The Hokitika Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1940 SEA RAIDING

Hokitika Guardian, 9 December 1940, Page 4

The Hokitika Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1940 SEA RAIDING

One of tlie aids of Germany in the last war and this is sea raiding by both surface ships and underwater craft. The raiding has become more intensive of late, and the matter of dealing with the problem has been taken in hand by Mr Churchill himself. His experienced naval work in the past, and the thorough knowledge of the sea, will be most valuable, but of course, results cannot come all at once. But come they will. The oceans are very large and though the Navy is doing constant work in extensive patrolling, it is not possible to be in all places at once. The submarines are said to be more numerous than before. These have -been built hurriedly and arc not of .extensive range. Consequently they will be in a restricted area. Doubtless these confined waters adjacent to France will be well patrolled, and some results should dome quickly through bombing though they will not be announced very readily. Some, of the larger submarines may still bunt further afield, and they will be more difficulty to spot. In surface ships there are the E-boats for patrolling and Channel work, equipped with torpedoes. These are fast boats and 'have done some damage to convoys, but they are being dealt with, and Britain, likewise, lias a fleet of these high speed boats which are on duty constantly. The surface raiders in the Atlantic and Pacific appear to be specially built, fast steamers for the purpose, with good long-range guns, and special gun crews. New Zealand has suffered from their depredations in the loss of valuable vessels and cargoes, while the fate of passengers and crews is still unknown. The raiders have appeared off Australia also, and in the Indian Ocean, and are able to lay mines which were effective in Bass Strait and Hauraki Gulf. Fortunately, many of the mines have since been swept up. But there are still reports of the boats operating in various parts. The ships appear to be heavily armoured, and of a high speed, and have claimed many prizes. It is reported now that. Britain is scouring some very fast liners and mounting naval guns on the shins, and those will be sent in hot- pursuit. The German raiders will learn of this plan to bunt them, and they may be expected to move quickly from point to point as did the Graf Spee till brought to book. The task is ;x difficult and trying one for the hunters, no less than the limited. Yet it appears to be tb(> only way to bring the highway work on the seas to an end. 1 lie latest report is from the auxiliaiy, “Carnarvon Castle,-” which made contact. with the raider at long range, but the gunnery of the enemy ship "as superior, and the intended victim escaped. That was the like fute the “Alcantra” a few months ago. This armed British ship likewise made contact with a raider, but the latter had the best of the shooting, and damaged the “Alcantra,” which could not keep touch with the enemy. These instances show there is- a wily, well prepared enemy to locate and bring to book, but

with the more intensive hunting now planned and co-operation -from tho Dominions, some satisfactory results should soon be recorded.