THE GERMANS' NEW SUBMARINES.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 May 1916, Page 8

THE GERMANS' NEW SUBMARINES.

DRIVEN BY STEAM TURBINES. According to a Washington correspondent, reports of an astounding- development in the size, speed and cruising radius of new German submarine cruisers have reached the Navy Department recently from American naval attache's in ■ the 'belligerent countries. These reports are to be brought before the committee of the House of Representatives on Naval Affairs for consideration. It is stated, for instance, that the Germans have solved the problem of using steam-driven turbines in subtaurines, a radical innovation which practically would end all restrictions to the.size, cruising radius and armament of submersible vessels. To ke.ep pace with German development, the United States Navy has conducted experiments contemplating the use of steam turbines in its sea-going submarines. To do this means must be found to put out and chill the oil-burning boilers in the craft, as well as to dissipate, all gases generated by them. Thus far the United States has not succeeded in accomplishing this end, and naval experts desire Congress to remove from the Appropriation Bills the difficult' requirements which they have stipulated for the big sea-going submarines of the United States Navy. These naval experts doubt seriously many of the reports which come in, even through official military channels, regarding the remarkable development in German submarines The truth probably will never btv learned during the course of the war.

It is known that the Gorman submarine to-day is far past the 800-ton conventional type developed for the German Navy before the war, the correspondent asserts. Photographs have been received, taken from British merchant ships, which show the German submarine with sailors standing on their bridges, and from the comparisons made of the dimensions of the U boats wjth the men It is evident that the Germans have developed far larger types of submersible craft. The reports refer to them as "cruiser submarines." They are ' declared to be steam driven to develop high speeds and to carry comparatively heavy ar-. manient in 4in and Bin guns'. At the commencement of the war the German submarines were in the neighborhood of 800 tons, with a steaming radius of about 2000 miles. Since the war began the German censorship has been drawn ciosely over the operations of their submarines as well as other military and naval matters, and what changes have occurred since the war .'began are'a mystery to the world at large. A great deal of data has been received through both official and unofficial sources, hut the fact is that naval experts doubt the reliability of the official reports in many instances, as much as the unofficial. Evidently Germany is giving our ''official" information of a fake character to throw sand in America's eyes. Another phase of the German submarine campaign upon which the members of the Xnvul Committee will be furnished with Information is the method of replenishing the cruisinc submarine?, with fuel and other stores. In the last few months there have been many reports, mainly from British and French sources, that the German submarines operating in British and FVeneh waters have a large unarmed submersible to carry fuel and supplies to the submarines which are cruising in the war zone, and that the -submarines meet the supply ship at fixed places in the open sea, where their tanks are refilled and other stoves takfn aboard from the submersible. In case the enemy's vessels approach, both vessels sink into the water and get away, only to meet again at some other point to complete their task of outfitting ihc. submarines. While the information which has come from naval attaches abroad is carefully guarded by Captain Oliver and other' officials of the Navy Department, it is known to contain some explanation of these reports. Some officials of the American Xavy Department are -inclined to believe that the submarine supply vessel is a myth, and they base their contention on the alleged impracticability of carrying a large amount of fuel oil and other supplies by this method. Officials of the Xavy Department familiar with the practical use of. submarines declare such a method of reprovisioning them at sea would be impracticable, because the physical effect of submarine wvice >n the officers and men is so arduous that, after about two weeks' active service under war conditions snr-h as prevail in the cold temperatures of the North Sea, the German submarines must return to their base, not jnly t*o replenish their supplies, but also to permit the men to recover from the strain. For physical reasons alone, it ,is stated, a submarine cannot remain at sea much longer than two weeks and remain in a condition as far as personnel is concerned to perform efficient war service.