EXPLOITS OF SUBMARINES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 December 1939, Page 7

EXPLOITS OF SUBMARINES

“British submarines suffer from the serious disadvantage of having very few targets to attack,” he said. “They are not allowed by the custom of the sea and by the conventions to which we have subscribed to sink merchant ships without warning or without being able to provide for the safety of the crews. “They do not wage war on humble vessels. They do not attack humble fishing boats. They have worked for the most part among minefields and in strongly-defended sectors of the Heligoland Bight. It is only when German warships are sighted that they are able to use their power and skill. But they do venture out of port.” The First Lord then referred to the exploits of the submarine Salmon and describe dthem as “remarkable and praiseworthy in the highest degree.” He added: “Now today the submarine Ursula reports that on December 14 she sank a cruiser of the Koeln class carrying nine 5.9 in. guns, though she was supported by no fewer than six German destroyers.” Referring to the cruisers engaged by the Salmon, Mr Churchill said they possibly were able to reach home, but it was by no means certain in the case of one of them. Both, he said, would be out of action for months. Meanwhile the entire German fleet abandoned whatever enterprise it had in mind.