THE HUNS NEW COMMERCE DESTROYERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 March 1916, Page 4

THE HUNS NEW COMMERCE DESTROYERS.

I'rom time to 'time of late tliovc have been sensational stories in the press concerning what Germany-is doing in the direction of new submarine eraft wherewith her policy of murder and piracy on the high seaa is to be made more effective. Although the German press is pleased to refer to the Allies as "murderers and robbers" it does not seem to occur to these tools of Hunnish infamy that the boot is on the other leg, Britain, in blockading enemy ports is well within her rights under the recognised rules of international warfare, and Germany would also be within her rights in attempting to lift the blockade by sweeping away the British Navy—if she could. Instead, however, of making this legitimate attempt she has instituted a nefarious programme of destruction of unarmed merchantmen by means of submarines, the result of which has been the loss of hundreds of innocent lives, including women and children. This is the sort of devilry that seems to appeal to tli® German authorities with «rrit force, the consequence being that ihere ii reasrn to believe f\rv have beer, having built now submarines expressly designed for the destruction of commerce and passenger ships. According to Mr, John Leyland, an expert writer on naval matters, these new formidable eraft are really destroyers, but it is evident that they cannot be placed in that category as their speed is set down at twenty knots so that they could not talis part in movements by vessels having a very much higher speed; The probability is that they are merely specially designed submarines, having certain improvements that tend to give them greater safety in consequence of merchantmen being now generally armed with light guns. It 19 also extremely likely that these new vessels arc not equal to the latest submarines constructed for the British Admiralty, but there can be no question they will be a menace to shipping, though, probably, not more so than those now in use by Germany. That they would be effective against the guns carred by merchantmen may be admitted, bnt this can be remedied without much difficulty. Germany is bent on the destruction of as many vessilsl of commerce as possible, and the Al/ies must meet this form of madness to the beat of their ability. Mr. Leyland admits that the Admiralty is well prepared to meet this new menace, aiul that allay all anxiety. Hero and there vessels will be destroyed, but judging from Atlantic bookings, the increased ferocity in Germany's submarine warfare has not raised a scare among Americans, this being, probably, dm to President' Wilson's new attitude of firmness in dealing with this matter. Sheer desperation' is driving the Huns to acts of barbaric ferocity, and thus the danger* of ocean conveyances are increased. Warfare such as this is bound to be destructive without being effective, but we can expect no other, and therefore must put up with the inevitable, much as it shocks our principles and befouls the name of civilisation. It is to render such abominations impossible in the future that the Allies have joined together for the purpose of destroying the power for evil vested in the Huns.