The sun., 1916-11-14

question that mas an important hear.
ing not only upon the case NJ tho
diving boat but the surface visihh,v
Of submarines In general. To be az.
tackled either by acroplanc or cruise,
or torpedo boat the submarine mus, NO
seen. How may an underwater Graf,
with only Its periscopc above the sea
be Enthusiastically distinguished from
other objects not belonging 10 suh.
marines? The answer may he TIM.
stated:
According TO the London Enyipc.y
and according to the first hand ot.
servations OF L%aubpuf. the wake a,
the submarine Is the signal of its rres.
cncc. and this Is best seen from above
and directly above the pcriscopc. fn-
otherwise the refraction Of the RAYS n,
light interferes with vision. The size
of the wake. II seems. does not uec.s.
sarily agree with the submarines siz.
but with its shape. Nowadays su5.
marines are " considerable tonnage
500 to 1000. The question whether AN
even larger and more powerful TYNE
can be successfully introduced raise,
some interesting technical and mill.
tary considerations. The submarine
tends to become more and moro n sur.
face ship with submergible qualities.
II has a heavier huh thar furmcrl,
heavier engines. But as the new tyne,
seek greater speed by greatly in.
creased dimensions they cannot dis.
appear so quickly and they arc l,ss
easy to manruvre. Furthermore. ly
requiring the quality NJ suhmcrccrca
in a vessel az an essential feature "
design "A totally disproportionate u>e
Is made of some of the components ~
a fighting ships displacement. II tho
scale is increased and suhmergihla
qualities are demanded in the case ~
vessels Of 5000 ons even the physica'
conditions become hard Ia get oyer
Such a submarine would he a little
less than 400 feet long hy 81 feet beam
and depth. At a depth at which sui.
mergencc Is practically possible s1c1
"A vessel would make a very wide sur.
face disturbance, not wave making rs
generally understood. hut "a Sure,ce
trace visible from Il long distanc". as
In tho case OF u modern torpedo. Now
all these disturbances Of surface, az
they are technically called. reveal the
submarines weakness. they indicate
its presence easily to the aeruplauo
with greater difficulty hut sti'l clearly
enough to the faster surface vo,Se.
SubmergenCe is thus u quality ~ 10.
fence, but II may he purchased ~ too
high a price. Tho shape and Str,reth
of hull that is required by meeting TIE
conditions Of submergonCe present do.
fiCulties that introduce correspondent.
disadvantages. As u surface vessel
this supersuhmarine lacks speed. ps
IA fighting ship it lacks arm"r and
guns for attack.
L.auhnuf, who knows these qualities.
and defects of submarines. reminds MS
readers that too much anuut lc ~.
pected from their faults. for the war
has shown that II is extremely diiHu'.
I" ram them and still harder ~ h'
their superstrlCtures and periScupes
though h. cites instance where N.
British cruiser birmingham shot away
the periscope of "A German submarine.
As regards the ~aeroplane he a~hs.
Granted that the aviator can easily
see the submarine. is he sufficiently
sure. in his flight. of his aim? II, ,ou.
siders any accuracy OF aim IN tines,
circumstances as doubtful and .If-
plies the following Illustrator. IN
a%eroplane has trouble enough in llt'-
ing its bombs in a rcCtanglc loo Us -
meters: that Is the space Nh..N 4
battalion occupies in close forma,.u.
". then, an %aoroplanc finds II al'r.f'
I, hit a surface Of $500 square motors
II would find i far more Iit'i ait 'Y h'
n submarine. of which the largest 'gY.s
are but % meters long and i m,',r,
beam. To imagine an aorupltuo huw.
harding a submarine is a purf ~ r..
military view; to translate ih~ .''p
ACTON L. another matter. In slpl 1iir
pcn!nSs is some Of the greatest .
nance OF reality. and They ylu.t,.
material which the military ~trd,.-.:
may lcgitimately use, But 'ur '"."
when the aeroplanc or Icppcau N.Il
by Itself satisfy tho requirements .
defence against the Suhmariu, hl. '.:
Yet come. though such book, 10. i..
hpiifs and such essays ~ lIn,, :
are worth the writing chi'r' '.
entirely. on account OF their .,. . ..-
lures of the way in which aii,Af, no
submarines carry on their 'oiu'..'~