Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 146, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 June 1915 — FOR UNDERSEA WAR [ARTICLE]

FOR UNDERSEA WAR

Remarkable Progress Made in Submarine Craft. Increased Speed and Accuracy in Attack Most Important Advance— Nations in Feverish Haste to Outdo Each Other. London. —The Improvements which have been effected In the design and construction of submersible craft during the past few months have been little short of remarkable. At the end of last July the finest underwater craft possessed by the admiralty were the nine new boats of the E class, displacing 728 tons on the surface and 810 when submerged. These had a surface and submerged speed of 16 and 10 knots respectively, carried two 12-pounder guns and four tubes firing 21-inch torpedoes. Almost at the very outbreak of hostilities the submersible, which had always been looked upon as lfkely to prove of value for defensive purposes only, demonstrated Its value as a weapon of offense. Immediately every nation began with feverish haste to lay down underwater craft of new and improved design. Several of these boats are now in commission, and while for obvious reasons nothing may be said as to the new British oceangoing submersibles of the F, V and W classes, there are a number of facts' which may he made public regarding Jjie submersible craft of other countries. The vessels Germany has completed and put In commission since last July are of from 800 to 1,000 tons displacement. Their length is from 213 to 230 feet and they have a beam of 30 feet. Photographs have been published of the U-36, the vessel which captured the Dutchman, Batavier V. It has been remarked regarding her that it would seem that her very size exposed her unduly to danger in the narrow seas and the opinion has been vouchsafed that she will fall an easier prey than would some of the smaller submersibles should she be attacked by destroyers. It is not quite clear what that opinion is fqunded upon and so far the Germans seem to have made very few mistakes in connection with their submarines. It is not known how many boats of this size they possess, but it ipay be taken that since the end of July they have launched and fitted up at least nineteen of these big submersible cruisers, one of which is fitted with engines of from 6,000 to 7,000 horsepower. The new German submersibles are armed with four tubes firing 19*6-

inch torpedoes, an antiaircraft gun and two 14 pounders, and there is reason to believe that while the underwater speed of these boats is only about 12 knots at most their design is such that they can travel at 20 to 24 knots on the surface. But it is not only in speed and size that developments have been made. The '‘sight” of the submarine has been improved and the modem periscope is fitted with a compass by which it is now possible for a helmsman to steer to fractions of a degree instead of to one-quarter points as before. The accuracy with which a torpedo can be fired" is greatly Increased by this and In the newest boats it Is possible to obtain the bearings of an enemy ship some miles away and set a course which without the periscope having to be shown above water, will bring the boat to a point from which a torpedo may be fired with absolute certainty of its hitting Its target