HOW TO STOP THE U-BOATS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 276, 18 May 1917, Page 3 (Supplement)

HOW TO STOP THE U-BOATS.

PRACTICAL REMEDIES FOR DEALING WiTH THE SUBMARINE MENACE

submnrne menace is much more dangerous than is dreamt of by the ordinary individual. The sinister craft is not now the frail thing it was even a few months ago. The new German U-boat possesses a top whaleback deck, covered with about three-quarters of an inch of steel plating which is impervious to any but a good-sized shell; it is too, fitted with a gun which has an effective range of two to three miles. In these circumstances, it is practically useless to tackle the now typo of boat with anything loss than a 4.7 gun, which will outrange it. The Admiralty should get to work at once and place some such weapon forward on as many vessels as they can—those plated aft ma vbe bettor than none at all, but every practical sailor will agree that the forward posit'on gives more than double the protection. There is now no objection to this on the score of such armament being beyond the limit permtted for defence, as America—even before her recent break with Germany —had announced that she would allow ships so fitted all the rights of noncombatants, including the use of her ports. This plan, and the refusal by Neutrals of supplies to the U-boats, nro the only two methods by which tho murderous attacks upon our merchant and hospital ships can be speedily and effectively stopped. It is, too, a very great pity that 'the recommendation of the International Convention —made after the Titanic disaster —that every vessel carrying over fifty persons should bo bound to be fitted with wireless, wa.s not made law, and' that the Board of Trade have thus no power to enforce such a rule. Another precaution for the saving of life at sea is that all passenger vessels should also be fitted with an independent emergency petrol-driv-en generator, placed on the top bridge, to work the wireless, emergency lights being installed in case the ordinary dynamo, which is generally placed lielow, breaks down—as it is likely to do should the ship be flooded. What deplorable results have followed the neglect of these precautions is shown in tho story of the loss of the Laurentic. It that the Captain of this fine liner tried to send a wireless? call for help, but found that "it could not be done owing to the explosion in the en-gine-room." He was, however, able to walk round the vessel for forty-five minutes after she was torpedoed', and although she lay close to shore, owing to her not having an emergency wireless set, he was unable to make known her desperate condition. The poor peopde on board had to take to the boats and were not rescued for 23 hours —when some had been frozen to death. Surely it is time that at least every vessel carrying troops or passengers should bo compelled to lie fitted with this very inexpensive and simple emergency wireless set. MORE PROTECTION WANTED.

Captains of vessels carrying foodstuffs to Great Britain are, however, not behind in their demand for the protection afforded bv wireless, as by its means they are, of course, kept fully in touch with what is taking place both in tlieir immediate vicinity and in practically every part of the globe. One Master complains bitterly that, recently arriving from a South American port, although he was running on the course laid down for him by the Admiralty in their instructions he saw no patrol boat and received no help in response to his S.O.S. call, despite the fact that ho was torpedoed but 48 miles off the English coast. The crew had already been compelled to take to the boats before the patrol turned up. Surely a number of patrols of the M.L. ela.*s, of which we hear so much, could be spared to assist vessels arriving off the coasts. If the weather compels them to run in for shelter at night—as is now frequently the case —could not torpedo-

boats be spared as escort to tin so ships, especially those conveying foo l or munitions? Tiio men of the mercantile marine have shown noble devotion, but some of them are beginning to ask whether all possible is being done to protect them —they have an uneasy feeling that tuey arc left to shift for themselves or placed at the mercy of tho novice in marine matters. We would suggest that the Government should collect together in the Canaries a number of vessels bound from the South Amercan Ports with meat or grain, protect them whilst there, and then convoy them home with one or two armed cruisers or torpedo boats. This plan would be liktoly /to be the means of saving many valuable cargoes, ships, and lives. THE TONNAGE SHORTAGE. There is, too, a way of overcoming to a large extent the shortage of tonnage, and one which could quickly !k> put into operation if left in the hand." of thorouhlv practical men, unhampered by Admiralty rod-tape—it should certainly not be delegated to any of the higiily-pa.id and ill-informed fancy "Consulting Engineers" usually employed by Government departments. Tne idea is not in all respects entirely new, it having been tried with success in one large American-controlled business. At the present time the AngloAmerican Oil Company possess large tank barges, constructed to carry 10,000 tons of bulk oil, which are towed across from America astern of a steamer also loaded with about the same quantity of liquid fuel. Both the liarges and the. steamers are equipped with compensating towing gear, of a special kind, which has been proved most efficacious, fir, this towage across the Atlantic has been in operation for some years without serious mishap. The barges are, of course, more simple hulls, and could be easily constructed and equipped ready for sea at .any shipyard in three or four months. There is really no great shortage of labour in the ironworkers' trades—the pinch is one the. engineering side —and therefore the. building of dozens of these craft could be immediately commenced without delaying tne present shipyard work; plates and angles are easily obtainable. These vessels could bo towed astern of any of the larger class of good-powered semi-tramp steamers, and would prolong the voyage to a very slight extent only. On arrival at the nearest port,— say Queenstown they could be dropped, tugs taking them wherever required, the towing steamer with her full cargo proceeding to any other destination. As regards protection, a gun could be readily mounted on the centre of such a barge, the all-round range being a great asset. The fine weather is coming shortly, and 'f our Powers that Bo will but take this matter in hand at once, in four months they could have a fleet of fifty 10,000 ton barges ready to leave for North America to fetch over half a million tons of any class of cargo required. We do not see why such barges should not lie 'ble even to bring meat and other commodities from the Argentine and American ports generally—the weather conditions on this passage are usually more favourable than those on tho voyage from North America. We make this suggestion to tne new British Ministers with great confidence, feeling that its adoption would lie a very important step towards the immediate replacement of a great part of the tonnage which has been lost and the need of which we are at present feeling so much. To meet at once tho ordinary official plea that when reforms or new methods are brought forward they are unworkable, we may say that we can place the authorities in touch with practical men who would carry out the scheme wtihoivt delay. "John Bull."