AIR AVENGERS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 204, 17 May 1918, Page 5

AIR AVENGERS

SEAPLANE WAR ON THE U-BOATS

HOW TEN SUBMARINES WERE

DESTROYED

(American Associated Press.)

London, April 6—Details concerning the destruction recently of (en German submarines by naval aircraft, eight by seaplanes, and the others by dirigibles, have bcon obtained by the Associated Press from Admiralty reports. Tho first case is described as follows:—

"Whilo on patrol in the English Channel, a seaplane sighted a submanno eight miles away, directly in tho path of an oncoming convoy of merchant ehips. The seaplane dived at ninety miles an hour. The submarine attempted to escape by submerging, but was just awash as the seaplane reaching n bombing position and released two bombs'.' one of which exploded on the conning tower. Tho seaplane dropped two moro bombs into the midst of the air bubbles from tho collapsed submarine, which was of tho largest type, carrying two guns."

i The second case: "At dawn a seaplane I sighted a largo submarine on the surI'l'nce. with a member of the crew standj ing by the gun. Tho seaplane dropped a bomb on the tail of the U-boat, and afterward photographed tho sinking submarine, with a big hole in its deck. A second bomb was dropped closo, to the submarino's bow, and tho U-boat col- ! lapsed." Tho third case: "Two seaplanes attacked a largo submarine travelling on tho surface at fourteen knots, with two men in tho conning tower. A bomb was ex- | ploded close to the conning tower, and i the submarino began to sink stern first. bomb from a second seaplane corti- | plrlod the work."

Tho fourth case: "Throb patrol 'planes sighted a large submarine as it was submerging, and dropped two bombs closo to the conning tower, causing tho submarine to turn turtle and disappear in a mass of oi! and wreckage."

The fifth case: "A seaplane sighted two submarines closo to tho surfaco and dropped two bombs. One Ixnnb was inolfcctivc, but tho other hit tho deck fairly amidships. The submarine waa liidden by the smoke of tho explosion, and when tho smoke cleared the U-boat was sinking, with both ends in tho air."

Tho sixth case: "A. seaplane saw the I rack of a torpedo fired at a merchantman. It dived toward tho surfaco aud sighted tile black shadow of tho submarine, well below the surface. It dropped two bombs, which both exploded closo to tho submarine, resulting in a large quantity of oil and bubbles. Tho seventh case: "Two seaplanes' sighted a U-boat on the surface, and' dropped a bomb each. The first bomb caused a heavy list to tho U-boat, which. Ijcgan to sink by tho stern. The second bomb exploded in tho centre of tho swirl,; demolishing tho U-boat." ; Tho eighth case: "A seaplane drop-, ped a boiub on a.submarine just emerging, and filio U-boat disappeared with a heavy list to port. Tho pilot dropped' a second bomb into the swirl, and a few' minutes later a patch of oil 150 feet long' and'l2'.feet, wide appeared on tho surface."

The jiintb case: "A naval airship at mid-day sighted a suspicious patch of oil, and circled it in an effort to ascertain the cause. Suddenly a periscope broke tho surface in the midst of the oil. The airship dropped a bomb cloae to the periscope, and a series of bubbles began appearing', indicating that tlhe damaged submarine was moving slowly, away under water. Several more bombs wero dropped in the path indicated, until satisfactory evidence was obtained of the enemy's destruction." The tenth case: "An airship droppe/I two bombs over a submarino which was engaged in attacking merchantmen. Great patcheß of oil and bubbles indicated severe damage, and trawlers made this complete by depth charges."