THE SUBMARINE MENACE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3333, 30 January 1918, Page 15

THE SUBMARINE MENACE.

The British Admiralty supplies the following figures of shipping for the week as relating to submarines, which compare with the previous week as shown: Jan. 13. Jan. 20. Arrivals for week 2106 2255 Departures for week ... 2184 2242 Vessels over 1600 tons sunk 6 6 Vessels under 1600 tons sunk 22 Unsuccessfully attacked ... 5 6 Arrivals for the week in France, 806; sailings, 784. Two vessels over and- one Vessel under 1600 tons were sunk, and four were unsuccessfully attacked. Weekly arrivals in Italian ports, 423; sailings. 306. One vessel under 1600 tons was sunk, and one vessel was unsuccessfully attacked. It is rumoured in Paris that the German submarines have been recalled to their bases in < connection with the new spring campaign. The Petit Journal is of the opinion that the fleet of so-called submersible cruisers is ready. Naval writers urge increased protection for troopships and cargo boats. The Agenzia Liberale's Berne corresponstates that 22 German submarines were missing in December. The German Admiralty, with a view to counteracting the alarm in naval circles,- has issued abatement that most of the missing U boats have been sent to distant waters, and expresses a hope that they will not be abandoned. Sweden has protested against the German seizure of the steamer Luna, with a cargo of sugar, while proceeding to Gothenburg. Two American steamers have been sunk in the Mediterranean, with a loss of 7CO lives. iSurvivors who arrived at an Atlantic port report that the American steamer Owasco was torpedoed early in December in the Mediterranean. Two lives were lost. The captain of a steamer just arrived at Boston reports that a U boat was seen off the Brazilian coast. A French dirigible threw several bombs at a submarine, and hits were obseiwed, Which seemed to unsteady her. A French mine-sweeper thereupon fired shots, these apparently taking effect, as a large oilpatch remained on the surface of the water. _ Reports show that German submarines are literally blockading the Canary Islands, and are not sparing Spanish ships. The islanders are protesting against Germany extending the U-boat dnnsrer zone. The new Spanish steamer Giralda (4200 tons) was bombed and sunk off Ouardia. The attacking submarine was nameless and numberless. The newspapers indignantly protest against the German submarines attacking Spanish vessels. Dr 11. A. Garfield (United States Fuel Administrator) announces that the danger of an interruption of the ammuniton supplies to the Allies has been averted, and ehins are now clearing from American ports daily in increasing numbers. Mr Baker. Secretary of War, in a communique, points out that Germanv is plannine the most powerful submarine campaign yet undertaken against American transports. Many U boats ha%'o been "recalled to home ports, and are now refitting, preparatory to a new eampaicrn. United States inventors have perfected a non-ricochet shell, capable of exploding under water. The Anglo-French Admiralties a'-o successfiillv employing the device against the submarines. In the course of a lecture Count Reven'tlow stated that the German Minister in a neutral State declared that Germanv would restrict and even suspend the submarine campaign if America was willing to negotiate. The Governor of the Canary Islands reports an engagement between a British war vessel and two submarines on the 17th off Ferrol. The following day Spanish gendarmes found two German sailors, who stated that they belonged to 'the U boat.s

294 and 295, but refused to state the fate of the submarines. DISCUSSION IN PARLIAMENT. Dr Macnamara, in the House of Commons, said that two ships had been torpedoed in the Mediterranean Sea. Tho loss of life was 484 on one ship and 224 on the other In tho House of Commons Mr Houston asked several questions regarding the losses by submarines. Mr Macnamara admitted that a refrigerated steamer had been lost on tho 20th of January at tho same place and hour as a steamer was torpedoed on Christmas Day. The refrigerated steamer was not escorted. Mr Houston asked whether, seeing the large number of steamers that had been sunk at this spot, tho Admiralty would alter tho instructions by which shipmasters fell right into tho submarine post. Mr Houston elicited .the fact that two steamers from Liverpool and Waterford wero lost with all hands on the 15th and 17th December, part of a boat being washed up. Mr Hogge asked whether a largo number of children had been lost. Mr Macnamara : I. cannot say. Mr Houston asked whether a vessel had been sunk at the mouth of the Mersey with a loss of 42 lives, of whom 19 wero pilots. Mr Macnamara said a vessel had been mined, and two were eaved out of 43 aboard. A FINE RECORD. There have been only 2000 casualties to troops afloat since tho beginning of tho war. Approximately 11,000,000 troops have been carried overseas without casualty. THE GOEBEN AND BLESLAU. The British Admiralty reports that tho Goeben and Breslau emerged from the Dardanelles early in- the morning on Sunday, and attacked our forces northward of Imbros, with the result that two of our monitors were sunk. The enemy went southward of Imbros, where tho Breslau was forced into a minefield, mined, and sunk. The Goeben set off full speed for tne Dardanelles. Turkish destroyers coming to the assistance of tho Breslau Avere driven off. The Goeben aleo struck a mine near tho entrance to the Dardanelles, reducing her speed and causing her to settle down aft. She finally beached herself on the west side of Nagara, where sho is being continuously bombed by aircraft. We rescued 173 survivors from the Breslau, and 132 were saved from our monitors out of 311, including Viscounte Broome, Kitchener's nephew and heir, commanding one of tho monitors. - British Admjralty details of the engagement in which the Goeben and Breslau suffered show that tho destroyer Lizard, when patrolling, sighted the Breslau and Goeben going north. The Lizard opened fire. Tho Goeben now sighted the mom tors in Kusu Bay and engaged them, the Breslau continuing to engage tho Lizard, which was prevented- from closing to torpedo range by tho enemy's accurate fire. The destroyer Tigress arrived, and both made an effort to cover the monitors " with a smoke screen, but both monitors were hit and sunk.. The destroyers followed the enemy, and an explosion was observed on tho Breslau six miles southward of Kephalo. This was followed by three more explosions, and the vessel sank in 10 minutes. The Goeben continued southwards. Four enemy destroyers were then sighted coining out of the Dardanelles, supported by a good Turkish cruiser. The Tigress and Lizard immediately engaged the enemy destroyers, which retired, one being repeatedly hit. Our aircraft forced the Goeben to make for tho Dardanelles, and while turning she struck a mine and steamed slowly, escorted by enemy seaplanes and destroyers. Ihe Goeben was ■ now so damaged that sho steered for the shore, and was beached at tho end of Nagara Point. Our aircraft made a further day and night attack on the Goeben, and secured two hits with heavy bombs. They also bombed a tug alongside. Anti-aircraft gun lire was encountered, but all returned. The attacks are being continued. There were ceaseless aerial attacks on tho Goeben. Seven tons of bombs _ have been dropped on or around the ship in the past 4» hours. Direct hits have also been secured in tho aerodrome at Galata. The Turkish cruiser which accompanied the Goeben has gone up the straits. We compelled a steamer who was lightening the Goeben to desist. O'ur only casualty was a Greek officer, who was shot during the operations. A Turkish official report states: In the attack upon the Goeben and Breslau our destroyers destroyed two monitors, a transport ship, a signal station, and numerous munition depots. Tho Breslau was mined and sunk. Turkish official: There is lively aerial activity at the Dardanelles. Our land lire compelled two enemy warships and a minesweeper to retreat. The latter was thncc hit. ' . . A German official message states that the Goeben is only slightly grounded. THE OBJECT OF THE DASH. The Daily Mail's correspondent at Athens says that the Gocben-Bveslau .dash was closely connected with Groeco-German intrigues for ex-King Constantino's restoration. It was intended that the raid should destroy shinping in tho Levant, the success of which would have enabled German agents in Greece to stir up dissension and endeavour to promote civil war. TWO GERMAN DESTROYERS SUNK BY MINES. An officer and 16 of tho crew of a German destroyer havo landed at Honvig, on the west coast of Jutland. They state that five destroyers, left Heligoland on Sunday. When they 'had proceeded 60 miles Destroyer A 77 struck a mine and sank. Destroyer A 73 hastened to the. rescue, but also struck a mine and sank, whereupon the remaining three steamed away southwards. Th-3 whole crew of A 73 perished. REPORTED MUTINY AT KIEL. A German naval lieutenant, who deserted at Kiel, has arrived in Holland. He says that three weeks ago the crews of the mine-sweeping trawlers, which were badly handled in a fight with tho British, returned to Hamburg, and when ordered to resumo duty within an hour, mutinied, and threw an officer into tho water and allowed him to drown. An armed motor launch attacked tho mutineers with machino guns, killing 44 and wounding 73. The remainder wero court-martialled and heavily sentenced.