SECOND EDITION QUESTION OF SUBMARINES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 3105, 24 December 1921, Page 6

SECOND EDITION QUESTION OF SUBMARINES.

Rv Electric Teletrrach —Copyright;. Received December 24, 10.45 n.m WASHINGTON, Dee. 22. Speaking at the conference on the subject of submarines, Lord Lee said that if tin argument; was sound thai submarines wen required for the defence of coastlines aut, ; communications, no country wanted then. more than the British Kinpire. Partlj because experience had shown that they were, ineffective for this purpose, Britain was ready to abandon them, for the wai had made it abundantly clear thai the greatest peril to the maritime communications was the submarine, and .specially was it great to a country not possessing cone maud of the sea on the surface, Hence it was in the interest of any such Power t< gel rid of this terrible menace. 1' must be remembered that the submarine had tit value for defence against the submarine Against merchant ships alone they achieve* real success. Germany sank 12 million ions of shipping of Ihe value of a thousand million dollars, and over 20.000 noncombjtanl men. women and children hao been drowned, It was true that this action was a violation of all the laws, human am Divine, but wore they lo assume that al, the other Power.- would always be good': The menace of the submarine could onl\ \i" got rid of by its total banishment from the sea. Limitation was not sufficient, f<n

the sea. Limitation was not, sufficient, foi so long its submarines were allowed, the trained nucleus existed in the fleet, and the personnel could be rapidly expanded in the ease of war. Ho long as submarines were allowed, they would be the greatest menace. lo the food supplies of Britain, which was by far the greatest anxiety lo the British Government during the war. Some people said that this vulnerability of Britain justified the retention of sub marines, since by this means alone Ihe Kmpire could be stricken down, bill the Kinpire would find means if ever there was war to secure itself from starvation. It was being suggested thai ihe conditions ol the late war would never recur, but could France afford to run the risk of disaster h her near neighbour, her only certain ally il the situation of 1914 was ever reproduced': Answering the suggestion that other Powers not, represented at the conference might proceed with submarines, he said means could be found for bringing nemesis to a transgressor. M. Warrant said ihe French delegation teb. "ailed upon to give approval to the use of submarines under restrict ions. The French wished, moreover, lo observe the use of large submarines, which were tindoubtcdh more human as they allowed the crews of torpedoed vessel; lo' be rescued. The French considerd that submarines with a large cruising radius were necessary lo

assure lie defence of distant colonies ant possesions as well as lo maintain the safe!} of the lines of communication. Signor Sehan/.er said thai Ihu Italia! ■ -peri- Mill considered the submarine an indispensable weapon for defending coast: and lite proleciioii of lines of comnuinica I ism. il.o was unauthorised to assoeialt himself willi the proposals for abolition. Mr Hauihara said the Japanese wen uncondilioiiidly opposed to all abusive use.' of submarines, bui felt their legiumato us( was justifiable, Mr Hughes said he thought- one effect which emerged clearly from the discussion was thai there was no deposition lo allow on any plea of necessity the illegal use of the submarine. There would be no diflicully in announcing to the world ' a statement of the intentions of the nations at the conference that submarines must observe well established international laws, lie understood the crux of the controversy was as to the use of the submarine as a weapon of defence. He could not agree that submarines wore in the same position as capital ships. With the latter they were dealing with the potency of competition, whereas submarines were cheaper, and could be made by other nations riot represented at the conference. The report of the American Admiralty's Committee reviewed the conditions of submarine warfare againsl merchantmen in the lale war. and declarer! that unlimited submarine warfare should be outlawed, Law.- should be drawn up prescribing the methods of procedure approved for the use of submarines against combatant ships and also as scouts to attack raiding enemies. The submarine was particularly the Instrumeni of the weak naval Powers. The United Slates was weak in cruisers, and submarines could greatly afsisl I hem. The United States needed a large force of Mibmarincs to protect its interests, especially in the outlying possessions Mr Hughes promised Ilia! he would consult lilt; naval expert on Lord Lee's address.—Special lo Australian Press Association.