Show IN 10 7 als 4 4 j a le 1 1 FIGHT I 1 F t jaffs t 1121 1 E t ea 5 X L ii t e f t i I 1 f 11 R I 1 E t k ill i y k I 1 1 xa 9 y f j IS ro 9 ampe aft aik iba houx bulls of cot 1 zirl jei it ibell P ilat 1 sc y valuably abl oa n izie celm nv C 5 k the divine 1 froni from abe he washington I 1 poet it if paul jones in ghostly iud guise wanders i s aar around aund the I 1 bli r A navy ivy lie he must see gee many surprising accessories to the fighting forces is as organized in 13 his day one novel nofel and M useful addition to the crew of z a of the present ume time is the submarine diver the importance of this individual to the welfare of a warship has been amply shown during the recent operations against the sp spanish fab fleets speed has been thi the most important point in the maneuvering during the opening events of th the e war and this has bas rendered it necessary lor forder our ships to be in the best possible trim for fast work As owing to the lack of foresight on the part of those responsible we are not provided with the necessary dry docks to enable us to clean the foul bottoms of our vessels when they come off a long voyage it has been necessary to send divers down to do the work as best bee they could it has not been done wen well but it has been the best kf kand nd of substitute that could be found for the proper article when a ship goes into dry dock and Is scraped clear of the barnacles barnacled barn acles andrea and seaweed and rank growth that accumulated there during a sea voyage and is then treated to a new coat of paint she emerges from the dry dock as clean and fit as when she made her maiden voyage the submarine divers are able only to scrape away the barnacles barnacled barn acles and seaweed and even then they are so handicapped by the heaviness and of their dress that it Is impossible to do the work in any but a clumsy and incomplete way but good work or bad the diver has become a necessary part of the ships crew many warships carry one or more trained divers and to attain to the rating of diver requires special qualifications defore before being sent for training the man applying has to undergo an extremely rigorous medical examination the diving apparatus in use in our navy is a costly affair the method of its working is simple he is not a prepossessing sight this monster with the huge headdress head dress and the glaring eyes but his usefulness to the navy is immeasurable he was wanted in a hurry and anfort unfortunately natel ly was not on hand when the maine went down into the mud of havana harbor he will be wanted in coming engagements to patch holes in the sides of war craft if these wounds mercifully fall short of being mortal he will assist in wrecking operations when it is found necessary to go fishing for the valuable portion of a spanish fleets equipment after we have treated it as dewey treated the fleet at manila he will be ready to help a united states vessel out of a score of unforeseen troubles that may arise when the modern warship gets down to fighting that Is not all one sided L theoretically the submarine diver Is a formidable aid in operations against the enemy whether or not he will be so in practice remains to be seen the theorists abert that the diver can be sent under water on an dark nights to grope his way into the mined entrances to harbors and cut the wires connecting the explosives with the shore or they say he can attach mines to the keels of anchored war craft and explode the mines when he be reaches a safe distance or he can saw the cables of anchored vessels and put their crews to great inconvenience it if not in a position of positive danger there Is scarcely any limit to the theorists suggestions for using the submarine diver asa as a means of offense in naval campaigns but most of the plans are visionary and it is probable that the most practical use to which the diver can be put Is to clean and repair the ships of hia bla own nation when it Is necessary that the cleaning and repairing be donia done extraneously and facilities cili ties are not at hand to dry dock the vessel the limitations of the diving apparatus forbid any very tery dangerous offensive work being done dond by the man who descends in it ile he cannot wander too far from his base of operations on account of bis abts dependence on the air supply and the boat from which he is lowered could not approach very near to a vessel or harbor ju in these days of searchlights without being discovered discover eel it is ble however that daring souls will try the experiment before the present war Is over and naval experts m may ay have hare to to inako find eomy me way ny to io guard n a new enemy ot af the invisible variety the submarine diver on blowing up op purposes bent |