FIGHTING THE SUBMARINE.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 July 1919, Page 9

FIGHTING THE SUBMARINE.

depth charge intention, how; the idea originated. ' The story of how the now-fanioua antisubmarine depth charge came to be invented was told by Admiral Sims, head of the American Navy, ou liis return to New York recently. Much haa been published about this efficient engine of destruction which accounted for so many of the German undersea craft, but this story told to Admiral Sims by Viscount Jellicoe of Scapa, formerly chief of the Grand Fleet of Britain, is the first account of the origination of the depth bomb idea. , 'The bomb is of such simple construction and fills such an obvious need," said Admiral Sims, "that if it had not been invented at the period it it must surely have come to light within a few months of that time. "It was first thought of at the Admiralty, according to Lord JelUcoe, when Admiral Madden, second in command of the British fleet, called for some such device after an encounter that a cruiser he was aboard had with ft submarine. The German rose suddenly close to the cruiser and launched a torpedo at her from short range. This, fortunately, missed, and the cruiser was swung about and rushed toward the enemy at full speed in an endeavour to tam it. However, the German commander got his eraft under water iu time to save her, but as the British want d'. or him the officers leaning over (he nMe could distinctly make out its outlines at some distance below the Biirface Chagrined by the escape, one of Admiral .iladden's officers renarkec! that they would have got their prey if they had had a mine to drop over the side as they passed above her. "'Why can't we have something of that sort," replied the admiral, and immediately forwarded the suggestion to the Admiralty offices, asking that experts he put at work on the task ol preparing specifications. "Out of this episode," concluded Admiral Sims, "was developed the "ash can" loaded with TNT, with the aid of which a few destroyers were enahled to protect great convoys and terrorise the German underfea force. The depth bomb and the destrover became the AAti a|Yt) SWfew» el tlii