GERMAN SUBMARINES

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 19, 23 January 1915, Page 4

GERMAN SUBMARINES

A writer on Naval matters in the Sydney ])aily Telegraph holds that there is very little doubt that the Germans are using mother ships of novel form for their submarines. We knew that experiments had been conducted with a view of transporting these “sharks” of the sea fitted for such a purpose exist in the British Navy, but very little was known of other designs which the Germans were reported to have tried with success. The general idea was of course understood, but little attention was paid to the matter, as modern movement was more towards the development of a sea-going type of vessel, which would not require any “mothering” in the usual acceptation of that word by sailors. It is now believed that the Kaiser’s navy has worked on the lines of providing a few vessels of moderate displacement, which are in effect a sort of floating dock. By the creation of watertight compartments on these ships it has been possible to open up the ends, and so allow a submarine to enter and leave the ship at will. Since the war began the idea has been further developed, and this is believed to account for several attacks made on British ships which were under ordinary conditions inexplicable. Of course the use of vessels flying neutral flags gives time for the execution of attacks, and there is very little doubt but that it has been resorted to very frequently'.