ON THE SEA.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 April 1918, Page 5

ON THE SEA.

THfc* SUBMARINE CAMPAIGN.

SUCCESS OP COUNTER-MEASURES.

SWJEWST BY HUN NAVAL MINISTER. deceived April 19, 7.55 p.m. Amsterdam, April 18. fhe Minister of the Navy, Admiral Eduard vo n Capelle, speaking in the Reichstag, after condemning the Allied robbery of Dutch ships, expressed satisfaction at the results of submarin&m, adding that whether the position would improve or deteriorate would depend on their military achievements and the replacement of the sunken ships. He denied the unwillingness of submarine crews to put to sea, and affirmed that the statements that the losses of submarines were extraordinarily heavy had been greatly exaggerated. New construction was surpassing the losses.

Whether Britain could continue her naval war with any prospects of «nece*s depended on whether her shipbuilding surpassed her losses He declared that any doubt as to the final success of submariniitn was unjustified, but admitted that anti-submarine measures had attained a certain success, though not tlie decisive success that was alleged. There was a scarcity of steel in England, which would increase.

Admiral Capelle concluded by asserting that the United States would never participate largely is the war owing to the shortage of shipping, which governed Amerioa's effort.