ON THE SEA.

Taihape Daily Times, 8 November 1917, Page 5

ON THE SEA.

GERMAN MYSTERY SHIP. LONDON, Nov 6. It is authoritatively stated that the electrically-controlled boat' which the British destroyed on the Belgian coast was a large petrol-driven surface torpedolike vessel, filled with explosives, paying out a thin wire connected, with the shore, from which it was controlled whilst air--7 craft conned its movements. It was first used a fortnight ago, when it dashed at high speed into a neighbouring pier, wrecking the harbour works. It next tried the Channel, but was easily destroyed by British tor-pedo-boats. Third and fourth at- ‘ tempts proved similar iiascoes. A NAVAL MYSTERY. One would like to know more about that “electrically-controlled German boat” which the British patrols sank off the Belgian coast. It is natural that naval writers should suggest that the boat carried no crew, but was controlled by wireless from the shore or because for some years there has been talk of the pos- ' sibility of such control. ■ Even before ixntm ; Ciliy. fifitiv/ ; •» the war inventors were working on ‘jr-.iiif 10. , o ■ the problem of controlling boats and torpedoes from a distance, and both # then and during the war it has been confidently claimed that the problem ■ftas solved. We recall a magazine , story in the old days, in which a scientist in Britain worked havoc in Berlin by means of a crewless airship directed by wireless. He was able to steer it to a point over the and then , brought dofm either , a the whole ship, or a number of bombs. The problem is fascinating, and might yield such decisive results, that probably numbers of men are working on it in various countries. , The torpedo is formidable enough as it is, but it would be much more so if its course could be altered at will from the ship that fires it. But in spite of the assertions that such control -has been achieved, there is no record of the invention having hitherto been used in this war. Perhaps more than one Power has hig-h hopes of it. But if this development does not come now to add a new terror to war ; it may be expected in the future; at least no one would say, in view of what has been done in the last twenty years, that it was impossible. A YACHT TORPEDOED. OFFICERS AND CREW MISSING. T Received 10.5. , WASHINGTON, Nov. 7. Official: —The armed yacht Aleedo was torpedoed and sunk in the war zone, last Monday. The officers and twenty men are missing; it is feared they are drowned. MYSTERIOUS BRITISH CRUISERS. AN ENTIREY NEW TYPE. Received 10.5. PARIS, Nov 7. The “Temps” describes the mysterious new British cruisers as being of great length, with long decks fore and aft, lying very low in the water. Each deck is fitted with tripod masts which are armoured with 'three turrets and two guns of large calibre in the centre. The vessels are far •more speedy than pre-war cruisers. They have already been a year in service. All guns s.re under the control of one man. GREECE. VISITS LONDON Received 10.5. - PARIS, November 7. Venezelos 'is visiting ‘Paris arid London.