Submarines On The Trade Routes

Southland Times, Issue 23921, 13 September 1939, Page 6

Submarines On The Trade Routes

THE loss of 12 British merchant vessels in the first week of the war may seem to prove that the submarine is still deadly in attack. This is true only where it can operate in suitable conditions. No matter how long the war lasts it is unlikely that the Nazi submarines will have better opportunities than at present for their destructive work on the trade routes. When Mr Chamberlain made his fateful announcement 10 days ago British ships were scattered on all the seas. It is now clear that German submarines, possibly ij) large numbers, had been sent out from their bases before war was declared, and were ready to begin their hunting at a moment’s notice. In the circumstances the British losses are not large, Compared with the damage inflicted on at least two Nazi warships during Air Force-raids, the sinking of another warship after striking a mine, and the rounding, up of German merchantmen unable to .escape to neutral ports, they are relatively smaller than those of the enemy. Henceforth the submarines will have to go warily. During the last war nearly three years passed before the convoy system was established; today all preparations have been made to in-

stitute it at short notice. The efficacy of the system can best be gauged by an appeal to figures. From the summer of 1917 to the end of the Great War 16,500 vessels on the Atlantic route were convoyed between Britain and the United States. Of this number only 102, or six-tenths of 1 per • cent., were destroyed by submarines. A Stronger Defence

It should be noted, further, that, anti-submarine tactics have now outstripped the offensive power of under-water vessels. When this year’s naval budget was introduced in the House of Commons an Admiralty official stated his belief that British methods of detecting and attacking submarines are more advanced than any others in the world. “I myself have taken part in a hunt for ’submerged submarines whose position was unknown,” he said, “and .... I imposed conditions which satisfied myself as to the bona tides of the test in case the scientists were taking advantage of the gullibility of the layman. In nine cases out of ten, without any doubt, the exact position of the submarine was detected.” When ’t is mentioned also that more than 1000 of the larger British merchantmen have had their decks stiffened to carry guns, and that nearly 10,000 merchant officers and many thousands of seamen have been trained to handle the new weapons it should be clear that the submarine no longer has the overwhelming advantage in attack which made the seas unsafe during a critical period in the last war.