GERMANY'S SUBMARINES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23883, 10 August 1939, Page 20

GERMANY'S SUBMARINES

4*. A DISQUIETING FACTOR The British Admiralty's preoccupation with increased submarine building by Germany is reflected by the great increase in the building of anti-submarine and trade protection vessels this year, writes Lieutenantcommander Kenneth Edwards, R.N., in the Daily Mail. Germany's submarine strength is one of the most disquieting factors in the world situation to-day. By the terms of the 1935 Anglo-German Naval Agreement. Germany was allowed to build submarines up to 45 per cent, of the submarine tonnage of the British Empire. Until that time Germany was absolutely forbidden by treaty to build submarines. Before the Anglo-Germany Naval Agreement was concluded in June, 1935, however, it became clear that Germany was breaking her treaty obligations and building submarines. Even according to the official records she launched a submarine three days before the conclusion of the treaty which allowed her to build these craft. She was, of course, building them in secret. Before the actual treaty went by the board Germany decided to increase her submarine tonnage. Last December she possessed 64 submarines. This was a larger number than that possessed by the British Empire (54). In the past five months Germany has built some 40 submarines, so that she now has in service more than 100 under-water craft. These submarines are of three types. Germany, when she first wanted to build submarines, said they were necessary for the defence of her coasts; So she built a large number of small submarines of 250 tons. These were called " coastal" submarines, but their "coastal" qualities may be assessed from the fact that the majority of the U-boats which did such damage during the Great War were of the same tonnage. / Germany is also producing a socalled " sea-going " type of submarine of 500 tons, and an "ocean-going type of 750 tons. What are all these for? The whole of German naval strategy is based on the creation of an intolerable threat against the weakest point in the armour of a potential enemy. The British Empire is utterly dependent on the maintenance of its maritime communications. It is against these, therefore, that Germany is cresting her greatest threat. Already Germany has in commission nearly three times as many submarines as she had in August, 1914.