The New Terror

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 17, 8 June 1914, Page 5

The New Terror

■«> SUBMARINES ARE THE EFFECTIVE UNITS., ADMIRAL SCOTT'S OPINIONS. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright London, June 5. Admiral Sir Percy Scott declared that a.i motor-cars had driven horses from the streets, so submarines had doomed Dreadnoughts. With seaplanes for scouting the battleship fleet would no longer \m able to put to sea or even remain safely in harbor, as submarines were able to break boo.us. The Admiralty should spend money on submarines and seaplanes and a few fast cruisers. The future navy would be a navy of youth, the only requirements being Tioldness and daring. Admiral Scott's declaration has aroused attention. He contends that if submergibles close the egress to the North Sea and Mediterranean, it is not difficult to see that our commerce would be much interfered with. Thirty or forty submarines in the Straits of Gibraltar would make the passage of a fleet hazardous, and any Power sending ships to hunt and destroy submarines would be courting disaster. Britain with its many harbors and much shipping will be at a great disadvantage if the enemy has plenty of submarines. THE CONTRARY VIEW. SUBMARINES INSUFFICIENTLY TESTED YET. London, June C. Admiral Sir Cyrian Bridge opines that neither submarines nor torpedoes have been tested sufficiently to justify Admiral Scott's conclusion. The Secretary of the Navy League says his conclusion may considerably injure our sea supremacy at a monient when economists are seeking to reduce the expenditure. Submarines have not reached a stage in their evolution to warrant Admiral Scott's assertions. A BROADSIDE OF CRITICISM. Received 7, 5.5 p.m. London, June C. The Pall Mall Gazette states that there was a holocaust nt Hie last manoeuvres, owing to Admiral Sir J. R. Jeilicoe allowing the submarines to go hunting ii the bag. So the enormous manoeuvres ended abruptly. The flagship was specially attacked, and not an admiral left afloat. Admiral Jeilicoe suffered less, owing to his keeping at sea and steaming at high speed day and [ night. Another authority denies that capital ships are doomed, for the submarines are too slow and too low to see over the waves. Other experts point out that a similar ery was made when torpedoes were invented, ami, that Admiral Scott was wrong in suggesting that submarines arc invulnerable. It is untrue that they arc able to attack booms 4 , particularly the new explosive booms which are a ,'ireat success on the Continent.