SUBMARINE CAMPAIGN.

Otago Witness, Issue 3331, 16 January 1918, Page 15

SUBMARINE CAMPAIGN.

Tlio British Admiralty supplies the following figures of shipping for the week as relating to submarines, which compare with the previous week as shown:—- '

Deo. 30 Jan. 6. j 2111 - 2085 I 2074 2144- i .. _ _ 18 18 . Vessels under 1600 tons sunk 3 3

Arrivals for •week « Departures for week Vessels over 1600 tons sunk

Unsuccessfully attacked ... 8 11 Fishing boats sunk .... ... Italian shipping returns: For week' ended January 5 422 ships arrived and 313 departed. Two ships over 1500 tons were sunk and one was unsuccessfully attacked. m • French shipping returns: Arrivals for the week 957; departures, 728. Sinkings: One! vessel over and none under 1600 tons. Un< successfully attacked, 4. In connection with tho list of the week's ■•. sinkings by submarines, it is pointed out! in authoritative circles that it is unfair to take two or three weeks' sinkings aa the basis of criticism. Figures which show . tho number of sinkings by submarines, the number of submarines sunk, and the now! output of tonnage, aro entirely iii our ' favour. It is confidently hoped that, with the advance of knowledge in the new offensive and defensive measures new coming into operation, any hr>rlo the enemy, may, entertain of bringing tho Allies to their knees by the submarine campaign are doomed to disappointment. The situation is certainly not becoming formidable. Thero were pitiful scenes of mourning a 6 Watcrford (Ireland), where two Irish vessels were sunk by submarines without leaving a trace. A portion of tho wreckage of a lifeboat was washed ashore, but not a member of the two crews alivo to tell the tale. The American steamer Harry Luckenbach (2798 tons) has been torpedoed, and eight of those aboard perished._ > " A. special committee publish- information describing how tho crew of the steamer J. > Luckenbach had a four houra' battle with a U boat. Tho ship fired 200 rounds until the guns were disabled. Sho sent ouc wireless calls, and an American destroyer; replied- " Corcv'mr: don't surrender." Thai ship replied: " >T /""r," Finally the destroyer drove off '" U boat. A boat contain i 18 eurvivors of tho Spanish steamer Joaquin Numbru (2703 tons) has arrived at Las Palmas. The vessel was torpedoed at the end of December 70 miles off" Madeira because she was carrying hides to the United States. Another boat containing tho captain and 20 sailors is missing. \ , t ■ It is ronorted that submarines torpedoed a British" steamer of 4190 tons in. tho Mediterranean. It sank in three minutes. , Tho submarine rose, but did not attemni; to help the crew, who were clinging to the upturned boats. A French vessel rescued tho captain, two-officers, and 14 of tho crew. The Daily Chronicle's Cork correspondent states that a powerful U boat attacked a small collier carrying a light gun. Tho collier fired at 400 yards, tho second shot sinking the submarine. Sir Leo Chiozza Money, commenting on tho loss of a foodship, says: "The vessel was a jrnember of a convoy. She developed a leak, loft tho convoy, and took refugein an Irish port. When repaired _ she left under escort for her original English destination. If her cargo had been discharged in Ireland the vessel would not have escaped danger. During the past quarter only 1 per cent, of food from overseas has actually been lost." Admiral d'FJbono. Italian Minister of Marino, stated that all the Entente Powers had adopted the Italian svstcm of convoying merchant ships, which secured safety against submarines.

HOSPITAL SHIP SUNK

The British Admiralty reports! The British hospital ship Bowa was torpedoed and sunk in the Bristol Channel at mid* night on January 4. Tho vessel was coming" from Gibraltar. All tho wounded wore saved, but three lasoars belonging to tho crew are missing. The Bewa was displayin tr all lights and markings required by Tho Hague Convention, and was uot and had not been within the "barred zono." There wore 550 persons aboard, including a complement of wounded men. Excellent order was maintained attor tho vessel was struck. The calm sea and the nearness of hundreds of other* vessels contributed to tho rescue. The boats were lowered, and the cot cases safely disembarked. Thai

-vessel sank in_ 75 minutes, and within two hours all survivors had been picked up.

A member of the crew states that the vessel had just entered the Bristol Channel after a bad voyage. Suddenly there was a torrifio bang, and the crew were thrown out of their bunks by the concussion, which extinguished the lights. There was no time to save personal belongings. Magnificent order prevailed. We had 250 wounded, and these were put into the first boats, then the nurses, followed by the passengers and crew. The weather was not cold. A tank steamer and a petrol boat took us to Swansea. We did noi suffer much 'discomfort.

Other accounts show that the Germans used the Red Cross as .a target, and a torpedo passed clean through it. Tho lascars were probably killed by the explosion. Tho ship was only travelling' at four knots an hour. It was a most effective shot, and there was not a chance of saving the vessel. Tho men in their bunks, suddenly awakened, made a dash for the deck. In other cases thero was a Avild groping in tho darkness for some sort of clothing. Most of the survivors were landed absolutely without clothing. Tho'ugh some German papers suggest that tho Rowa struck a mine, others have commenced a fresh campaign against hospital fillips, including tho revival of accusations of the misuse of the Red Cross.

__ The Koelnische Yolkszcitung' alleges that Spanish officers have left snips because \£noy discovered that they were carrying troops supposed to bo suffering from fever, but wiio wero really quito healthy. Tin's ■was not tho first time of similar misuse. - Tho greater part of tho Dardanelles withdrawal was_ effected by means of hospital fillips curving a few wounded and many Jinwoundcd; otherwise- the greater part of iho Dardanelles troops would have boon

destroyed. __ The article concluded with threatening to destroy hospital ships. The British. Admiralty states that it has been definitely ascertained that there were no mines in the vicinity of the Rewa.

ANTI-SUBMARINE MEASURES SUCCESSFUL.

Ihe French Ministry of Marine has published diagrams showing the losses of Allied merchantmen owing to submarines sinoe June.

The measures taken after the serious crisis which culminated in April, 1917, have eo reduced losses that the situation in December, 1917, was better than in December, ISI6 Losses of supply ships were reduced to 1.4 per cent., this reduction being especially owing to convoying. Results in tho matter of the destruction of enemy .submarines are also encouraging. The losses of U boats, based on certainties, havo steadily increased since the end of September, 1916, .and wero during the last quarter of 1917 nine times greater than in the corresponding season of 1916. The decrease of losses by submarines'is duo not to tho reduction of the floating 'tonnage, but to new measures ajrainst the U boats.

NEW BRITISH MINEFIELDS. Lloyd's Agency announces that two new British minefields for the protection of merchantmen against submarines havo been laid, covering practically the whole of the sea area between Belgium and the eoasfc of Dover and Folkestone, and British inino areas off the coast of Jutland and tho German seaboard, and also England. EXTENSION OF BARRED ZONE. Tho Nordoutaehe announces a fresh extension of the German barred zone, which concerns hostile bases on the Onpenende

Islands and Badedakar, in the adjoining coastal region; also the barred zone at the Azores, which is extended to Madeira. Neutral vessels at present in harbours in the zone will not be attacked if they proceed to the free sea by the shortest route by the 18th inst. A sufficient period of grace will be allowed for neutral ships entering the zone unknowingly. German newspapers, commenting on the extension of the barred zone for shipping, s'tate that the extension is necessary because it has been discovered that the enemy has established points of support in places easily attainable by submarines. They also state that the extension of the southern frontier of the barred zone 4000 miles from Cuxhaven proves that the submarines are increasing their capabilities, and strengthens the German belief that the submarineeVwill ultimately decide the war. BRITISH DESTROYER LOST. The Admiralty reports that a British destroyer was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Bon. Ten men were lost. The British Admiralty reports that tho destroyer Racoon was wrecked and foundered on January 9 in a snowstorm off the north coast of Ireland. There were no survivors. DESTROYER -CREWS' DEVOTION.

Survivors of the three destroyers lost on the Dutch coast, on the night of December 22 give a thrilling narrative of the courage and enterprise of all ranks. They say that t*io vessels had fulfilled important duties on a dark, foggy night, when the first destroyer struck a mine, and asked for assistance. The others came up, and everything that would float was flung overboard. Ine destroyers throughout ignored mine and submarine risks, and succeeded in saving many. Tho commander of one destroyer was blown overboard by the ex-

plosion, but was rescued, and resumed his duties. A surgeon wae' some hours afloat, and when rescued attended to the wounded. Thti engine room staff showed exemplary coolness throughout in imminent danger. BRITISH CAPTURES AND LOSSES. The British War Office reports that the British captured during 1917, in the western theatre, 73,131 prisoners and 531 guns; in Palestine 17,646 prisoners and 108 guns; in Mesopotamia 15,944 prisoners and 124 guns: in East Africa 6728 prisoners and 18 guns"; in Macedonia 1095 prisoners, no guns; —total, 114.544 prisoners and 781 guns. The losses in the western theatre were approximately 27,200 prisoners and 166 guns; in Palestine, 610 prisoners; in Mesopotamia, 267 prisoners ; in East Africa, 100 prisoners; and in Macedonia, 202 prisoners; tho totals being 28,379 prisoners and 166 guns.