SUBMARINE WARFARE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3274, 13 December 1916, Page 18

SUBMARINE WARFARE.

One day's sinkings for German submarines last week included King Blecklyn (British), 4387 tons; Moeraki (British), 4421 tons; Erichlindoa (Norwegian), 1087 tons; Dometrios Inglcssis (Greek), 2088 tons: Bossi (Norwegian), 1462 tons. Five of the crew of the sunken Nagata Maru were killed and five wounded by gunfire. Eight persons perished in the Moeraki (this is not tho Union Co.'s steamer). There are 94 siirvivors, including the captain. The following vessels were sunk by submarines : —Norwegian : Meteor (4211 tons) and Nervion (1920 tons); Belgian: Kiltier (2360 tons); Spanish: Cerona (1258 tons); Lucienne (1054 tons); Greek: Spyres (3357 tons); Danish: Siguard (2119 tons); British: Avistan (3818 tons), an oil-tank vessel, and Conch (5620 tons), Enfield; Norwegian: Suga and Ralrairia (probably sunk). Tho Danish steamer Nexos and tho Spanish steamer Julian Benito were also sunk by submarines. A Swedish sailing vessel was set afire by a German submarine

in the North Sea, but her crow wc-ro rescued. The Stettin's crew were well treated during their 40 hours aboard a submarine, whose commander signed a declaration that he torpedoed the vessel for carrying contraband. The submarine was well informed beforehand of the Stettin's cargo and destination. Ihe steamer Eggersford, which had been to-.' .• clocd by a submarine, was towed to Brest. It is officially stated that 19 Norwegian vessels, .with a "tonnage of 32,933, wore iost during November. Altogether 242 Norwegian ships have been sunk, and 93 during the last six months. A huge German- submarine attacked the Norwegian steamer Calaric, bound from America to England, and fired several shots.. The Calaric was damaged, but escaped. Two of the crew were killed. The Norwegian steamer Stettin was torpedoed. German submarines have again interrupted the traffic between Finlaiid and Sweden, and are lavishly mining the Gulf of Bothnia. The Norwegian steamer Nora was mined in the North Sea. Four of the crew are missing.

A private cable message states that a submarine attacked the Portuguese port of Funchal, in Madeira, and shelled the cable office. Damage amounting to several thousands of pounds was done to business houses. There were no casualties.

A wireless message from Berlin states that the Portuguese Minister of Marine announced tiiat German submarines attacked Funchal, and sank the auxiliary cruiser Kangaroo, the English steamer Dacia, and the French gunboat Surprise. They then bombarded the town for two hours at a distance of two miles, when coastal batteries forced the submarines to withdraw. - The commander and 34 of the Surprise's crew perished; also a few Portuguese aboard the Kangaroo and the Dacia. Deputy Nouges, of the Extreme Left party, is asking the Portuguese Government to adopt radical measures against Ger-

man submarines, which have established a virtual blockade of the Canary Islands.

Reliably informed Germans state that Germany intends to begin a most ruthless (submarine campaign from January 1. She has already intimated this intention to neutral Governments, inviting them to make concessions to Germany in order to obtain comparative immunity for their vessels. President Wilson has warned Count Bernstorff against the further sinking of merchantmen in American waters. The crew of the steamer Palermo, torpedoed off the Spanish coast, included 47 Americans.

Germany's reply to the American Note regarding tho sinking of the Arabia has been issued. It gives some extraordinary reasons for the act, _ alleging that the U boat's commander mistook her for a transport because she was not painted a light colour, like other P. and 0. steamers, and was not travelling by the regular route, and several similar steamers were passed by the submarine on the same unusual course. Many Chinese and other coloured persons were visible aboard the Arabia, corresponding to "workmen and soldier's." The captain of the submarine did not see any women and children ; therefore he concluded that tho Arabia was a transport, and he attacked her without delay.

Commenting upon a portion of tho Arabia Note, wherein it is stated that if it is proved that it was «n ordinary passenger stearr.er

it would bo a regrettable mistake, the United States officials point out that at thg time of the Sussex case America stipulated that there must be no more regrettable mistakes. The officials do not consider that the Note makes out a strong case for Germany. The State Department (United States) is forwarding to Kngland' _ Germany’s reply concerning the Arabia, with a request that England should furnish the facts of the Arabia’s status. This will necessitate delay, and it will be several days before the American attitude can bo determined. After Britain’s advices that the Marina was not a transport, President Wilson and Mr Lansing conferred. They did not deny the serious aspects of the situation, but did not believe that the case would lead to a rupture. It is expected that President Wilson will cither write a now Note or make oral representations to Germany. He will indicate that the explanations that the Arabia and Marina were sunk on the presumption that they were .transports is unsatisfactory. A Berlin report via Sayville (Long Island) states that the submarine Deutschland has arrived off the Wcscr mouth. ARMING MERCHANTMEN. Admiral Sir Cyprian Bridge states that the arming of, merchantmen, which would involve the use of 16,000 guns and 62,000 gunners, docs not overcome the submarine difficulty, as British cargoes o r-' often carried on neutral vessels, and the Germans have made it plain that the neutral flag docs not protect thorn from destruction. Admiral Bridge advocates the extensive use of anti-submarine craft, properly supported by the fleet, which would thus protect our own ns well as neutral merchantmen. Anti-war risks were effected on Wednesday on two British steamers subject to a warranty of their arming. The New York Tribune publishes .a London cable message stating that the British are arming merchantmen with high-cahbrc guns to tight the submarines. It is believed that the Washington officials intend to regard them as war vessels. In order to avoid this the Transatlantic trade will go to Halifax instead of New York. DECREASE IN SHIPPING. The incoming shipping for Great Britain for November, including that from the dominions and neutrals, shows a decrease of 1.5E5.625 tons, as compared with . the previous November. The tonnage for the 11 months decreased by 3,000,000 to 4.000,000, and by 12,250,000 ns compared with 1914. A City editor comments that these figures strikingly reveal the gravity of the shipping problem. GERMAN RAIDERS. A German official report says: Our Flemish naval forces on the night of December 8 captured and brought into the harbour the (steamer Caledonia (Anchor plane, 9223 tons), the Dutch steamer Rierparts, and a Brazilian vessel (? from Brazil), all bound for England, laden with cotton. A Berlin message justifying the sinking of the Caledonia states that she rammed a German submarine without waiting for the latter’s attack. Before she was struck the submarine torpedoed and sank the Caledonia. The submarine was slightly damaged. The submarine took prisoner Captain Blakcs, commander of the Caledonia. Much interest has been roused in New York by the reports of an armed German raider in the Atlantic. Wireless messages have been picked up at New York which describe her as well armed and fitted with torpedoes, and the authorities advise that precautions regarding shipping be not curtailed. The Admiralty reports that German armed vessels, disguised as merchantmcnt, wore sighted in the North Atlantic on Monday. Lady Jcllicoo, in opening the Naval Institute at Invergorden, read a 'message from Sir J. Jellieoe, stating that the day ho left the fleet was the saddest day of his life. He thinks constantly of his old comrades, and hopes they will speedily meet the enemy, knowing how great will bo the victory.