British Navy.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 90, 1 October 1915, Page 1 (Supplement)

British Navy.

GERMANS ADMII ITS POWER

There Is a growing difference of opinion in Germany as to the utility ana possibilities of the submarine war, says a "Daily Telegraph"' correspondent. Count Rcventlow. the chief henchman 01 the von Tirpitz party, always demands its continuance on the most line*, basing fantastic nopes on the weapon. "iiO other party. whose views a.re believed to bo t,';"»e f '> Her;' Ik'thinann-Hollweg. consider the 11 .a; lov- through their piratical method- | out-weigiis the gain, hi Uit.est issue of the " Berliner Tageblatt Captain Persius makes the following remarkable admission as to England s sea power:— . " Without doubt the shipbuilding industry is and will be able to replace every loss in fighting units in a very short time. No error is made when it is asserted that the strength of the British sea power is very much higher than it was a year ago. Therefore, expectations in respect to the trade wir tor the present should not be screwed up too high." SUBMARINE PIRACY. Other quotations from the article are : . . On one side, here, the opinion is that Germany can scarcely bring EngI ialid to her knees by its submarine weapons; on the other side that is violent! v contradicted. Both parties aie beside the mark. It all depends on what is meant by bringing England to her knees. A better question would be. 'Can the submarine weapon expect that in consequence of its successful av- ! tack England can be forced to concaide ! peace Can the desire lor peace be ! lii-oiight about by a further destruction I of trading ships, limiting the supplies | o; raw material and food '< it the sub- ; marine: succeeded in putting out ot i noil as many warships, then the Eng--1 .1, fbct. would be liable to attack I ami a. German landing of troops would j 1). possible, if England had not, at the I «;in,e lime, her own Mibmaruies I Hat | i.1,;. j. so. and that the English sub i nnirn.' weapon possesses the fitness to in i., tun to be doubted. In theot.ier .truL-le that again-t the twcT.flft ships- can our submarines be used .n .li nu increasing measure that the haiiux ring of supplies oi food, raw ma- ! icria'l, and munition-- -hill re.-uu m a J ( all for peace ? ! SCUM \IUNT. COAIMAXP 01'' '111!'. : SEA. I ■ \|| i lit lion ties agr-.M that the party hi.'li has in its hand the submarine 1,,.„,nn po-sesses in it a weapon ot the I 1,,..h0t even of decisive importance, vfmu i; h;v no tradmg ship.-i itseu to r,, , jtt Hv. ;e dependent mi sea .In)- (,\i • tence. I heoretica.l.v j 1,., s.aree'v any argument | . ( t h;. Our submarines have

sunk, with the exception of the Dreadnought type, every kind of warship, and in trading ships the quick steamer has proved just as little immune against torpedoes as the slow fishing boats. But those who hope to read of higher numbers in the lists desvroyea of ships have not taken into sufficient consideration the quantity of our submarine weapon, and have also forgotten the difficulties which accompany a successful attack by submarine. Practically, there are many obstacles in the way of the command of the sea by submarines of themselves. But those obstacles can be overcome. With the greatest confidence, we can expect that the still more industrious activity of our submarines will find expression in a continually growing number of sunk en war and trading ships."