SUBMARINE TO FIGHT SUBMARINE

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume XLV, Issue XLV, 19 October 1917, Page 1

SUBMARINE TO FIGHT SUBMARINE

• BEATING THE'U boats. [By Dr E. Anema, a Well-known Dutch Thinker.] The problem of the destruction of the German submarine has not yet been solved. 'Hie latest news indicates,, ifc is true, a decrease in the number of merchantmen sunk, but the reports are less encouraging so far as Frances is concerned. At any rate, the number of merchantmen sunk is still appallingly great. Without forgetting' for one moment the excellent measures taken by the Admiralties to combat the evil, such as metal nets, ' small surface vessels, seaplanes, and the arming of merchantmen themselves, the writer wishes to call attention to a measure that might- be taken now that America, with its thousands of excellent technical hands, has entered into the war. I refer to the submarine itself as a factor in tile destruction of the submarine. The measure seems almost too simple to be advocated, and it lacks the attraction of novelty. It consists in opposing equal to equal—submarine against submarine. It is as a neutral, devoted friend of the allied cause that I propose iii all modestv my idea to the highly competent technical advisers of the Allies, with the' following explanatory remarks:— Qualities a fleet of submersible destroyers should, possess: The submarine destroyer, built with the object of sinking U boats, should be twice the size of the boat it has to attack, should have double the surface speed and diving capacity, the external plating should be twice as thick as that of its adversary, and its armament should be twice as powerful. 3,000 TO CHASE 300. Supposing Germany possesses 300 submarines, the Allies should have a fleet of 3,000 submersible destroyers to chase the 300 pirates. This fleet of submersible destroyers should be divided into different squadrons, to be stationed in waters which the pirate mostly haunts. Each squadron should be xeady U> start out as soon as a' German pirate has been signalled in its zone. Why the technical success of the submarine destroyer seems to be assured: Taking the submarine as it exists, the application of mv idea, from a technical point of view, has this advantage: that itlias not to go through the stages incumbent on an altogether new invention. The necessary stages of every new invention are: (1) The conception of the idea in all its technical details; (2). the trials and experiments before the idea can be put Into practice. All this means time, which at- the present is an exceedingly valuable factor. Why the submersible destroyer should be ' more practical than the surface destroyer: Why do I imagine that the submarine itself can be made si>ecially effective in hunting the submarine ? In answering this question I would recall the habits of a certain tiny Javanese duck which lives almost as well under as above water. In presence of danger it dives, usually long before the hunter can reach it, justas the German submarine dives as soon as it smells danger. To approach the duck the hunter makes himself almost invisible. His gun lying in front of him on the bow of the boat, lie lies prone in an extremely low and'small canoe, paddled by a cleverlittle native. Were lie .able to convert his snrlace canoe at will into a submersible to dive and reappear close to the flock of ducks, lie certainly would have a better chance of surprising them than now, when he has to remain a Long way off and trust to a skill that few shots possess. ADVANTAGE OF DIVING. The ocean-going German submarine (we know this from the log books of their commanders) keeps out of the way of its enemies. The submersible destroyer would have another advantage over the surface destroyer : that of being able to make its self invisible by diving if attacked. ' Lack of adaptability a weakness of the Allies in this war : I believe that the Allies in this war have often been behindhand in adopting the ideas of others. They should have been quicker to adapt war methods, even those of the Germans, who, having prepared for almost half a century for this war, doubtless bad devices worthy of imitation. One of their ideas was the siege guns which reduced Liege and made Charleroi possible. An instance of German adaptation is the Zeppelin, an engine not theirs originally, but which in their hands has become a force in naval battles. Then there is the sub•marine. I am of opinion that the Allies underrated the technical capacities of their opponents. To underrate one's enemy is a mistake. Even now, after nearly' three years of war experience, one hears intelligent people say that the Germans only imitate. For argument's sake let this be granted. There are, however, moments when the adaptation of principles and devices proves more useful than new inventions. The Germans have realised this. They adapted such inventions as the dirigible." aeroplane, and submarine.

and with these " perfected " engines they are doing an immense amount of harm, so much so that at a certain moment itlooked as if the pretended submarine blockade of the English coast had become a reality., THE LESSON. I sincerely hope the Allies will take ihis lesson to heart. I am convinced tliey can' do it now by 'adapting an invention of their own, that of the."submarine, and building a large fleet of submersible destroyers. It should not take them long, now that America is with them, to launch some 3,000 speedy, heavily armed undersea destroyers. „ As for the crews, it should not be difficult for America, which has taken* a -Treat pride in her navy since the. War of Independence, to find the intelligent and valiant sailors necessary. This undersea fleet would. I believe, soon out-manoeuvre if not altogether destroy the relatively small number of German pirates manning her U boats 'Daily Mail.; . -