BLINDING THE SUBMARINE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1762, 8 December 1917, Page 2

BLINDING THE SUBMARINE.

A WRITER in the Daily- Telegraph tnahrv? following statement regarding thg dejx'nf-.e ,of shipping against submarines >—lf pan he stated on official authority that f he results of the methods adopted during the past month give cause for growing confidence. No sensational inventions are being used, no sensational results tuny be expected, The sinkings will "contiwje, but

the submarine is defeated. If the public know what we know they would not have the slightest, anxiety, and the criticisms of naval methodswould stop at once. Good results are being.secured from the smoke*, cloud defence system, and it is stated that dozens of ships have been saved by its adoption. The system has been in use for some months on British ships, and the great majority, of British merchantmen have beeh supplied by the Admiralty with smoke-boxes. These boxes, with the smoke funnel, are for the production of smoke on board the vessel attacked. The smoke funnel requires only fuel for its continual use. - The smoke-boxes are for throwing overboard, and once used cannot be recovered. They produce dense volumes of smoke, and, skilfully used, completely baffle submarines. The United States Navy Department is having huge quantities manufactured, and the Department, in view of the reports of British and American captainsj states that smoke-producing apparatus should be available for every vessel. It is regarded in naval circles as of great importance for the protection of merchant vessels.