SUBMARINE CAMPAIGN.

Otago Witness, Issue 3314, 19 September 1917, Page 15

SUBMARINE CAMPAIGN.

The British Admiralty supplies tho following figures of shipping for the week as relating to submarines, which compare with tho previous week as shown: Sept. 9. Sept. 2. Arrivals for week 2744- 2384 Departures for week ... 2868 2432 Steamers over 1600 tons sunk 12 20 Steamers under 1600 tons sunk 6 3 Unsuccessfully attacked . 12 9

During tho week the French sailings were 1047 and the arrivals 1005. Sinkings: One vessel above and five vessels below 1600 tops. (Last week the figures were three and nino respectively). Unsuccessfully attacked: Three.

An Italian official message states: . Last week's shipping returns were: —Arrivals, 544; departures, 466; losses, nil. Apparently the submarines are striving to onforeo the policy advocated by Count Luxburg, to sink vessels without leaving a trace. The schooner Jane Williamson was attacked off Cornwall and sunk. The crew of six took to a boat, which the submarine shelled. Three were killed, but tho remaining three were picked up tho following morning, seriously wounded. In a second case the schooner William _was attacked and sunk by a submarine, which then fired shrapnel at the crew when in a boat, one being wounded. The United States Navy Department announces that a battlo has been fought between a fleet of American merchantmen and six submarines. One submarine is believed to have been sunk. Two merchant vessels were lost, but it is believed that no casualties resulted from tho sinking of the American merchantman. There is much criticism over the erroneous first official announcement that six submarines were believed to be lost, and then stating that only one had been sunk. Bogus cablegrams, recording prc-German news concocted for syndicated newspaper letters, have been seized by the authorities. Reports of the submarine scare in the. United States are conflicting. Some assert that destroyers are scouring the coast of tho United States, while others state that all ships have recently been warned to look outtor submarines with dummy funnels, masts, and superstructure. Tho New York Times hirits that the scare is possibly a German hoax. SUBMARINES SUNK The British Admiralty reports: A naval auxiliary vessel was struck in the engnio100m by a torpedo, and several of tho compartments were flooded. A periscope and oonnmg-tower appeared. whereupon we fired, hitting the periscope, while many other hits were also observed. Several men came out of the U boat's hatch abaft the conning tower. Tho submarine meanwhile wallowed along, her stern almost submerged, and oil squirting from her sides. Her crow waved to signify surrender. We then ceased fire, upon which the submarine started off at a fair speed. We fired again. Tho enemy fell on her side and slowly disappeared, end up. Two survivors were picked up. Tho naval auxiliary reached harbour safely. The Agenzia Liberas, a Swiss paper, has received advice that 20 German submarines wore sunk or captured during August.

A German submarine, which entered Cadiz Harbour owing to lack of lubricants, has been interned.