The Wanganui Chronicle FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 1923. THE SUBMARINE PROBLEM

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20109, 30 March 1928, Page 6

The Wanganui Chronicle FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 1923. THE SUBMARINE PROBLEM

AJR- F. B. KELLOG’S recent announcement that the United States would be willing to sign a treaty with the Powers of the world for prohibiting entirely Ihe use of submarines marks a definite advance upon the attitude of his Government at the time of the Washington Conference.

Then it was Great Britain that proposed the total abolition, of submarines, whereas the American plan only favoured limitation. But after two days’ debate Lord Balfour was forced to admit that the British Empire—which was explicitly identified with the view of the Home Government—had no hope of getting any support for its proposal.

Nor, unfortunately, can there be hope of much support at the present time. For France and for Italy the submarine was declared to be necessary for national defence; and it is undoubtedly indispensable now. Some of the smaller maritime nations, moreover, have been steadily' increasing their submarine strength since the. war. They rely upon the submarine to do work for which richer countries build cruisers. The submarine, in fact, has become the weapon of the poorer Powers, and in any self-denying ordinance proposals for abolition obviously come best from those countries which have most to lose by their application.

Great Britain, at the time when she made her original proposal, had the finest equipment of submarines in the world; but now she 'would probably have more to gain than to lose by' their total abolition. And this consideration applies more forcibly still to the United States. The submarine is essentially the weapon for use in narrow' waters rather than in the open ocean; the voyage now’ in progress of the two new' Australian submarines from Portsmouth to Sydney is still regarded as something of an adventure. It is for coastal defence and attacks on trade routes from convenient bases that underwater eraft are peculiarly suitable.

If those countries with whom they are in especial favour should come 1o view' their general prohibition as desirable, any lead they may care to give will certainly be taken up by others. But of this change of outlook there is at present unfortunately no sign.