[Illustration: _From a photograph by Brown Brothers_. A
SUBMARINE-CHASER.]
[Illustration; _From a photograph by Brown Brothers_. A
TORPEDO-DESTROYER.]
This depth-bomb, by the way, is a wonderful invention, and with its
perfection began the great decrease in submarine losses. The bomb is
cylindrical and has in the top a well in which is fitted a small
propeller. As the water comes in contact with the propeller the sinking
motion causes it to revolve. As it revolves it screws down a detonator
which comes in contact with the charge at ten, fifteen, twenty, or forty
or more feet as designated by the hand of an indicator on the bomb. The
hand of this indicator is, of course, set by the officer before the bomb
is released either from a gun or from tracks along the deck.
Then there have been a number of tricks; some of them Yankee tricks,
some of them the creatures of the equally fruitful British tar. One day
in the North Sea a British patrol-vessel came across a trawler. It
resembled the ordinary British trawler, but there were points of
difference, points that interested the inquisitive--and
suspicious--commander of the war-vessel. Chiefly there were a lot of
stores upon her deck. She flew the Norwegian flag, and her skipper said
he was neutral. But the British commander decided to take a chance. He
arrested the crew, placed them in irons, and manned the trawler with a
crew of French and English navy men.
The trawler hovered about in the same locality for three days, and then
one morning, lo and behold, a periscope popped up close alongside.
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