Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 88.djvu/831

 Popular Science Monthly

��Vol. 88 No. 6

��239 Fourth Ave., New York

June, 1916

��$1.50 Annually

��Undersea Fighting of the Future

I. — Mobilizing Submarines on Rails By Simon Lake

Under the general title ''Undersea Fighting of the Future,'" we publish two articles, by two distinguished engineers, in which the possibilities of the submarine are set forth in a way which shows that we have only begun to learn the use of the most powerful naval weapon thus far developed. Mr. Lake's article deals with the mobilization of submarines for defense; Mr. Chandler's with a highly ingenious method of engaging and destroying submarines tinder water.

Simon Lake came prominently before the public notice about fifteen vears ago as the inventor of a submarine on wheels — a craft which could not only navigate tinder water but which could also travel on the bottom of a waterway. He acted as advisor on submarines to the German and Russian governments. — Editor.

��I FIRMLY believe the destiny of the submarine is to stop all future maritime wars between coun- tries. A tremendous power for destruction, the submarine is in it- self useless for purposes of invasion. The mo- ment the submarine becomes visible it be- comes vulnerable. Its function, therefore, is to lie in wait and at- tack unawares. All students of warfare must now admit that it is manifestly impos- sible to send an army across the sea with big guns and troops and to land them, if submarines are on watch. I believe all engineering experts must also admit that when the proper motive power for sub- marines is evolved, a motive power which v/ill give the submarine the speed of a

���Simon Lake, the author of the article on this page, is the in- ventor of the "even-keel sub- mergence type" of under- water craft which has in recent years been introduced by most of the navies of the world

��surface ship, then mer- chantmen cannot carry on commerce on the high seas except by mutual agreement equi- table to all nations. And I believe this will hasten the day when each country will con- sent to agreements to "do unto others as they would be done by."

If, in time of nation- al differences, it were possible for each country to encircle it- self with a zone ten miles in width, to pass which would be sure death, it would not be long before quarreling countries would make up their differ- ences. If our country had sufficient submarines to protect its coast line and to establish such a similar zone, an offensive war would be rendered

��unnecessarv.

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