SETTLING SUBMARINES

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9821, 19 November 1917, Page 2

SETTLING SUBMARINES

SUCCESSFUL FIGHTS WITH THE UNDERSEA TERROR. The following authoritative instances of successful encounters with enemy submarines, given, by Reuters special war service to,South African newspapers, illustrate the diversity of methods employed in dealing with them. In the first instance a torpedo boat sighted the periscope of a submarine on the starboard bow", 600 yards away. Ihe captain swung the ship round until the periscope was on the' port bow, travelling slowly •' in the opposite direction. The 'periscope l ;disappeared when about 50: yards from -the, torpedo boat, which altered her course, and so_passed directly ever the submarine. The impact of a collision was felt. Two explosive charges were dropped in quick, succession. , Subsequently large patches .of- oil were seen on the surface, and ming, snoopers .reported an obstruotion on .tire bottoni of the .sea at this second instance a torpedo boat patrolling The Atlantic observed a steamer torpedoed by a submarine, and having picked up the survivors ot the steamer which''Tfad sunk, the torpedo boat circled round searching for the submarine ..and soon sighted a white patch of water right ahead. The torpedo boat made straight for the’spot, actually grazing the submarine. Am'efxjplesive charge was dropped as the submarine- passed -under the stern, and 'second and third charges were detonated at a place where oil and air hubbies were coming to the surface. The air was heavy with the smell of gasoline. Subsequently mine sweepers confirmed the presence of a heavy obstruction on the bottom of tho sea. _ In tho third instance, no shadow et doubt as to the fate of a submarine recently torpedoed by a British submarine is fortunately possible. It appears that a British-’ submarine on patrol duty sighted an enemy submarine. idotn boats were on the surface, and a heavy sea was running. The British boat dived, and a quarter of an hour later picked up the enemy in her periscope, one fired at au estimated range of 800 yards, and a minute later heard the concussion of a violent explosion. She rose to the surface, and sighted a patch of oil witn survivors swimming in it. These men wore taken prisoners. They stated that tho torpedo struck the vessel just before the conning tower. The submarine rolled over and sank. The survivors were blown up through tho conning tower.