BRITISH SEA HAWKS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 208, 22 May 1918, Page 9

BRITISH SEA HAWKS

HARRYING THE U-BOATS

INCREASING "BAG" OF

VICTIMS

'lhe patrol of our home waters by seaplanes provides good hunting for members of tho Royal Navy Air Service and holds' a promise of greater tilings to como (writes the special London correspondont of tho New York "World"). As submarine strafer the seaplane has already proved its efficieucy, and the tally of U-boats bagged by seaplane grows, longer weulc by week. Even the restrained language of official reports cannot entirely hide the exhilarating nature of these oncountors between the German submarines, and the British air patrols. Here aro a fow of recent date: Two large American seaplanes were on patrol together when, at 7.18 a.m., they sighted a submarine on the surface, travelling at fourteen knots, with a couple of Germans on the conning tower. Both planes quickjy turned toward her and from a height of 800 feet dropped a bomb, which exploded on the starboard side of the U-boat half-way between her stern and conning' tower. The boat heeled slowly over to port, with her stem down and her'bow up. The second pjane now came over her as the conning tower ;vas disappearing and dropped A bomb, which fell just in front of the conning tower. Immediately after its explosion another explosion took place under water, and this was followed by several others of a less violent nature. _ Fifteen seconds later the second machine had wheeled back over the spot and dropped her second bomb. This fell within ten yards of the ring made by the previous bomb, and the remains of : the submarino finally disappeared. The i pilot concludes his report with the remark that, although he searched tho vie- j inity for fifteen minutes afterwards, he.' failed to discover any traco of the two j Germans whom he had seen on the con- : ning tower. Perhaps this ye not alto- ! gether to be wondered at. .

It happened a few days later that u Short seaplane, on special patrol, sighted a U-boat stationary on the surface at 10.20 a.m. The submarine was ten miles away, but figures could be discerned on deck. The 'plane dived from •1000 feet to a height of 1200 foot, and at 10.30 dropped a bomb on the spot where the submarine had disappear?;! five seconds previously. She was then sighted just below the snrface and a bomb was dropped on her. "after says the- pilot, "she disappeared." This seaplane probably Saved a convoy which wae then approaching the spot ■ where the submarine had been lying. A Direct Hit.

A fortnight after the above incident a large American seaplane, flying at a height of 1100 feet, sighted a big submarine with two periscopes and a length of 200 feet showing above water. The seaplane hastily dived to 600 feet, and, as tho U-boat submerged, dropped two bombs, which fell just abaft the conning lower, one apparently making a direct hit. The submarine at once turned upside down and saujj. Then u largo bubble appeared on tl e surface, and presently some wreckage, together with large quantities of oil, appeared. In the following week a largo American seaplane was on patrol at 8-30 a.m., when a submarine was sighted one mile <lcad ahead lying on the surface with a man standing forward by her gun. The seaplane increased her speed, dropping to u height of 800 feet, and flying directly over the submarine, released a bomb. As she swooped round to repeat the attack a shell from tho U-boat burst in the air 50 feet in front of her propeller. It was seen that the bomb liud made a direct hit on the U-boafs tail, a big rent being visible in me deck. Just then several red flashes appeared above the water and out of the mist ahead three more enemy submarines appeared, proceeding in line abreast, and followed closely by three German destroyers. All six vessels maintained a ■hot fire njainst the.soaplane, which now turned about and again passed over the disabled U-boat. Her stern was by this time well down, while her nose stood up clear of the water. The American gave her a second bomb, and this exploded dead on, 15 feet abend of the bov,. The whole submarine seemed to vibrate, then sank quickly, leaving a largo quantity of blackish oil, air bubbles, ami wreckage, upon the surface of the sea. The enemy vessels were now drawing near, as well as a couple of enemy seaplanes, so our America, having no more bombs, leturned to her base.