GERMAN SUBMARINES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 99, 30 April 1935, Page 5

GERMAN SUBMARINES

REVOLUTIONARY DESIGN GREAT SAVING IN WEIGHT ELIMINATION OF BATTERIES 18/ Telegrapji—Press Association —Copyrigklj Received April 29, 9.10 p.m. LONDON, April 29. All naval experts accept the accuracy of the statement that Germany is building submarines, and discuss its significance. The Daily Telegraph’s Berlin cor respondent says that Hitler’s decision is sudden and is due to anger at the League of Nations’ resolution con demning Germany. The gesture is in tended to indicate Germany’s intention to claim autonomy in every aspect ol national defence. Nevertheless, the order for submarines is “unofficial’ and it is not desired that construction should be interpreted as a challengi to British sea supremacy. The Daily Telegraph’s naval corres pondent says that at present German} is limiting her submarines to 250-ton ners which can be built in five months whereas the larger types take If months. Moreover, numerous sinal boats will enable the personnel to be trained for a full-scale submarine fleet. The Morning Post's naval correspondent explains that the new 250-ton ners are of a revolutionary design, as there is a great saving in weight owing to the use of hydrogen in conjunction with fuel oil for surface propulsion, and hydrogen and oxygen for submerged propulsion, thus eliminating the weight of electric batteries.

GERMAN NAVY MOST MODERN IN WORLD. RUSSIA’S ANTIQUATED FLEET. R E AR M A MEN T IN EVITAB L E. •LONDON, April 28. i The Guardian's diplomatic correspondent says ihat the emergence of Germany as a naval Power is serious. The value of the antiquated Russian ileet is doubtful, whereas Germany’s is the most modern in the world. The decision to- again build submarines and claim 35 per cent, equality with British tonnage shows that she intends not merely to defend her coasts, but to . become a formidable naval Power, making nor might felt on the high seas throughout the world. The Baltic will immediately be ' affected. Russian naval re-armament is now inevitable. The whole problem of the Baltic States is threatened with a fundamental change, because, with the exception of Lithuania, they will come j within the German orbit. PROLETARIAN PACTS THE AIM OF RUSSIA. HITLER MEANS WAR.

LONDON. April 28. The Riga correspondent of The Times states that Comintern is -supplementing Al. Litvinoff’s policy of peace pacts by a parallel chain of proletarian acts encircling Germany. It is questionable whether the decision has anything beyond an advertisement value. The Comintern sections in Britain and all countries bordering Germany, except Holland and Switzerland, have been instructed to create anti-German committees and to demonstrate against German conscription and re-armament, enlisting the aid of Communists, unorganised labour, the British Labour Party, and of the Independent Labour Party and similar bodies in other countries. It will be urged that Russia must increase her army because Herr Hitler means war and his overthrow by a proletarian revolution will destroy Ger many’s war nest. IN NORTH SEA SECRET GERMAN BASE L NDERG R 0 U ND HANGA R S MA 881VE FORTIFICATIONS Received April 30, 1.20 it.in. PARIS, April 29. The German newspaper Parriser Tageblatt, published in Paris, reports that a new German secret naval and aeroplane base has been established on the island of Sylt in the North Sea. The base possesses underground aeroplane hangars and massive fortifications, with bomb-proof shelters for long-distance and anti-aircraft guns. Only the most trusted Nazis were employed in the construction of the base.