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great Pan…American navy； the only navy which now exists in all the world。
I was born in Arizona； in the United States of North America； in the
year of our Lord 2116。 Therefore； I am twenty…one years old。
In early boyhood I tired of the teeming cities and overcrowded rural
districts of Arizona。 Every generation of Turcks for over two centuries
has been represented in the navy。 The navy called to me； as did the free；
wide； unpeopled spaces of the mighty oceans。 And so I joined the navy；
coming up from the ranks； as we all must； learning our craft as we advance。
My promotion was rapid； for my family seems to inherit naval lore。 We
are born officers； and I reserve to myself no special credit for an early
advancement in the service。
At twenty I found myself a lieutenant in command of the aero…
submarine Coldwater； of the SS…96 class。 The Coldwater was one of the
first of the air and underwater craft which have been so greatly improved
since its launching； and was possessed of innumerable weaknesses which；
fortunately； have been eliminated in more recent vessels of similar type。
Even when I took command； she was fit only for the junk pile； but the
world…old parsimony of government retained her in active service； and
sent two hundred men to sea in her； with myself； a mere boy； in command
of her； to patrol thirty from Iceland to the Azores。
Much of my service had been spent aboard the great merchantmen…of…
war。 These are the utility naval vessels that have transformed the navies
of old； which burdened the peoples with taxes for their support； into the
present day fleets of self…supporting ships that find ample time for target
practice and gun drill while they bear freight and the mails from the
continents to the far…scattered island of Pan…America。
This change in service was most welcome to me； especially as it
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brought with it coveted responsibilities of sole command； and I was prone
to overlook the deficiencies of the Coldwater in the natural pride I felt in
my first ship。
The Coldwater was fully equipped for two months' patrolling the
ordinary length of assignment to this serviceand a month had already
passed； its monotony entirely unrelieved by sight of another craft； when
the first of our misfortunes befell。
We had been riding out a storm at an altitude of about three thousand
feet。 All night we had hovered above the tossing billows of the
moonlight clouds。 The detonation of the thunder and the glare of
lightning through an occasional rift in the vaporous wall proclaimed the
continued fury of the tempest upon the surface of the sea； but we； far
above it all； rode in comparative ease upon the upper gale。 With the
coming of dawn the clouds beneath us became a glorious sea of gold and
silver； soft and beautiful； but they could not deceive us as to the blackness
and the terrors of the storm…lashed ocean which they hid。
I was at breakfast when my chief engineer entered and saluted。 His
face was grave； and I thought he was even a trifle paler than usual。
〃Well？〃 I asked。
He drew the back of his forefinger nervously across his brow in a
gesture that was habitual with him in moments of mental stress。
〃The gravitation…screen generators； sir；〃 he said。 〃Number one went
to the bad about an hour and a half ago。 We have been working upon it
steadily since； but I have to report； sir； that it is beyond repair。〃
〃Number two will keep us supplied；〃 I answered。 〃In the meantime
we will send a wireless for relief。〃
〃But that is the trouble； sir；〃 he went on。 〃Number two has stopped。
I knew it would come； sir。 I made a report on these generators three
years ago。 I advised then that they both be scrapped。 Their principle is
entirely wrong。 They're done for。〃 And； with a grim smile； 〃I shall at
least have the satisfaction of knowing my report was accurate。〃
〃Have we sufficient reserve screen to permit us to make land； or； at
least； meet our relief halfway？〃 I asked。
〃No； sir；〃 he replied gravely； 〃we are sinking now。〃
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〃Have you anything further to report？〃 I asked。
〃No； sir；〃 he said。
〃Very good；〃 I replied； and； as I dismissed him； I rang for my wireless
operator。 When he appeared； I gave him a message to the secretary of the
navy； to whom all vessels in service on thirty and one hundred seventy…
five report direct。 I explained our predicament； and stated that with what
screening force remained I should continue in the air； making as rapid
headway toward St。 Johns as possible； and that when we were forced to
take to the water I should continue in the same direction。
The accident occurred directly over 30d and about 52d N。 The surface
wind was blowing a tempest from the west。 To attempt to ride out such a
storm upon the surface seemed suicidal； for the Coldwater was not
designed for surface navigation except under fair weather conditions。
Submerged； or in the air； she was tractable enough in any sort of weather
when under control； but without her screen generators she was almost
helpless； since she could not fly； and； if submerged； could not rise to the
surface。
All these defects have been remedied in later models； but the
knowledge did not help us any that day aboard the slowly settling
Coldwater； with an angry sea roaring beneath； a tempest raging out of the
west； and 30d only a few knots astern。
To cross thirty or one hundred seventy…five has been； as you know； the
direst calamity that could befall a naval commander。 Court…martial and
degradation follow swiftly； unless as is often the case； the unfortunate man
takes his own life before this unjust and heartless regulation can hold him
up to public scorn。
There has been in the past no excuse； no circumstance； that could
palliate the offense。
〃He was in command； and he took his ship across thirty！〃 That was
sufficient。 It might not have been in any way his fault； as； in the case of
the Coldwater； it could not possibly have been justly charged to my
account that the gravitation…screen generators were worthless； but well I
knew that should chance have it that we were blown across thirty today
as we might easily be before the terrific west wind that we could hear
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howling below us； the responsibility would fall upon my shoulders。
In a way； the regulation was a good one； for it certainly accomplished
that for which it was intended。 We all fought shy of 30d on the east and
175d on the west； and； though we had to skirt them pretty close； nothing
but an act of God ever drew one of us across。 You all are familiar with
the naval tradition that a good officer could sense proximity to either line；
and for my part； I am firmly convinced of the truth of this as I am that the
compass finds the north without recourse to tedious processes of
reasoning。
Old Admiral Sanchez was wont to maintain that he could smell thirty；
and the men of the first ship in which I sailed claimed that Coburn； the
navigating officer； knew by name every wave along thirty from 60dN。 to
60dS。 However； I'd hate to vouch for this。
Well； to get back to my narrative； we kept on dropping slowly toward
the surface the while we bucked the west wind； clawing away from thirty
as fast as we could。 I was on the bridge； and as we dropped from the
brilliant sunlight into the dense vapor of clouds and on down through them
to the wild； dark storm strata beneath； it seemed that my spirits dropped
with the falling ship； and the buoyancy of h