TRAPS FOR SUBMARINES.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 August 1915, Page 5

TRAPS FOR SUBMARINES.

CAUGHT IN WIRE NETS. ; ,7 EXTENT OF GERMAN LOSSES. The London correspondent of the NeW, York Tribune says that it is generally believed in 'Britain that Germany has lost many submarine. One report placed the number at 34. "Ever since the capture of the two German submarines whose crews were made prisoners," the correspondent added, "it has been gener-* ally believed that many captures were being made which the Admiralty did not care to make public. Wire nets placed by the Admiralty in waters where German submarines may lie in wait for ships are 6upposed to have made possible many captures. These nets are much like woven wire fencing, except that their lueSlies are much coarsef. By means of wooden blocks the nets wo kept submerged at about the depth the submarines are likely to move. When the submarines strike the nets their fins and propellers become entanged in the wire and they are forced to rise to Hie surface. When a, submarine hits a. net an electrical connection flashes a signal to some naval base, thus making it possible for naval craft to rush to the >li»abled submarine before it can (liaentangle itself. The British and French navies have located many of the oil t«nks planted by the Germans to supply petrol to the submarines, and nets am . reported to have been placed near these stations. Rumors have been circulated that in some 'coses the English have diluted the petrol in the supply tanks and mixed it with chemicals which would ruin submarine <*hginea if they attempted to use' it. Petrol supply tanks are reported to have been located on tho coast of the Orkneys Islands, along the north and west of Ireland, and in the Bay of Biaca.y.!i iJ