(As published in La Provincia)
Yesterday, the trials of the Peral were conducted with satisfactory results. At ten o’clock in the morning, the submarine set off, sailing unaccompanied at a rate of six miles per hour. Upon arriving off Trocadero, it was followed by the Reina Mercedes, chartered by the correspondent of El Imparcial, and the Garibaldi of the Yacht Club. At eleven o’clock, it coasted the battleship Pelayo, reaching the side of the Navarra, the Isla de Luzón, and the Colón, and passed the San Felipe point. From the submarine’s turret, Peral signaled the following steamers to stop.
Mr. García Gutiérrez, in a boat, sounded the area to verify the immersion, maintaining communication with the submarine by means of a telephone. Shortly thereafter, the apparatuses intended for immersion were activated; the horizontal propellers were seen to churn, and the descent began very slowly. The vessel did not lose its level position and turned before submerging; its progress beneath the surface was perfectly steady. From the boat, certain signals were made to the submarine, which the crew discerned through the glass of the turret. Some time was occupied in the closing of the hatches, which García Gutiérrez employed in taking new soundings that indicated a depth of nine and a half meters.
At half-past twelve, the horizontal propellers were activated once more, sailing and submerging gradually, with the turret—the only part of the ship remaining above—leaving a wake upon the surface of the sea. In this state, it sailed swiftly and turned with ease. At half-past one, it was seen to disappear rapidly until the flag touched the water, and minutes later, even this vanished. The vast crowd witnessing the trials from the pier and various vessels broke into applause and cheers for the Spanish Navy. The enthusiasm was indescribable.
At five-and-thirty minutes past one, the flag reappeared, only to submerge again immediately; five minutes later, the flag and the turret reappeared as the submarine continued its manoeuvres. At a quarter to two, the vessel reappeared completely, and Peral emerged through the hatch and stood upon the deck, where the public cheered him enthusiastically. Shortly thereafter, the submarine sailed toward the port followed by the steamers; on deck, Mr. Cubell was seen with a handkerchief tied as a bandage covering one eye, the cause of the incident being unknown. The Peral, having concluded the trials it had set out to perform, headed toward La Carraca. It is believed that further speed trials, whilst completely submerged, will not be long in coming.
