Demonstration

In 1927 the submarine S-4 went to the bottom, drowned 40 men (TIME, Dec. 26, 1927). To avert such catastrophes, Lieut. Charles B. Momsen developed a special "lung" life-preserver for submariners (TIME, Feb. 18). Last week at the mouth of the River Thames off New London, Conn., Lieut. Momsen took the salvaged S-4 to the bottom again with a newsreel outfit aboard--director, camera man, sound man--to publicize the success of his device by filming ten seamen escaping to the surface.

Each time a "lung"-equipped sailor left the escape compartment, water entered. Apparatus designed to expel such water temporarily failed. When the Lieutenant and newsreel men alone were left, the water was up to their waists. Suddenly the ship lurched, spread the water over storage batteries connected to the soundrecorder, generating deadly chlorine gas. The newsreel men choked, grew terrified.

Calmly, Lieut. Momsen got them into Momsen "lungs," signalled for the ship to go to the surface, at once averting another S-4 catastrophe and giving the most practical demonstration possible.

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