VITAL TO VICTORY

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVII, Issue 21, 27 January 1943, Page 6

VITAL TO VICTORY

DEFEAT OF U-BOATS. ALLIES FACE BIG PROBLEM. SYDNEY, Jan. 21. There is a growing conviction m the United Staies tnat unless tne pubmarme is oonquered a complete victory over the Axis cannot be achieved in 1944 — or possibly ever. This is reported by A. D. Rothman, a Washington ecirtspondent of ihe I Sydney Morning Herald, who says, I that while Canadian, British ana American slnpibuildmg has made posj sible a growing excess of ships over 1 sinkings, it is now clearlv seen thati . merely to build ships faster than they can be sunk is noc an answer to the problem. A full answer to the sutmarine may yet be far distant. It is impoi-t-ant, however, that at last adequate resources are being supplied towards the seeking cf such an answer. There have been reports that the true totals oi submarine sinkings are being suppressed, and that they are possibly a million tons a nionth. MUST BE ELIMINATED. This figui\> is excessive, but the point is that with the Allies now on ar. offensive that must increase in tompo to achieve victory the submarine must all but too elianinated if sufficient shipping is to be provided to transport sufficient men and materials where that victory can be achieved on the field of ba-ttle. American production hnd the Army aro growing, and the lack of means ry; transport for these has further emphasised the growing tenseness of the position. This is, perhaps,. illustrated by the single fact that it is reported that corvdttes — at present the primary anti-submarine instrument — have been given No. 2 production priority, high octane petrol being first, and aeroplane production third. To the credit of the British it can be said that they have been extremely aware of the situation, and thati only slowly have the American naval authorities come to recognise that t.he submarine is probably the one instrument of modern warfare for which there has r.ot yet been found a complete antidote. MORE IMPORTANT THAN AIR POWER. There are now British and American technical experts who avow that; the submarine at present transcends air power in importance for an Allied victory. It is thought that the German High Command may noti believe that Germanv can win the war, but it is convinced that the submarine can prevent the Allies from winning. Germany may be putting a large proportion of lier resources into submarine warfare. The German submarine service among the Nazi services at present has the highest morale, due to its successes, and. contrary to the general belief in Allied countries, Ihe lcsses of subtnarines are neither high nor having a depressing effect on submarine personnel. German submarine building and operation are believed to have reached a high state of perfection. It is estimated that Germany is building 25 submarines a month, and that she has 470 constantly at sea, some roving, and others concentirated at important communication lines:. Allied bombing of submarine-build-ing sites or ports is not believed to have been a serious handicap. BAITING THE SUBMARINES. Present methods of attacking submarines also have not been so effective as in the last war. The submarine can crash-dive more quickly to lower depths than ever before, and is more manoeuvrable and safer, certain in operation, and more deadly in attack. British submarine experts accredited to Washington, have not had an easy time convincing the American naval authorities that the submarine must be considered positively rather than negatively — a mere nuisance — but they have flnallv succeeded, and increasingly greater resources. will now be applied to the task of cornbating the menace. There are involved: (1) , Purely technical problemsi such as radio detection and more destructive weapons. (2) Tactical problems — namely, convoying, and methods of bringing the submarine within reach of destructiion. This involves baiting and attracting the submarine rather than hunting for it. (3) A closer and more careful study is being more of German methods of submarine building and operation, and training of crews, all for the purpose of finding weak spots in the submarine tecbnique.