FIGHTING IDE SUBMARINES

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20917, 23 September 1939, Page 7

FIGHTING IDE SUBMARINES

SUCCESS OF BRmSH METHODS NO SHIPPING LOST FOR WEEK EXCITING EXPERIENCE— RAIDER RAMMED AND SUNK (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Sept. 23, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 22 An analysis of the submarine campaign shows that the losses during the first fortnight, despite the German advantage in having U-boats at focal points before the declaration of war, was only one-half in tonnage and onethird in number those during the peak month of 1917 in the Great War. Not a ton of British shipping has been lost to German submarines since the night of September 18. Captain Arthur Darwood, skipper of a trawler, related how he believed that his vessel apcidentally rammed and sank a German submarine. The trawler sighted two British warships and a British aeroplane circling over them. The warships signalled that there was a submarine in the vicinity consequently the trawler went at full speedSuddenly there was a crash and the bows of the vessel rose high in the air. There was a second crash amidships a moment later and the trawler was partly thrust out of the water. A third crash followed, when the stern seemed lo be pulled down. The force of the impact w’as so great that the trawler was brought to a standstill, despite the fact that the engines were going full-speed. Looking astern, the crew saw the water boiling with air bubbles. A quantity of oil then rose to the surface. The trawler’s propeller was damaged and the vessel was leaking when she reached port.