NAVAL MATTERS

Marlborough Express, Volume LIIII, Issue 83, 9 April 1920, Page 8

NAVAL MATTERS

AN INTERESTING LECTURE.

SUBMARINES A DECREASING MENACE.

THE POSSIBILITIES OF GAS.

[Prolß** Association.! (Imperial News Service.) (Received April 9, 0.35 p.m.) .LONDON, April 8. The waning advantage of submarines against, surface ships was .shown at a lecture which Naval Lieutenant King-Hall delivered at the Royal Service Institution, in which he asserted that the advantage, which was nine to one in 1914, was only •■:. seven to three last year, and was like r . ly to be only six to seven in 1930. A -submarine detection apparatus was likely to develop which would par- ' tially protect important ships against t&ctical attack. '<■■" .Lieut. King-Hall expressed the opinion that gas would eventually re- - volutionise naval warfare. G-as might he discharged on an enemy coastline. •Such a plan was contemplated during the German occupation __ of Belgium, but was postponed in deferWv «nee to Belgian susceptibilities. The lecturer recommended the extension of the convoying system for the protection of commerce in war time, but ruled out the plan for making capital ship.* submersible, on

tto& ground of its. impracticability

Admiral Sturdee, who presided, agreed with the last-named, opinion.