SUBMARINE'S EXPLOIT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 187, 16 January 1915, Page 4

SUBMARINE'S EXPLOIT.

SINKING OK THE MESSUDYEH. ; "Even greater tlian the rejoicing whichi Frederick 0. I). Sturdee in the South Atlantic recently, was the measure of ' enthusiasm throughout the United King* dom Miich greeted the oflieial anuounoament of the daring exploit of the British, submarine Bll," states the London correspondent of the New York Herald. "With the stealth of a panther aw| daring which surpasses everything liith- - erto recorded in British naval historyy the 811, commander by er Norman B. Ilolbrook, of the Royal Navy, braved destruction by live separate chains of mines laid in the moatj treacherous of currents, and sent the Turkish battleship Messudyeh to thcf bottom of the Dardanelles. "As a just reward for their Lieut-Commander Ilolbrook and his crew escaped in their submerged craft, ru4< ning the gauntlet of heavy gunfire from other warships of the Turkish fleet au| the shore forts. Elusive as a living thing, the submarine dived, came to the surface and dived agaiiv finally escaping unharmed from the gunfl, pursuing destroyers and difficult cur? rents. <

"Although her torpedo thrust did notj take such toll in human life as did that of the German submarine U9, which sent the British cruisers Cressy, Hogue, and Aboukir to their doom off Heligoland in September, the Bll's feat is regarded here as much greater. The U9'q raid was made in the open sea, in home' waters, where the danger from mines was on the side of her victims "The feat of the 81l has served to, convince the British public of one fact concerning which there might have been| lingering doubt. It is that the efficiency of the British submarine is as great as that of the German, and that when opportunity presents itself, the British commanders may be relied upon to dare as great dangers as have hifcln erto been dreamed of. "The exploit of submarine 81l is quite till' most brilliant naval feat of the war so far and will stand out as a signal demonstration of how this style of craft can get at battleships, despite mines, guns and careful watching. Lieut-Commander Holbrook was loofe ' iug or the (loeben when he entered the Dardanelles. The Messudyeh was an old; vessel, so his exploit was perhaps more brilliant than valuable as a feat of naval warfare. "Lieut-Commander Halbrook, the her<S of the raid, is 26 years of age. He id the son of Colonel Holbrook, a well- - known newspaper proprietor at Portsmouth, and lie has four brothers in the service.'' , j ZA