UNDER-SEA BATTLESHIPS.

Western Star, 3 December 1935, Page 4

UNDER-SEA BATTLESHIPS.

“VERITABLE ARMOURED CRUISERS.” Will naval battles cf the next war he decided beneath the sens? With Germany building submarines again, after a 16-vear lapse imposed by treaty restrictions, the eves of naval observers the world over are turning once mnr-s to under-sea craft and their potential value in future conflicts Increased! speed and cruising radius, together with powerful weapons .for defence at the surface, make them a puzzling factor in the problems of sea power, states ‘Popular Science.’ Compare recently-built submersibh’s with the relatively small U-boats that wrought havoc on allied and neutral shipping during the World War, and the startling evolution of the submarine since that time becomes apparent. France’s 400 ft Surcouf, the largest submarine in the world to-day, is a- veritable armed cruiser of 3,000 tons displacement; a pair of Bin guns supplements its heavy battery of 14 torpedo tubes, and enables it to cope with all but tbe most powerful of the enemies it may meet on the surface. Hlardly less formidable are the United States navy’s cruiser-type submarines Narwhal and Nautilus, 371-foot monsters of 2,730 tons, mounting 6in guns; and its mine-laving submarine Argonaut, about equal in size,. carrying 6in guns and 60 mines. No longer is the wartime role of a submarine limited to comparatively short raiding cruises from its shore base. Under-sea craft of to-day are speedy enough to accompany a battle fleet on its manoeuvres, participating in attacks and performing invaluable. 1 scouting missions Their cruising radius is far more than sufficient to take tii cm across an ocean and back I again without refuelling. Their newlyacquired ability to defend themselves, if <‘alight unawares o n the surface bv hostile war vessels, enhances their ability t„ , operate in comparative safety in waters controlled bv ajj enemy

Dow keenly the leading world powers realise these capabilities of the modem submarine it shown by their develop.) mont of this naval arm. So rapidly; has France increased her under-sea! power within the last few years that] she now leads al] other nations .in num. her and tonnage of submarines The United States ranks second in numbers and third in tonnage. Figures re. voided not long ago by the Naval Intelligence Office, Washington, give the, following totals of submarines built and building France. 11l ; United States 94; Italy, 75: Japan. 73; British Empire, 64. The corresponding tonnages m round figures 'ire —France, nearb--100.000: Japan, 88.C00: United States,! SvDOO; British Empire 64.000- Italy" 52.C00. ’

A man says lie watched two champion- I plavinv hili;- M -ds for d\ hours without' a break .— I They couldn’t have been champions. Hitler has suppn'c-md hundreds of newspapers durin..- t be past (no years. • Tr, ‘ mint think that r .i »«v.- ;s g-:I ; ’ IJEWt,