GERMANY'S SUBMARINES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23263, 4 February 1939, Page 14

GERMANY'S SUBMARINES

After friendly discussions in Berlin between British and German naval advisers, Germany is now free to increase her submarine tonnage up to parity with that of the British Empire. Although the decision to increase the German undersea fleet may be viewed with misgiving in certain quarters, ib has to be admitted that treaty obligations throughout have been scrupulously observed. The "special circumwhich have brought about the desire for expansion have not been disclosed, but, in fairness to Germany, it must be stated that the Royal Navy has never comprised more than a small submarine force, measured by the standard set by other naval Powers. Under the Anglo-German Naval Agreements, Germany was restricted, except in special circumstances, to 45 per cent of Great Britain's submarine ton-, nage, which meant that the German Navy was being limited to a fraction of the comparatively small British strength, while other Powers, so far from being under .any such limitation, were providing large submarine fleets. A point of some moment in the latest announcement, although this, too, is covered by treaty, is that Germany is to have undersea parity with Empire strength. There- are those who argue that submarine flotillas should be widely used in the defence of Empire outposts, but, with Germany probably massing'the whole of her submarine strength in the North ►Sea, it does not seem that Great Britain could afford to scatter her own limited fleet all over the world. However, the Anglo-German Naval Agreements still exist in their entirety, with Germany's total naval strength limited to 35 per cent of British tonnage, and it is to be hoped that their promise will not be impaired nor their effect weakened by the present developments.