When this book first appeared the present writer felt that the subject had been so fully covered that there was no need for him to publish his own information. However, since the beginning of the world-war the prominent part played by the submarine has led to a demand for more knowledge about the workings of this weapon of mystery, and for information concerning its future possibilities.
The aim of this work, therefore, is to present to the reader in a simple, interesting way the facts relating to the submarine; its mechanical principles; the history of its development; its actual operation; the difficulty of combating it; and its industrial possibilities. These facts are presented, together with descriptions of the experience of the author and other inventors, in order to clarify in the reader's mind the difficulties, the trials and tribulations of both the submarine operator and the inventor. Furthermore, the narrative is not restricted to a discussion of the submarine question from a mechanical standpoint. The submarine to-day is a factor in the political and industrial life of the world. The submarine problem transcends a mere matter of mechanical detail, and a book upon this topic must, of necessity, deal with it in its broadest aspects.
Simon Lake
[CONTENTS]
| CHAPTER | PAGE | |
| Introduction | [1] | |
| I. | What the Modern Submarine Is | [6] |
| II. | Comedy and Tragedy in Submarine Development | [36] |
| III. | Experiences of Pioneer Inventors of the Submarine | [77] |
| IV. | The Evolution of the Submarine | [149] |
| V. | Use of the Submarine in War | [196] |
| VI. | The Possibility of Defeating the Submarine | [228] |
| VII. | The Submarine in Times of Peace | [259] |
| VIII. | The Destiny of the Submarine | [289] |
| Index | [299] |