him hang if you prefer, captain. But’not this other, who is evidently a high officer in the English service. Curse him,” he shrieked, losing his again. “He insulted me in the streets of Kiel. He called me a sheep’s head —and I was in uniform.” . “Calf’s head, not sheep's head,” Nikolai interposed. “I—demand—satisfaction,” shouted Von - Beeman. “I am afraid, lieutenant,” said the captain, “that the honor of Germany must take precedence of yours.” “If it will be any satisfacUon,” said

Nikolai, “I am no officer. I am an unofficial spy in ndbody’s service but my own.” "Is that true?’’ cried Von Beeman with apparent/ eagerness, staring at Nikolai. My comrade nodded. The lieutenant leaped forward with a cry of triumph. "It is true,” he exclaimed. “I questioned his veracity, and he showed no resentment An officer does not lie. He is no officer. Well, do you wißh my evidence, sir, at the court-mar-tial?” "There will be no court-martial, lieutenant,” the captain answered. "They will be hanged immediately. Lie to until you see them at the yardarm; then return to Kiel and report yourself to the commandant of the port And now untie those fellows.” At the word from Von Beeman the sailors began to free us from our bonds. Meanwhile the German captain moved leisurely about the submarine, examining the mechanism with professional interest. When we were free he signed to us to precede him into the boat We took our places and the Bailors began to row us baek to the man of war. It was almost light cow. Behind us the submarine tossed heavily upon the waves. Looking backward, I could Bee Von Beeman standihg amldshlp, gazing implacably after us. 1 Then Nikolai nudged me and pointed furtively to the German captain. . He was beaming upon us, and In his expression there was something

as near a wink as I imagine Hie naval regulations would allow. While 1 watched him, amazed, I heard one of the sa|ilorß, who had missed hia stroke with the oar, utter a hearty curse In purest English. But we were at the ship’s side and ascending the ladder before I could draw the necessary inferences from what I had seen. The captain walked forward toward his quarters, signing to to follow him. Presently we were alone with him in his cabin. Then he turned on Nikolai abruptly. “Well done, sir,” he said heartily. “I shall report your courageous action to the admiralty. Not only have you performed an act unparalleled in the history of the fleet, but you afforded me ah opportunity to discover the complete secret of the mechanism of the new submarine.” “With your permission, Bir, I will explain matters to my friend,” said Nikolai, turning to me. But already the whole affair had become clear to -merit was an English battleship, and, by the ruse of the German flag, its captain had discovered the secret which England had wanted so badly. We were in friendly hands. “Did you fulfill this mission by the direct suggestion of the admiralty?” the captain asked. “No, sir,” said Nikolai. “It was our own enterprise, and we trusted to the generosity of the English nation to reward us adequately.’ The captain started '‘What?" he cried. “Does nobody in England know that you embarked upon this perilous adventure?” “Nobody but yourself and your men, sir,” Nikolai answered. The captain’s manner changed in .a way comical to see. “Well, my man,” he said, “you have had a fortunate escape. Now I tell you what I shall do. In five minutes a dinghy will be lowered from the side. You will enter it, and can, doubtless, pull yourselves ashore. We are not three miles from the Hampshire coast" “And von will report ns for the reward?” I asked. “Reward? What reward?” Then I understood. He meant to take the entire credit for the achievement to himself. And, if we told our story in England, nobody woultf igive ub a hearing. I stood astonished, shaking with impotent rage and char grin. Then the captain laid bis hand kindly upon my shoulder. “Gentlemen,” he said, addressing both of us, “be very thankful that you have escaped with your lives. You played a desperate game which you were ill prepared for. You came off no worse than you started. Half an„ hour ago and you would have given all" you possess for life. You have your lives. Take my advice: go quickly, and at once.” Ten minutes later we were pulling for the English shore.

MEASURES THE NERVE FORCE

Machine That Scientist Claims Hat Great Possibilities—Experiments Made. . _ There is a remarkable little instru* ment, consisting of a steel cylinder at* tached to a vertical needle, for measuring human magnetism, that is attracting a good deal of attention in the occult library in Piccadilly. It is the invention of Doctor Fayol, who has beep conducting a series of experiments before a committee of the French Academy of Medicine. Explaining its purpose, M. W. de Kerlor said: "Its object is to demonstrate the existence of the emanation of nerve force from the human body. “If you place the left hand ,in front of the cylinder, the needle will move in the same direction as the hands of a watch; if the right hand, the motion will be in the opposite direction. With all healthy and normal individuals the rotation of the needle is normal; if persons are ill, or even below par, the motion of the needle will be irregular and abnormal. “All healthy bodies project regular currents of nerve force; unhealthy bodies absorb. That is why you hear of sick or elderly people who have not sufficient vital force to maintain the normal /amount of physical strength absorbing human magnetism from younger and healthier persons. Various experiments have been made with the instrument to show how variously It is affected. Two handß of an opposite nhture placed in front of the apparatus entirely stop the motion, but with two hands of the same nature it is accelerated. As to the possibilities of the invention, M. de Kerlor said: “If you have an instrument which is capable of being propelled at the rate of 30 or 40 turns a minute quite automatically by an invisible force 'emanating from the human body, what may not be achieved by applying the magnetism of a hundred or of a thousand men to a much larger cylinder with a powerful Iqver?

He Explained.

The girl was willing, but the baseball player was diffident. She had to resort to strategy. “Jim,” she said, “there are several points of the game that I wish you would explain.” “Where shall I begin 7“ he asked, delighted. “I should like to—er” —she hesitated. blushing—"know more about the •squeeze play.’ ’’—Judge.

Reckless Spender.

Saphedde —lt costs me |55,000 a year to live. - 1 - Miss Caustique—How foolishly some people spend their money!—Philadelphia Record.