The Daily News. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1914. THE SUBMARINE DANGER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 148, 17 November 1914, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1914. THE SUBMARINE DANGER.

The submarine has proved tlie best naval friend tho Germans have. Without it they would have achieved nothing in tlie North Sea. On the two occasions German vessels have showed their noses above the water-line outside their naval fortresses they have fallen victims to the superior gun-fire arid fighting power of tlie British vessels. The Germans arc now taking no chances with their abovewater ships, relying on their submarines to so reduce the power of the British fleet as to give them a fighting chance later with their capital ships. The latest exploit of the German submarine in attacking the torpedo-boat Niger oil the English coast shows that the submarine is a force to be seriously reckoned with. It also shows that even the coast and open ports of England are not free from danger of attack by these "inventions of the devil," as one naval authority described tliem. Still, the submarine has its limitations. The conditions have to be very favorable before it can succeed 111 its object. Tho circumstances in connection with the sinking of the three British cruisers, tlie Aboukir, Cressy, and Ilogue, the greatest haul the Germans have had, were, for example, entirely favorable. Xcws by mail shows that the cruisers were without their torpedo flotilla. The British North Sea destroyers are fast, stout boats, able to stand more buffeting from the Waves than those used in tlie English Channel or than any German destroyers, but they had been driven into harbor by a strong gale. The destroyer flotilla was on its way to rejoin its cruisers when the German submarines, probably by mere chance, sighted tho cruisers. One British ship was hit. Making a strategical mistake, which will not be repeated, the commanders of the otuer cruisers slowed down to render assistance, find thus presented an easy mark for further attack. Only one British ship brought her guns into action, and there were present no destroyers, the most formidable fighters against submersibles, yet at least one submarine was sunk, possibly two. Against this and other known successful submarine attacks liavo to be placed unsuccessful attacks, known and unknown. Very early in the war the German Uls was sunk by the Birmingham, and there have been reports, not officially confirmed, of other hostile submarines being shelled or rammed. There is strong evidence, that during the battle in the Heligoland Bight German submarines were present, yet four battle cruisers went into the firing line and came out unscathed. It is probable that there have been numerous submarine attacks of which nothing has been heart!, simply because they were unsuccessful. 6n this question, the Auckland Herald makes the following interesting remarks:—The whole virtue of the submersible lies in its ability to approach a large ship unobserved. Beyond that admittedly great advantage it has little to commend it. Slow in motion, and with no defence save that which submersion gives, it is subject to extraordinary marine risks, as well as to the shot of the enemy. Any substantial fragment o'f flotsam is sufficient to break its frail shell and send it to the bottom. Even under the most favorable conditions its attack is subject to a variety of uncertain factors. the activities of submarines may be considerably curtailed by the use of mines, a precaution which the British Admiralty has reluctantly adopted, and which has presumably been used with greater freedom since the closing of the North Sea. Despite its limitations, however, tlie submarine, as wc have good reason to know, is a very dangerous weapon under certain conditions. The increase in its offensive power during recent years has certainly been the most disturbing factor in naval strategy. One -very important improvement lias been tlie gain in speed. The British submarines built in 11)03 could do 110 more than eleven knots on the surface and eight knots submerged, whereas those built last year have a surface speed of from 21 to 34 knots. Their size and '''radius" have increased proportionately, the ISO-ton submarine of ten years ago having given place to vessels of 1300 tpns, with a radius of action of 2800 knots, equal to the voyage from Portsmouth to Gibraltar and back. The latest types carry two periscopes, one fore and one aft, so that they may not be blinded by one accurate shot. Equally striking has been the improvement in tho torpedo. From I the modest 14-inch torpedo of 18G4 to the torpedo of to-day, weighing over IGOOIb., and capable of covering ranges up to JOOO yards, is a far cry. Only a few years ago the lateral course of tlie torpedo was uncertain; like a boomerang it might recoil on the ship firing it. Tho installing of the gyroscope remedied that defect, and to-day the automobile torpedo, costing about £OOO, is certainly capable of doing vital injury to the largest battleship, costing perhaps £2,000,000. As tho submarine is intended to approach close to its victim, it docs not require a long-range torpedo. For this reason the weight devoted to motive power in the ordinary ' torpedo may be largely used to increase the destructive power of the weapon

discharged from the submarine. Tits British have been pioneers in the practical development of the submarine. Britain has more than double the number possessed by Germany, and can build much faster. The conditions of warfare have not yet given the British submarine service much opportunity, except for scouting, and in this work they have excelled. When conditions become more favorable the service may confidently be expected to prove itself both gallant and capable.