THE SUBMARINES.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16216, 20 May 1918, Page 7

THE SUBMARINES.

BRITAIN'S ACTIVITIES.

STIRRING DEEDS IN THE BALTIC.

(By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright J (Australian and X.Z, Cable Association.)

(Received Mav 19th. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON. May IS. The Admiralty, lifting the veil over the operations of British submarines in the Baltic, relates stirring deeds of how- they were continually attacking and destroying enemy warcraft while keeping a watchful eye on the movements of the German Fleet. Their work was so effective that finally the German ships kept in their harbours as soon as a British submarine was imported. Unlike the U-boats, not a single case can be alleged of a British submarine sinkiug merchantmen on sight. The merchantmen were invariably boarded in the orthodox manner, and the crews given plenty or time in which to abandon their vessels. They were directed to tho nearest pore or escorted to a neutral vessel. Official documents of the submarines' doings leave a profound impression of the perseverance and skill with which the crews carried on. The passage into the Baltic was most difficult owing to the closest watch being kept, but the •submarines resorted to numerous ruses or waited until they could follow surface craft and run the gauntlet.

On one occasion Submarine-Com-mander Goodhart espied an enemy battleship escorted by destroyers. He fired and observed the .flash of the explosion along the water-line. When the submarine rose again the ship had gone, her destruction being instantaneous. It was the battleship Prinz Albert.

Another submarine sighted a light cruiser of the Ancowa class and fired, the torpedo hitting the cruiser forward. The cruiser was apparently put out of control, and swung round in a large circle, then stopped, fire bursting from her decks. The escorting destroyers attacked the submarine, but the latter evaded them and fired a second torpedo, getting tho cruiser amidships. The magazine blew up, largo masses of iron wreckage falling around the submarine, which before submerging observed the cruiser's crew assembling on the poop. They were later rescued by a large German ferry boat.

As regards the operations against merchant vessels, the following is typical. A submarine sighted and chased a steamer from Hamburg, ladon with wood. She was signalled to stop and was boarded. The crew was ordered to leave, and subsequently hor neacocks were opened and charges exploded and the ship sank. Meanwhile a Hamburg-Amerika liner was sighted proceeding without lights. A boarding party overhauled her and found she was laden with iron ore for Stettin. So quickly did the crew abandon tie ship that interrogations could not be continued. The ship was sunk in a similar manner to the first one, after which within a few hours two more wore similarly despatched.

On . tho following day the commander reported that all German traffic had entirely ceased. LONDON, May 17.

Tho Admiralty records show that tho seven British submarines in the Baltic did splendid service, which included the destruction of three German cruisers, also a number of munition steamers and other cargo boats. In all eases, thq merchant crews were removed to safety beforo a vessel was torpedoed. The "Morning Post's" Petrograd correspondent states > that thero were never more than nine British submarines in tho Baltic, Thero wore still seven when the end came. Despite the great amount of close fighting done by the submarines in the course of three years' incessant work, Germans neither captured nor destroyed any of them. There was not a German harbour in the Baltic that our submarines had not entered and charted, creeping under minefields, and through shallowest channels. Ono submarine destroyed nino German transports in a single day. It was British submarines which preserved Petrograd last summer.

(Received May 19th, 5.5 p.m.)

NEW YORK, May 18

It has been stated from official sources that 12 U-boats were sunk in British waters by British and American destroyers during April. Two othor U-boats are also known to have been sunk, one while attacking a convoy going to Holland. The other rose v.p between two American transports arrying troops to France. A torpedo missed one of the transports by a few feet, and the U-boat was destroyed by depth bombs from a destroyer.

(United Service.) (Received May 19th. 5.5 p.m.") PARIS, May 17

Admiral Wilson, commanding the American Naval Forces in French, waters, states that as a result of the French and American anti-submarine warfare, there were no torpedoings in February and April in the waters in which American warships were operating as compared with 34 in October, 1917.

BRILLIANT ITALIAN EXPLOIT

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

ROME, May 17

There is much speculation concerning the method of the sinking; of tho Austrian warship Viribus Unitis, which is regarded as one of the most prilhant episodes of the war. The officer, Pellegrini, and his comrades were picked men. Italian hydroplanes supported the party and destroyed two enemy aeroplanes and drove down another. The Italian aeroplanes returned safely.

(Received Mav 19th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, May 18.

The "Daily Telegraph's" Milan correspondent states that a motor-boat carrying Pellegrini and three others entered Pola harbour stealthily at night. It's light draught enabled the boat to pass over the submarine mines, but steel nets and many surface mines endangered the chaiinel. The boat rapidly approached the Dreadnought and fired two torpedoes. Seaplanes saw both hit. No news has been received of Pellegrini or his companions, but there is little doubt as to their fate.

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Reuter's Telegrams.) (Received May 19tli, 11.30 p.m.)

LONDON, May 18. An Admiralty report states that a British destroyer was torpedoed f-nd sunk on May 14th. Two men were killed as a result of the explosion.

(Bauter's Telegram*.) NEW YORK, May 17. Mr Charles' Schwab, Director of tho Emergency Fleet Corporation, says he expects a production of three or four 10,000-ton ships daily. "This month,' he said, "we will place one 10,000-

tonner every day, by October two, by the middle of next vear three or four."

Government concrete shipbuilding plants, at a cost of £'2,000.000 sterling, will be erected at Oakland, California, employing 4000 men. It is expected that the average launching ■will be one ship per -week. THE HAGUE, May 17. The "Nieuwe Courant" points out that in the last three weeks German seaplanes attacked three innocent Dutch vessels outside the danger zone. The paper demands that the Government protest to Berlin.

(Australian and Jf.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, .Mar 17.

Gibraltar reports that the steamer Clan Mackay was sunk on May 11th in a collision.