SUBMARINE WARFARE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19144, 9 October 1925, Page 12

SUBMARINE WARFARE.

I NOTED BRITISH MISSION. A GOVERNOR'S EXPERIENCES. Becoming reminiscent, during a speech. at Ternora, New South Wales, the 1 Governor, Admiral Sir Dudley de j Chair, held * large audience spclibound by reootinluiK «"» experiences of a highly-important war-time mission of which he was a member. Germain', said the Governor, re-estab-lished piracy on the high seas during the war, when, with her submarine menace, she almost conquered the ocean. The position became acute in 1917, when jt was nothing unusual for from 60 to 70 mercantile ships to be destroyed each week. During this time, said Sir Dudley de Chair it was resolved to Bonn Mr. (Nov. Farl)' Balfour to America, to negotiate further with the United States Government for assistance, particularly with regard to a supply of destroyers to assist in subduing the submarine menace. Ho (Sir Dudlrv de Chair) was chosen to go with Mr. Balfour to represent the Navy, and Sir Tom Bridges, the present Governor of South Australia, to represent the The utmost secrecy had to be observed in their movements. They used the railwivs with the greatest care, and even tnally arrived at Dumfries. From there they were taken to a large four funnel liner, whose commander _ did not even know where they were going. But even after getting on board it was found that the entrance to the port had been mined by submarines. This was cleared away, but it was again mined. At last they got to sea and had to dodge the submarines under destroyer escort" until they reached Canada. Here, again, the utmost secrecy had to be observed until they readied the borders of the t'nited States and from there to Washington. They knew the result, of that mission, arid how they succeeded in getting the TTnited States to relieve the situation. It was indeed a crisis, and was probably the closest shave England ever had to losing command of the seas.