BEATING THE SUBMARINES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17319, 20 May 1918, Page 5

BEATING THE SUBMARINES.

Generally the reports show that, all round, the conditions which are going to give the Allies victory are greatly improving. The danger of the submarine menace is steadily being overcome. Germany's great 6ubmarines have, it is asserted, not proved themselves superior to the smaller craft, their speed of manoevring being inferior to that of the smaller vessels, while their size offers a better mark to the gunners on the merchant vessels and the various types of patrol vessels and submarine hunters. During April, it is officially stated, the British and American destroyers in British waters sank 12" U boats and two others were sunk while attempting to attack convoys. The total of 14 probably refers only to those submarines sunk by vessels of which the special work is to search for and destroy submarines. Sinkings reported by armed merchant vessels are evidently not included in lie Admiralty report. To these losses it is not improbable that others could be added as not a few submarines are lost by accidents due to structural defects and also by striking mines and nets with mines attached to ■ them. One of the positive phrases which is bringing about tho undoing of Germany and is greatly nullifying her hopes of defeating Great Britain, and, therefore, all the Allies, is the increasing rate of the production of new tonnage. Mr Charles Schwab, the United States Controller of Shipping, says he expects the production of American ships will soon bo three or four 10,000-ton ships daily. He states that this month the United States " will place daily one 10,000-ton ship in the water, by October two, and by the middle of next year threo or four." One. big ship daily for a year means 3,650,000 tons annually. As the production of new vessels will be progres-. five in speed, the number of tons launched by the time another twelve months havo elapsed will, according to Mr Schwab's estimate, bo between live and six million tons and after that period much greater, as the immber of yards increase and the system of working improves. The other Allied nations and neutrals will add another few million tons annually. If Germany is still determined, therefore, to pursue her piratical policy, she will have to expend much more of her resources and energy upon building submarines. It is, however, beyond her national ability to do much more than sho is doing, and whatever she does to supplement her piracy will bo mot by the improved direct methods of attacking the submarines. MESSAGES! OF GOOD REPORT. Other messages show that there are signs of growing dissatisfaction and dissension in the Austro-Hungirian Empire, and also of mutual distrust between Austria i»nd Germany. Italy is becoming aggressive both in the north and in Albania, and Greece is progressing steadily with the moiblisation of 300,0C0 men, the chief difficulty connected with this effort on v.he part of Greece being the arming and munitionment of tho forces, the onus of which will fall largely upon the Allies when they are being called upoa to assist tho Americans ill tho same way.