The Hawaiian gazette., 1915-09-10
.SUBSEA BLOCKADE
I. Of BRITAIN FAILS
German Naval Expert Says Sub
marine Results Against Enemy
Are Very Modest ..@a

/ months of German submarine warfare
since February appears in the Berlin
Tageblatt from Captain Persius, the
famous German naval expert.
After quoting the words of the Ger
man proclamation declaring the waters
round Great Britain and Ireland war
zone, he recalls the interview granted
by Won Tirpitz in November to a rep
resentative of the United Press. Won
Ti:Vitz on that occasion said:
"Great Britain wants to starve us.
We can play the same game and tor;
approaches English or Scottish ports
and thereby cut off the greater part
of Great Britain s imports of food
stuffs. -
Captain Persius then proceeds to
make series of statements and ad.
missions about the results of subma
rine warfare which are virtually a
condemnation of the extravagant
expectations of Won Trpitz. Captain
Persius writes:
AZ the beginning Of February, in
Germany high hope was placed on
submarine warfare and many believed
that as the British feet had cut us off
from overseas imports it would not be
difficult now for our submarines to do
he same to Great Britain.
Press Blamed for Optimism
Part Of our press must unfortunately
be held responsible for the extrava-
giant expectations. In this paper it
has often been emphasized that from
an expert estimate of the efficacy Of
the submarine, and in view of the
number Of our submarines, the sue
fa:e could appear only after a consid-
cradle time. Again and again we have
eounselled patience.
How necessary this was is evident
from a simple fact, the concealment Of
which today would seem dishonest,
that the results of the activity Of our
submarines in their wat on commerce
are viewed in many circles as-shall
we sayi-'very modest.
There have been weeks when hardly
one hostile ship has been torpedoed,
while in other weeks more than a
Go7en ships have been destroyed.
Thus, for the week ending August 4,
it was announced that six English
merchant ships and nine fishing
steamers fell victims to the u boats.
1t was added that departures and ar
rivals of ships from and at the United
Kingdom ports were 1898. This figure
may be considered too high, but
there can be no doubt that in any
case at least 1000 ships within one
week have traded with English ports
When we consider the result of our
.y,,l - AixtsN H. L.
ten of these thousand ships were de-
stroyed, it can be understood that
many persons will declare themselves
not satisfied, these being, of course, the
persons who, without technical knowl-
edge, cherished expectations which
were not shared by those who in some
degree considered the conditions.
Building Submarines
No small number of submarines II
required to attack the 1900 ships,
more or less, which within week
enter British ports. According to
"Nauticus," in May, 1915, we
possessed twenty eight completed sub
marines. There is no reason not to
accept the figures of this book, which
are derived from official sources
Now many assume that submarines,
being so small, can be produced in a
very short time. The modern high
seas U boat, however, is by no means
small. 1t dispIaces up to 1000 and
more tons, and il therefore consider
ably larger than torpedo boat. 1t
presents a combination of the most
minute and complicated barapner-
MALTA, and everything Oh board has to
be set up with the utmost precision
in the smallest space. Thus it is clear
that the period for construction of a
4 boat can not be quite so short as
one would wish. There is no more
complicated fighting instrument than
the t boat. which means that the
task of commanding and managing ID
is not simple or easily learned, and
that considerable time must eIapse
before the commander and crew are
familiar with the boat.
AT the beginning of the war our
submarines sank a series of warships,
and now one hears of almost nothing
of the sort. This is the way some
"~snchair Sailors talk. There is no
better school than war
1t is a pity, however, that it is not
only we who learn in it.
Many Protective Measures
Only a child would accuse the
British of being bad mariners They
know how to defend themselves, so
they devised many kinds Of protective
measures.
1t becomes more and more difficult
for boats to get near hostile ships
and launch torpedo. Almost fabu,
lous skill is required to avoid all the,
pitfalls, etc, and get away from tor
Pedo dcstrOyers and nevertheless make
successful attack.
Service aboard submarines demand
the greatest tension of all the mental
and physical forces. Apart from the
quantity and quality of our frst-class
material, there is the question of quail
ity of personnel. That should be re-
membered when calculations are made
Of anticipated SUCCESSES in submarine
war against commerce..
By way of consolation Captain Per.
sius concludes by dwelling on the in
creasing number of submarines and
trained crews.-Reuter.
it