DARING WORK

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11215, 22 October 1914, Page 9

DARING WORK

BY SUBMARINES.

HUNTED CONTINUOUSLY.

' GUARDING THE TRANSPORTS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.. (Received October 24, 4.15 p.m.) LONDON, October 23. The Press Bureau says that Captain Keys, Commander of the British submarines in the North Sea, reports as follows:—"Three hours after the outbreak of war submarines ISG and EB, unaccompanied, carried out a reconnaissance in the Heligoland Bight and returned with useful information. They had the privilege of being the pioneers upon this service, which was attended with some risk. During tho transportation of the Expeditionary forces by tho Lurcher and Fire Drake, all the submarines of the Eighth Flotilla occupied positions and could havo attacked tho German high sea fleet if it had emerged to dispute tho passage of the transports. This patrol was maintained day and night, with no relief, until the Army had been transported and all chance of effective interference had disappeared. These submarines have since been incessantly employed off the enemy's coast in the Heligoland Bight and elsewhere, -and have obtained much valuable information regarding the composition and movements of his patrols. They occupied his waters, reconnoitred his anchorages, have been subjected to skilful anti-submarine tactics, hunted continuously by torpedo craft, and attacked, by gun fire and torpedo boats.

After E9 sank the Hela, six miles south of Heligoland on September 13, German destroyers were summoned and hunted her for hours^

On September 14, E9 examined the outer anchorage of Heligoland at siderable risk. E6, while diving, found the mooring of a German mine, which it effectively released. Only once were the British submarines within torpedo range of a German cruiser. During daylight the German capital vessels never, and their light cruisers seldom, emerged from the fortified harbours. During the exceptionally heavy western gales from September 14 to September 21, the submarines were within a few miles of the enemy's coast, being subjected to a trying ordeal. The maintenance of their star tion under such conditions was distinctly ofeditable. All the commanders keenly seek service in the Heligoland Bight.