FIGHTS WITH U-BOATS.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 September 1918, Page 3

FIGHTS WITH U-BOATS.

DESTROYERS ON THE TRAIL, GRIM DUELS AT SEA. London, Sept. 7, lite Admiralty is slowlv flttin« the veil which is hiding the anti-submarine campaign by telling typical stories of offensive and defensive contests. The offensive is undertaken by patrol craft, destroyers, trawlers, aircraft, and British submarines, whilst defensive actions are constantly fought bv armed merchantmen. For instance, close on midnight a British steamer sighted an object abaft her port beam. Presently it was identified in the moonlight as a submarine. Two torpedoes were fired by the U-boat. ~4h missed by a few feet, whereupon the skipper ordered the gunners to lire. The steamer and the submarine opened fire almost simultaneously, but the German got in only one round, thanks to the accuracy of our gunners, who fired 1!) rounds, scoring nine direct hits. The U-boat sank amidst oil and wreckage.

■ AGRESSIVE DESTROYERS. The work of the destroyers is necessarily aggressive. Recently a convoy of merchantmen was proceeding on* its course when a torpedo was discharged at the escorting destroyer but missed. The destroyer turned and followed the torpedo trail, and dropped depth charges. _As she turned to return to her position, the submarine rose vertically, and remained with its nose out of the water for two minutes, and then sank. Otlicv destroyers gathered and dropped further charges to make assurance doubly sure. The activity of the trawlers is similar to that, of the destroyers. Last week a trawler escorting a' great merchantman, sigiited a periscope close under her bows. The old fishing captain immediately put over his helm, and rammed the enemy. A heavy vibration was fell, and a grating noise'was heard, and in order to complete the job, depthcharges were dropped.

SUB. MEETS SUB. Many duels have been fought between British and enemy submarines. One of our craft sighted a U-boat about eleven o'clock at night, and it proceeded to manoeuvre into a suitable position. The German did not sight the British. Four minutes later two torpedoes crashed into the German and exploded, sinking her in 30 seconds.

Equally vigilant, are the aircraft which continually control the seas. A large seaplane recently sighted a U-boat, and flew over the spot where the enemy had hasten to submerge. A white 'swirl marked the spot, and tho seaplane dropped two bombs, after which oil, wood, and wreckage arose above the water. On the water, above the water, and under the water, the campaign is waged unceasingly.