BEATING THE U-BOATS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 4757, 3 January 1918, Page 5

BEATING THE U-BOATS.

OLD-FASHIONED DEVICES

LONDON. Sept. 21. Admiral Scheer. of the German Navy, was probably quite right when he said that the Allies had not produced any great scientific invention to combat the submarines, but be discreetly made iio effort to explain why the sinking of ships had lately become so much less serious.

A writer in the Pu.iy Telegraph makes tbe following statement for wliat it is worth :

“It can be stated on official authority that the results of the methods adopted during the past month give cause for growing confidence. No sensational' inventions are being used and no sensational results may be expected. The sinkings will continue but the submarine is defeated. If the public knew what- we know they would not have the slightest anxiety, and the criticism of naval methods would stop at once. Good results are being secured from the. smoke-cloud defence system and it is stated that dozens of ships have been saved bv its adoption. It was officially stated at the Admiralty yesterday that the system has been in visd for some months _on Britisn ships, and the great majority of the British merchantmen have been supplied by the Admiralty with smokeboxes These boxes, with the smoke funnel, are for the production of smoke on board the vessel attacked The smoke funnel requires only fuel for its continuous use. The smoke boxes are for throwing overboard, and once used cannot be recovered. Tlicv produce dense volumes ot smoke, and, skilfully used, completely baffle submarines. _ ‘ “The Bureau of Ordnance ot the United States Navy Department is bavin" huge .quantities • manutactui ed and the Navy Department, m view of the reports of British and American captains, states that smoke-producing apparaus should he available for every vessel. It is reoar ded in naval circles as of great importance for the protection of merchant vessels. ' •• . “A form of smoke box was used m the Battle of Jutland.’"