Report Of Submarines In N.Z. Waters Denied

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29234, 18 June 1960, Page 14

Report Of Submarines In N.Z. Waters Denied

(New Zealand Press Association)

DUNEDIN, June 17. Rear-Admiral P. Phipps, Chief of the Naval Staff, has emphatically denied a statement published today quoting him as confirming that unidentified submarines had been sighted within the territorial limits of New Zealand waters. He said tonight that he said unidentified submarines had been sighted in New Zealand waters, but that he did not specify the three-mile territorial limit. Rear-Admiral Phipps confirmed that at present the Royal New Zealand Navy was not in a position to defend this country’s coastline. When new equipment arrived, however, the position would be rectified. He said there were about 100 Russian submarines operating in the Pacific. Many were on longrange exercises. They were “popping up far afield,” and he confirmed that sightings had been made off the New Zealand coast. The Russians were interested in oceanographic research, and it was logical for them to use submarines to carry out this work, he said. He said there was no basis for any protest from New Zealand on the Rusisan operations because no submarines had come within the three-mile limit. He could not say how many sightings had been made.

Asked what would happen if a New Zealand warship saw a submarine surface within territorial limits, Rear-Admiral Phipps said

the ship would naturally ask what it was doing within the Dominion’s waters, but any further action would be a matter for the Government. The Navy was not investigating the sightings of submarines other than to collect and evaluate reports. The Navy Office was grateful for any reports of submarine activity. It was. he said, perfectly legitimate for ships of any foreign nation to travel where they liked outside anyone’s territorial limits. The Russian cruises in the Pacific were purely routine. He referred to the cruises of American submarines. particularly the voyages under the North Pole and the underwater circumnavigation of the world by the Triton.

”1 want to avoid alarming anyone,” he said. “These long-range cruises are normal operations.”