The U-boat hunters
Public-domain ebook
The U-boat hunters
Language: en4,191 downloads on Project Gutenberg
Subjects
In: World War I·History - Modern (1750+)·History - Warfare
Public-domain ebook sourced from Project Gutenberg #23601.
About this book
James B. Connolly’s The U‑boat Hunters is a World‑War‑I naval memoir that blends reportage with a rallying‑cry for American seafarers. The book opens with a sweeping tribute to the modern U.S. Navy, its sturdy ships, diligent officers, and the “good ships and capable, courageous, hard‑working officers and men” who man them, while acknowledging the occasional “fuddy‑duddies and politicians” among the ranks. Connolly then frames the ensuing chapters as a series of vignettes: some recounting daring anti‑submarine actions, others offering a broader look at naval life, even a technical sketch of a submarine intended to inspire young recruits. The introductory passages set a tone of patriotic optimism, juxtaposing the grim statistics of U‑boat sinkings with the promise of a fleet that can meet any future threat.
The narrative voice is that of an enthusiastic contemporary, steeped in the language and fervor of the 1910s. Connolly’s style is descriptive and declarative, peppered with vivid ship‑board imagery and occasional colloquial banter, reflecting both the ceremonial pageantry of naval reviews and the gritty reality of life at sea. Readers who relish detailed accounts of early‑20th‑century naval technology, period‑specific patriotic prose, or a blend of personal anecdote and broader strategic commentary will find this work engaging.
The opening · free to read
Our navy to-day is made up of good ships and capable, courageous, hard-working officers and men. There are some fuddy-duddies and politicians among them, but most of them are on the job every minute. Their highest hope is the chance to serve their country. The chapters in this book which tell of their U-boat hunting only prove once more their great qualities.
There are chapters in this book which have nothing to do with U-boat hunting, but have much to do with the navy. Such are the two opening chapters and the three closing chapters. The motive of four of those chapters will probably be obvious; the chapter on the workings of a submarine is included in the hope of interesting our young fellows in that type of craft.
The need of such a chapter? Take this illustration of what people do not know about submarines: Three years ago an admiral on the other side was called into conference on the U-boat problem. When it came his turn to speak he said: "Gentlemen, it is child's talk to say that the U-boats will ever amount to anything! Disregard them utterly!" Only three years ago that was, and that naval officer was considered for commander-in-chief of the Grand Fleet! Three years ago, and last year the U-boats sank 6,600,000 tons of shipping!
Right now Germany probably contemplates, or is actually constructing, U-boats with armor and guns heavy enough to engage on the surface any war craft up to the battle-cruiser class. How far from that to fighting the heaviest of surface craft--even to the battleships?
In the event of invasion--we might as well face that; refusing to think about it certainly will not eliminate the possibility,--in the event of invasion by a powerful foe our first line of defense will be our navy. The navy will always be our first line of defense; and so the need to-day of interesting in our navy young men,--progressive young men, who will learn from the past but prefer to live in the future.
J. B. C.
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