ON THE SEA.

Taihape Daily Times, 6 June 1918, Page 5

ON THE SEA.

GERMAN SUBMARINES IN AMERICA. DESTROYER INTERRUPTS SUBMARINE. WASHINGTON, June 4. Tho Navy Department announces that a destroyer to-day interrupted a U-boat attack on a French steamer sixty-five miles off the coast. Submarines continue sinking schooners off the Maryland coast. It is believed they are unable to- interfere with convoys, THE SUBMARINES' PLANS. AN INTERESTING STORY. WASHINGTON, June 4. The crew of the Edena landed in an Atlantic port after being prisoners for more than a week on Ulsl. They declare that the submarine's mate asserted that Germany had established a permanent U blockade of the American coast A fleeet of most powerful U-boats would soon'be operating. He declared that the submarines now operating left Kiel seven weeks ago, carrying'six months''supplies. He declared that they expect to remain a year, getting provisions and fuel from seized vessels. The U-boat mate had been in the United States Navy five years, and lived in New York for eight years. He said men for the German submarine blockade had been drafted from sailors formerly in the merchant marine and familiar w T ith American

ports. The U-boats which have reached the United States coast via the West Indies are 225 feet long and carry fiveinch guns. , ,: NEW, YORK, June 4. New York harbour has" been re-open-ed for traffic. The submarines so far are knovai to have sunk 17,000 tons, exclusive of unamed tankers. LIST OF VESSELS SUNK. ACTIVE SEARCH INSTITUTED. U-BOATS AFTER TRANSPORTS. Received 9.35 a.m. NEW YORK, June 5. Survivors from the steamer Carolina state that U-37 sank her. The women survivors are under the care of physicians. The Carolina's empty lifeboat when picked up bore evidence of being struck by shell fire. The news of the sinkings" of the ships near the coast caused a widespread sensation, confirming the belief that the Germans' purpose is to endeavour to sink American transports in home waters. The Navy Department is scouring the sea in search of the raiders, utilising destroyers of all types and submarine chasers.

Many reports have been received of messages from ships which are being shelled. Liners arriving report that two tankers were submarined 150 miles off Sandy Hook. The steamer Bristol ■ encountered a U-boat 35 miles off Barngat Bay on Sunday . One, submarine is reported to be 200 feet long, with two large guns mounted fore and aft. The list of vessels sunk is believed to include the schooners Hattie Dunn, 365 tons; Edward Cole, 1799 tons; Isabel Willy, 600 tons; Jacob Hasketh, 1380 tons; Edna, 500 tons; Haupugge, 1330 tons; also the steamer Winnecombe, 1869 tons; tanker H. D. Pratt, 1000 tons; Carolina, 500 tons; schoner Samuel Hathaway, 1000 tons. Aeroplanes and hydrollines are participating in a coastwise search. The New York Times' Washington correspondent states the Navy Department has been searching for U-boats since May 15. when the British Government sent a warning that U-boats were probably bound for American waters. It is expected the U-boats will return to Germany or to a secret base in Mexico or South America.

The Navy is searching for a possible submarine supply. The boats of the steamer Bristol rescued the crews of two schooners. Captain Newcombe, of the sunken schooner Edward Cole ; adds that the U-boat's commander said: "We will give you ten minutes to get away." Shortly afterwards bombs were placed 1 in the Cole's hold and blew the 1 schooner to pieces and she sank. Wall Street oil and ship stocks are falling, while other interests showed smaller declines. U-BOATS SOW MINES. WAR SPIRIT STIMULATED. 20,000 TONS SUNK. Received 10.50 a.m. NEW YORK, June S. The Navy Department reports a mine was picked up off the Delaware coast. The captain of a Canadian liner reported that a tanker was sunk. Another tanker wirelessed "We are attacked." Passengers and crew of the Carolina are safe. New York City will be darkened as a protection against possible air raids. Navy officials believe the U-boats have departed from American waters The campaign was a failure from a military standpoint. The total tonnage sunk is estimated at slightly In excess j of twenty thousand.

It is believed one of the U-boats is a minelayer, and sowed mines systematically in the coastal ship line. When the survivors' boats at an Atlantic city most dramatic scenes were witnessed. Ten thousand people lined the beach and men, women, and children jumped into the water and met incoming boats, helping the survivors ashore. Bands played "The Star-Spangled Banner." The raids have caused most wide, spread indignation and an extraordinary stimulation of Avar spirit and recruiting. Mr. Daniels issued the following statement:- I believe the U-boats were intended to create a demand for the return of American warships to home waters. That is unnecessary. The Navy will protect the coastwise shipping and transports will be convoye the entire Atlantic journey. Later reports show, in addition to the list cabled, another vessel has been sunk and the crew of 30 lancTed at an Atlantic City. They state the ship was swept by shrapnel and the crew placed in open boats. They were foodless for 24 hours. It is believed the U-boat's crew numbered seventysix. The vessels have a surface speed of 25 knots. New York newspapers point out the raid will result in firing the war spirit to fever heat and stimulating recruiting. The "World" says there will not be any picnic. Transports will go to Europe according to programme. We are fighting it out. Wall Street-recovered later, closing strong.

A LIKELY SPECULATION. Received 11.20 a.m. NEW YORK, June 5. The New York Times' says it is believed the Carolina has been capturec and not sunk, and that the Germans intend to convert her into "a raider. The U-boat carried a second captain for transfer to the raider . SUBMARINE FABLES. ENEMY'S FALSE CLAIMS. LONDON, June 4 Mr Archibald Hurd, in an article on German submarine fables, says that German newspapers claim that the newest submarines are of 5,000 tons displacement and 450 ft. long, steaming 28 knots, radius of action, of 15,000 miles. These claims are utterly false. The term submarine cruiser has been invented to deceive the German public. That recently sunk by the British was of 2.000 tons and 300 ft. long, with ia surface speed of 12 knots and a submerged speed of 10 knots. She was just an ordinary submarine, armed with a 5.9 gun. The British have built similar submarines.

SHIP CONSTRUCTION. SATISFACTORY INCREASE. Received 10.30 a.m. LONDON, June 5. The Admiralty announces that 197,274 tons of merchant shipping were completed jn May, comparedwith 111,533 tons in April, and comments this satisfactory output is of great credit to the whole industry, especially to the firms engaged putting out vessels. The efforts to reduce the period between launching and comple. tion has produced satisfactory results, the average time being considerably reduced. For example, a five thousand ton steamer was completed in 19 days after being launched.