AT SEA.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 23 March 1917, Page 3

AT SEA.

GERMANY’S VAST FLEET OF SUBMARINES. DEVICE TO CUT WIRE HAUSERS. DISASTER AT A LAUNCH. From all sources whence trustworthy news from Germany can be obtained (writes our special correspondent in Amsterdam) there comes a unanimous declaration that Germany is devoting a very large part of her shipbuilding resources to the work of constructing an enormous fleet of submarines. For a year, past there lias been much increased activity in armament work. Hundreds of new factories arc now completed, and hundreds of others are now transformed from peaceful uses. All Germany now appears to have come to the conclusion that the submarine is the weapon of the future for, the German nation, and that complete victory for Germany, which means utter annihilation for her enemies, can, and will thereby be obtained. Day and night the shipyards are never resting. Already submarines in large numbers are in commission. Indeed, apparently, the only limit to the number in commission is the great difficulty in securing cncws adequately trained, so that new submarines should not prove a greater danger to the crews than to unarmed enemy ships. One of the chief training centres foil the new crews of new submarines is Kiel Harbour. There any day may be seen thirty of the newest and largest submarines being used solely for the purpose of training crews; but this is by no means the only centre. The most striking features of these new vessels are their great size and the extraordinary shape of the bows. IT BOAT 'S SOMERSAULT. The outline of the bows is described to me as being like the blade of a scythe pointing upwards out of the waten. By some process, said to be newly invented, this blade is extremly hard and extremely sharp, so that when the submari iue, travelling at a moderate speed, strikes a wire hausen an inch and a half thick, it cuts it through as if mere hempen rope. Those new vessels axe built and provided for voyages of seventy days, while in ease of absolute necessity the voyage can be much extended.

This work of construction and training is not canned out without dangers, difficulties, and accidents. At the recent launching of a submarine at the famous Germania Wharf a disaster occurred. The submarine was released, and glided down the slips with increasing speed. When it was quite impossible to check it the spectators saw lying across the slips either a crowbar or other iron implement. They could only watch and wait, for the impact. The vessel struck the obstacle, bounded up, and then fell upside down in the water. Twelve men were drowned. The breathing space which Germany thinks may possibly result from the peace talk, even though without any definite result, would just now be invaluable to Germany for completing her plans. Those placing faith in the submarines are naturally displeased with the peace offer of the German Government, They explain the peace offer, by saying that Grmany is forced to make the offer owing to avery urgent plea from Austria, Avho is unable to continue the struggle, being weany and exhausted.