UNDER-SEA WARFARE

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 84, 9 April 1920, Page 7

UNDER-SEA WARFARE

ADVANTAGE STEADILY WANING

USE OF GAS. BY NAVIES,

(UNITED ' PRESS ASSOCIATION COPYKIOIIT.)

(AUSTRALIAN - N'BW* ZEALAND CAELE ASSOCIATION. )

(Received April 9, 11.30 a.m.)

LONDON,'7th April. The waning advantage of submarines over surface ships was shown in a. lecture given by Lieutenant King Hall, R.N., at the Royal "Service Institute. He asserted that the advantage, which was 9 to 1 in 1914 and only 7 to 3 last year, was likely to depreciate to 6 to 7 by 1930. Submarine detection apparatus was likely to develop,»which would partially'protect important -ships against tactical attack. He expressed the opinion that the.use of gas would eventually revolutionise naval warfare, for gas might be discharged on the enemy coastline. Such a, plan was contemplated during the. German occupation of Belgium, but was abandoned in deference to Belgian susceptibilities. . He recommended the extension of the convoy system for the protection of commerce in wartime, and ruledViut the plan for making capital ships submersible, on the ground of impracticability. Admiral Sir H. Doveton Sturdee, who presided, agreed with the statement of the lecturer that submersible ships were impracticable. . • •