THE CHANNEL BARRAGE.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16414, 7 January 1919, Page 4

THE CHANNEL BARRAGE.

NAVY S-ECHFr HJSVEALIiD,

LONDON, l?gcenjL>er 21. V icc-Admiral JCeyes. cpminandiug tho Dover patrol, in a sneec)), revealed a number of the secrets by which tho greatest, successes Ugaiusfc submarines were achieved.

lie explained that the Channel bar-run.ml-to Jof two lines of speciallybuilt ships, able to ride at anchor throughout tho stillest gale, and provided with the most powerful search, lights. One line ran from Folkestone to Care ti lis -\ez, and the tccond extended across tho Channel for seven miles westward. Scores of drifters and small-craft, which patrolled tho iutervening interval of darkness, were so thick that it was impossible that anything could j'ass on tho surface, while underneath wore masses of ;uiLisubmarine dcvices.

The duty of tho patrol craft was to attack and prevent submarines passing on tho surfacc, and drive litem down to the hidden perils below, and then drop depth charges. These measures were so successful that, by September, 1918, the submarines gavo up tho Channel passage. There was dofinite enemy proof to this effect. Between January, 1918, arid September, 1918. the Flanders submarine flotilla lost 30 U-boate, of which 17 wero identified under the lighted barrage. There were many others not yet located definitely.