The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-08
THE NEW SUBMARINE WAR.
Speculation rs TO the Real Slgnifl.
canoe Of Germans Concession.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Str: The
Concession" in the German note may
be open to an Interpretation of much
military importance.
1t is generally &nown that a subma-
rine cannot give warning to n vessel
which she intends to attack without
first coming to the surface. She is
then extremely vulnerable. ever to
projectilcs from small guns easily o n
ccaled between decks. She may be
sunk by the first resisting" shot. II
a weapon cannot be effectively used
except at the probable cost Of Its own
destruction and Of all handling II, then
that weapon is hardly a weapon at all.
Hence II is argued that a demand that
submarines shall not sink merchant
men without warning is virtually a
demand that submarine attacks on
such vessels shall altogether stop.
Yet the German note expressly
agrees that merchant vessels shall not
be sunk without warning sss unless
the ship attempt to escape or Offer
resistance" This presumably Is to be
regarded as In all good faith until the
contrary shall appear. The obvious
and vital question. then. is: How is
such an agreement to be re%conciled
with the apparently prohibitory peril
OF the warning act?
Two answers suggest themselves
Either Germany has discovered a new
mode of submarine attack, which per.
mi,s warning to be given without sub
stantial risk. or she has devised a new
-,.f-.--.ll. ..l..-l - aA, ..l.
by surface exposure.
She nay attack with her present
boats In couples, the warning craft
alone appearing. the other remaining
under water ready TO deliver n torpedo
against the warned vessel upon tho
slightest sign OF offence. but this
involves many MISUNDERSTANDING
FOR example. upon the blindness Of
submarines when submerged-witf
dangers of collision and ineffective in.
accommodation.
1t seems. therefore, more likely tina,
Germany has "a new vessel, which by
reason OF its construction and opera.
ton warrants her giving the pledge
now made. And indeed for some tims
past there have been rumors that such
a ship is not far below the horizon
Conceive OF a boat larger than any
submarine. of small draft OF water
without runs, armored only over d
protective deck rising but little above
the surface and showing nothing but
a coming tower near the stern, will
Internal combustion engines capable OF
driving her at a very high speed. sa!
beyond hat o. the forty-one knots oi
the Italian destroyer Audace-armeC
solely with modern torpedoes Of tn,
highest attainab,e range and gyro'
scopically controlled accuracy, a yes.
sci which when under way at n speed
even much below the maximum woul,
be practically solf-submerging. Tha'
ship originated in this country severa
years ago. II Is very similar To thu
type talked about by Captain Sims o
the navy recently before the Congress
sional committee.
II Germany has been building suci
craft as this there seems nothing Il
reconcile between her promise an,
possible conditions OF submerged at
tack. The new ship would he fas
enough Ia catch any merchant vessel
| and suhmcrs.ble when desired. Sh'
would be- als' .mpreEnahlc 20 rIrh-'
and as safe in giving warning and n
capable Of taking people from sunkel
vessels On board as any cruiser.
Just what might happen To moderI
dreadnoughts II attacked on the hlci
seas hv this vessel is another story
about which, perhaps. We may know
more after the German fleet come
out. PARK BESJAMrS.
NEW YORK. Nav s.