NEW SUBMARINE CAMPAIGN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16169, 4 March 1916, Page 8

NEW SUBMARINE CAMPAIGN

; FEELING OF CURIOSITY. ' J POSSIBLE GERMAN SURPRISE. ' : "l '*-'* "Ernes and Sydney Sun Services. 5 ~ ' London, March 2. "' J : v! Curiosity more than trepidation is ,'.. -<-;'aroused: by the boasted initiation of . ;,n the new submarine campaign. It is ■'.■: agreed that Germany may have a ; 'i' y * surprise, : possibly 'a; new. controlled ■ : torpedo or submarines capable of ;;il cutting nets. ■ Bookings of passen- 1 ' '-. *'■■■■ gers across ? the Atlantic have > not ; been affected. \ ■ SMALL VESSELS SUNK. ; EIGHTEEN LIVES LOST. • ;•' London, March 2. ;?"[!. : : - A number of Vessels} mostly small, \.i are reported to have been sunk, in- '.' eluding the Russian steamer Alexander Wehtzel. Eighteen of the ■0-I crew were drowned. The Italian V, Bailing ship Elisa, and,four Lowe-:.w-i-: stoft fishing smacks were also sunk. ■''- "'•■ '.The >• crews £of£ the smacks were * landed. .. 1 -~-' '=' :-'"''/" The Alexander Wentzel .was a steamer .of 2838 tons and 278 N.H.R.buirt in 1899. ARMED ITALIAN LINERS. ■'TWO-THREE INCH GUNS. New York, March 2.,, i ■--v-.'i' The Italian steamer ~; Giuseppe ;/;;' Verdi : has sailed for' Europe, carry--'■/.'l' ing two 3in guns for defence.against German raiders.; -. f . v'iJ ■'■' Italy's determination to brook no interference : by Austrian submarines .', has resulted in all Italian liners to America .-. reaching I New - York Manned; with ; formid- ;'- "-;'- able 'gun's. Directly one* of these armed vessels from iltaly reached New York the • '-:,: German officials in the United States'pro- .;■':: tested. The arrival at New York of the ■•''''*;•'i ltalian 'steamer America, armed like the Verona, already at the same port, with '"two guris mounted aft, tended to hasten " .''Uhe' decision of the United States Govern/foment* on the question of whether there : ■' should be a change in policy regarding the .' V.U.T clearance from American ports of merchant vessels .armed ' for defensive purposes. ;Vi>'»>. Several vessels so armed have been given .; clearance on the understanding that their ' ■; <•? guns would be used for defence only.'