A GENTLE HINT

Patea Mail, 9 March 1936, Page 4

A GENTLE HINT

TO ITALIAN SUBMAHINUB. FROM GRIT is 11 NAVY. 'The facts ,aro now revealed regarding Sir Huger Jvyes ’ stalejiieiit of how British depth charges brought Italian submarines to the surface oil.' Alalia. ■The. British .authorities learned that the '-.ltalian underwater craft wore “ exercising ’ ’ j'n considerable strength around Malta, upon which the British Navy also decided to * ‘ exercise. ’ ’ On the British Fleet laying down a practice barrage of comparatively harmless c.x]dosi ves outside V uletta an Italian submarine Imstily came to 1 lie surface, the commander protesting. It was politely pointed out that he was in witters in which the British Xavy was accustomed, to exercise. He surprisingly exclaimed: '“But 1. am off Tripoli.” For it considerable time rumours have beenl current the supposed activities- of Italian submarines near Malta. Admiral Sir Roger Keyes threw some light on the subject when, addressing the Oxford University Umpire Club, he declared that during the British Navy 's recent antisubmarine exercises ‘‘ Italian submarines started popping up like corks.” ‘‘Our commanders,” he said, ‘‘were surprised that ■ they were near. Malta, because they‘were off 'Tripoli. I. lake oil my hat to the Admiralty and the Government in sending almost the whole British Fleet to the Mediterranean.” Sir Roger Keyes cryptically added that the British Navy anti-submarine exercises used only small charges. ‘‘Believe me,” ho said, ‘‘ these'can be very awkward. . The British people is not aware of what happened, but it is well known to'the Italian,'French, and German staffs, cOnsecjuently ‘there is little harm in mentioning it.”