NEW GERMAN SUBMARINES

Marlborough Express, Volume L, Issue 97, 26 April 1916, Page 2

NEW GERMAN SUBMARINES

The new German submarines are described by Mr Archibald Hurd as being "submarine monitors." He says: "They havf already been seen at sea, and there is, no doubt as to their existence, for they are the talk of iif-utrals who move about the Baltic on business. They are fairly big vessels. Abo1, c the more or less cylindi'/cal hull is built a long battery, well protected by armor,: which can ? be made completely watertight. It extends for a considerable distance along the hull, and in the centre^ is the conw mande/s tower, from which orders are issued. Within this watertight battery are mounted guns; their calibre is unknown; but they are certainly more' powerful weapons than anything the" Germans have hitherto had. Such vessels as these, which are no doubt of high speed—much swifter than the vessels hitherto employed—will prove formidable. Like the smaller vessels, of which the Germans have lost so many, they possess the facility of becoming submerged. That is of value offensively and defensively. It enables such a submarine monitor—^>r cruiser —to approach an unsuspecting prey— a merchantman." .She can bring the armored battery just above the water, leaving the hull of the submarine, which would otherwise'l be riddled with shot, stil. submerged. In this awash condition she may be immune from • the very light artillery of a merchant j ship—th<? subinarine'sgiins, as well as the crews serving them, being out of harm s way behind the steel, walls. Should a British man-o'-war come on the scene it will be eaey to close the oatterv and dip down beneath the surface."