THE SEA WASPS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 243, 2 July 1918, Page 7

THE SEA WASPS

HUNTING DOWN THE GERMAN U-BOATS

BRITISH TENACITY WINNING OUT (From the Sydney "Sun"-'"fimcs" Service.) A striking accumulation of pvidenee shows that in tho grim and prolonged' submarine warfare the Allies' tenacity and multiform methods of destruction arc definitely winning. Official i.lorniatuin received from nculral sources in Scandinavia state that every week recenlly Üboats have failed to return to their bases. A large number was lost in ono uionlh, and six others staggered homewards badly damaged. A complete refit was necessary. The dockyards no longer are able fully to accommodate I lie submarines, and the authorities have been obliged to establish emergency repair depots, in which arc now employed a. large amount of auxiliary and civilian labour, and also war-prisoners skilled in engineering. Others are working in repair base's at Ostend, Bruges, and Zeebrugge owing to the strain of the submarine service. Since February there has heen an increase in the strain, to which have also to be added (he demands of other engineering works and (lie building of tanks and armament for thc> West front. Inexperienced Crews. Tho German authorities have become anxious concerning the physical and mental overstrain of the returned crows, the result of long submersions, sleeplessness, and the interminable (lodging of aircraft, destroyers, motor boats, and trawlers, particularly during the fine weather. Officers and men need longer rests ashore. Commander Hose, a well-known U-boat commander, speaking recently at llunicli, confessed tho shattering moral ulTect of depth-bombs, particularly on inexperienced crows, .owin" to the "hellish din of their explosion/ This is the first admission that inexperienced crews are used in the submarines, and adds significance to another German commander's later statement that a large proportion of the losses are due to crews not being fully trained. Some are sent out within six weeks of enlistment. The commander compared this with the taking of a forced plant from tho hothouso and exposing it to a northeast wind. Every precaution is taken to prevent U-boat crows talking about their undersea experiences, but stories of the effects of bombings continually leak out. The men admit that the losses of llboats and submersible mine-layers are very great and are increasing. British coiuvoying has so improved thai shelling is only undertaken with extreme care, and the submarines now confine their operations mainly to torpedo attacks. The German patrols aro sharing the heavy, losses resulting from the increased Allied defence.

The dangers of li-boat .service aro •causing numerous desertions. An escaped sailor, who recently arrived in Norway, described the result of a British vessel's attack oil a U-boat. The latter was holed and sank on end, leaving not the slightest chance of escape for the crew. Some were found standing holt-'upright, suffocated by tho air-pressure, when the Germans raised the bolt and towed it into Eniden. Old Admirals Join in the Hunt. One of the most interesting and inspiriting features of tlie auiKsu'bniarino campaign since the beginning has been the caber mum to tue service oi retired naval omcers, who liave oliereil themselves unconditionally l'or this Uangerous sport, or any other sea work, stating that tue country's need appealed 10 tliem. Tliey inciuue some 21) admirals, entitled to rest alter long and strenuous service scattered about the four (quarters oi' tiie globe. The re-enlisted men are happy to accept lower rank, and anxious only to beat the Huns. .For instance, Admiral Paget, lately dead, rejoined in I'JU as commander of an armed patrol yacht included in the North &ea flotilla. His services here earned him a D.ii.O. .and promotion 10 an administrative post ashore. Six of - tile, re-enlisted admirals have boon awarded tho JJ.S.O. and other honours. Two are credited with having sunk a U-boat each. In 0110 instance, after a brief action, smart gunnery smashed the conning-tower of a submarine, which sank like a stone. lu the second caso an admiral, serving as a captain, rushed up his small vessel where the U-boat had submerged and dropped depth charges. The tremendous explosion brought up the submarine, and gunliro completed its destruction. A touch of irony appears in the case of another admiral decorated for services against the submarines., Before the war ho received the thanks of tho German Government for assislnnco rendered to ft distressed German mnilship. Besides the higher officers the Hun hunt has brought out scores of retired potty officers, stokers, and lower ratings, who nro "keen to bo in it." All give splendid service.