SUBMARINE RACE.

Waipukurau Press, Issue 301, 27 August 1908, Page 2

SUBMARINE RACE.

9 The naval manoeuvres have been made historical by the remarkable performance of the flotilla of 17 submarines belonging to the “ B ” and “ C ” classes. They left Dover for Granton, and without stop made for the Firth of Forth, anchoring at the inside of the west breakwater. The voyage was thus accomplished in the remarkably short time of about 40 hours, and is the longest non-stop run ever made by a flotilla of submarine boats. On the journey each boat had its full complement of 16 men, and, travelling in an awash position, was propelled by the gasoline engines. With little more than their towers and narrow decks above the waterline, the submarines presented an appearance that accorded well with the official secrecy that is observed regarding their construction and equipment. These submarines ate the British development of the original Holland design, which was obtained from the United States eight years ago. Their cruise definitely asserts the usefulness of British submarines as offensive men-of-war of high value, and not merely as weapons for local defence. The total number of men-of-war of all classes engaged in the North Sea operations were no fewer than 311. Of these 29 are battleships, 24 armoured cruisers, 36 protected cruisers and scouts, 130 destroyers, 40 torpedo-boats, 30 submarines, and the rest made up of mine-layers, torpedo gun boats and attendant vessels.