LOST SUBMARINES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1575, 11 July 1916, Page 4

LOST SUBMARINES.

Very little has been heard for some weeks of the German submarine campaign. The Naval and Military Record, discussing Germany’s losses in submarines, says it is certain that the Germans have suffered very heavy casualties. A few months ago it was stated before a Congressional Committee on the other side of the Atlantic that as many as sixty German submarines had disappeared for good and all. In the meantime, the operations against these craft have continued, and, there is no reason to doubt, with considerable success. Confirmation of this view is supplied by the summary of a speech which the Imperial Chancellor recently delivered at a secret sitting of the General Committee of the Reichstag. Dr Bethmann-Hollweg is reported to have staled that “a great mistake has been committed in over-esti-mating the value of the submarine campaign against England. Our naval exports no longer believe, in the probability of reducing England to starvation and ruin by submarines even if the war lasts another two years.” These remarks were made in connection with the “concessions'” recently made to America. No doubt the Chancellor had in mind the heavy strain which the campaign lias imposed upon Germany. Scores of submarines have left German ports never to return. Not only the ships, hut the crews have been lost. While German industry can produce large numbers of underwater boats, it is certain that the trained men cannot as readily ho replaced. Hence arises no doubt the new view which the German authorities take of the extent of the injury which could he inflicted upon Britain, even if the wav lasted another two years.