Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-10-03
SUBMARINE MAY Be
RENDERED USELESS
Great Britain Has Discoy-
cred Effective Means to
Capture Them.
USE A


~ ! HAf'A
w Britain has discovered and put
into effective operation means of COM
batting the submarine which, according
to official reports to the United states
government, already have resulted in a
loss estimated at between fifty and
seventy German submarines. The re-
ports declare the British admiralty
confidently believes II has crushed ihG
German undersea campaign.
New methods of offense and defense
taat may revOlutionize naval warfare
have been adopted and high British
naval officers are Of the opinion That
unless the effectiveness Of the subm1
rine is increased. It will no longer con-
stitute the menace that it has to COM
merce and battle fleets.
The British censorship has prevent
ed the disclosure of details concerning
the developments. Within the last
three weeks, however, confidential re
ports to various government depart
mentj from representatives in Euro
pcan capitals of neutral as well as bel
lgerent countries have confirmed the
British admiralty's view that an eff
fective means of dealing with the sub
mraine has been found.
L. :. Officials Concerned.
These reports are being closely sCru-
tiniZed on account of the bearing they
may have upon the naval policy ~
the United states. They Tcaffirm Of
ficers Of he nav in their conviction
that the d~rcadnuuEht still is the main
stay I'm warfare on sea and tend TO dis
sipate the profound impression created
by the spectacular and for a long time
apparently unsurpassed operations Of
the German / boats arOund the Brit
ish isles.
According to the reports-destruc-
tiOn or capture of fifty submarines
actually had been reported several
weeks ago and it was regarded as
possible that the number might reach
seventy. A dinner was given recently
in London which, while not a formal
state affair. was attended by high
government officials, in celebration Of
the destruction Of the fiftieth under
water enemy. Reports of the dinner
apparently were suppressed by the
censor in accordance with the policy
of keeping Germany in doubt as to
how many Of the boats have been de-
stroyed.
Use Submarine Telephone.
While the greatest secrecy is
thrown around the means employed
the United states government has in
lOIllldllbu Ntlttl hllb llIf HIIi'l l'hl
methods which have been successful
i'm meeting the German war zone
campaign. A submarine telephone
has been developed by which II Is
possible to detect the approach Of a
submarine by sound by observation
boats or stations planted off shore
connected with points in the main
land.
For the capturing Of craft whose
Yt4.ar4. hoe mot hanp I4tpEtAI or
even suspected the governments re-
ports describe how huge nets have
been spEead broadcast around battle
ships and ear steamer lanes.
Armed patrol boats watch and
when the floats holding the nets dis
appear beneath the water showing
that q submarine has become en-
tangled, the patrols congregated at
the place and when the victim comes
TO the surface to disentangle itself, IT
is destroyed by gun fire or captured.
Locate supply Points.
A spccial type Of mine also has
been devised which is laid in large
fields that have proved particularly
dangerous to submarines approaching
steamer lanes. The German methods
of supplying submarines with oil and
provisions either at sea or from con
CcaIed places along the coasts of the
British isles have been ferreted out
and practically disposed Of. This
compels the boats TO return to their
bases at more frequent intervals and
leaves them only a comparatively
short time in position and equipped
for effective duty.
The greatest single factor in sub
marine hunting, it is said. has been
a newly designed fleet Of small seu-
going motor boats armed with one or
two three-inch guns and possessing
very high speed.
Acroplancs Used, Too.
As a submarine must frequently rise
20 renew its air supply and recharge
the storage batteries by which 1t is
propelled when submerged, any in the
territory covered by the scouts is at.
most certain to be eventually detecteH
and destroyed.
AerOplanes are described as eX-
Ceedingly useful in locating and fol-
lowing the trail OF submarines. They
can detect one even a hundred feet
beneath the surface.
ship Gasoline Launches.
BOSTON, oct. six 100 horse
power gasoline launches, each with a
guaranteed speed OF twenty-five knots
I'D, hoe. ayI -, r,., IL. - g,.LI