Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1914-10-21
BattIeshIp Versus Submarine.

6attIeshIp Versus Submarine.
Not many months before the start
of the present war, Admiral Sir Per-
cy Scott stated his conviction that the
submarine was already so far the mas
ter Of the battleship, that it was un-
likely that many more of the latter
would be built.
A month before the breaking out of
the present conflict. one of the most
capable and farsighted of the officers
of our navy, in discussing Sir Percy's
statement with the writer, said that
In the event of naval war between
two great powers, such, for instance,
as Great Britain and Germany, it was
quite possible that the battleship
| fleets of both navies would not dare
to cruise on the high seas, in the
proximity of the enemy's bases, until
the submarine fleets of one or other
of the contestants had been practical
ly destroyed.
To many students of the war, it
will appear that the sinking by a sim
gle submarine (if the German state
ment is correctly of three large armor-
ed British cruisers in less than one
hour, is strong confirmation Of the
views of these two officers of the Brit
ish and United States navies.
Already, as the result of this brill.
liant exploit, it is being freely stated
that at any time we may learn that
several Of the British battleships have
met similar fate. This view is based
upon the belief that the battleship
feet OF Great Britain is engaged in a
close blockade of the German coast
and is cruising to and fro a few miles
Off Wilhelmshaven, Helgoland, and the
entrance to the Baltic. II this were
the case, the peril of the submarine
would be great indeed.
AS a matter Of fact, the battleship
fleet, it may be safely said, is not with.
In a hundred miles of the German
coast. We hazard the statement that
it is gathered at some mine-protected
base, roadstead or harbor on the
English or Scottish coast, and the
blockade of the German coast is be-
ing maintained by a feet of cruisers
scouts, and destrOyers, each squadron
OF which is patroling It's own assigned
stretch Of water and keeping in touch
by wireless with the distant battleshiu
fleet.
1t is the principal duty of these
ships of lesser value to keep close
watch and detect the first signs of the
German battleships passing out into
the North Sea-. In that case, Admiral
Jellicoe would maneuver to gain con
tact with the enemy and bring on a
general engagement. In fact, the only
motive OF Admiral Tirpitz himself in
venturing into the North Sea would
be to fight line-of-battle engagement
The absence of any coaling base
would render it impossible for the
German fleet to make any extended
raid upon the English. and. French
coasts, and a general engagement
against such overwhelming odds as
sixteen battleships against thirty O,
more would spell disaster.
It will be remembered that Admiral
Togo waited for the Russian fleet be
hind one Of the islands Of the sea Of
Japan, and threw forward a screen Of
scouts, to get in early touch with the
Russians. 1t is practically certain
that the British battleships are far re
moved from the field of probable sub
marine attack, and that, like the Ger
man battleships, they are so located
that they can be protected by a. com
plete Gordon Of mine fields, torpedo
booms, nets, and heavy interlaced
cables,
The blockading fleets of lighter and
less valuable vessels must necessarily
cruise within observing distance OF
the coast, and these vessels are, and
throughout the whole war will be, ex
posed to submarine attack. There is
no doubt that the submarine flotillas
Of the Germans have been actively en-
gagged in hunting for these ships ever
since they appeared in the offng. The
U6SL pIOLcCL1Ou 1OI Cll0 CRUISERS anu
destroyers is to steam at not less than
fifteen knots, and to make constant
changes Of course and cruising
ground. Such a submarine as the ~
g., which sank the armored cruisers
can make only eight knots, when sub
merged; and at that low speed it is
difficult to close in on a ship moving
at fifteen knots or more. The ships
that were sunk were making only sew
en- knots, fatally low speed, as the
event proved, in waters infested by
submarines.
The Germans will be greatly en-
boldened and the British rendered
more cautious by the recent disaster;
but in spite of all watchfulness, it is
certain that now and then we shall
hear of other blockade and patrol
ships being intercepted and sunk by
this comparatively new and Justly
dreaded form Of attack.-Scientiflc
American.