The Daytona daily news. [volume] (Daytona, Fla.) 1903-1926, 1917-03-12
Italy's Operations Against Sub
marine Menace Is Clue to
Allied Methods.
D|RIcIBLEs As SEA SCOUTS
Al Ports Protected by Netting Mine
Sweepers Win Little Glory and
Less Publicity, but Are Most
Important Factor.
BY EDGAR ANsEL MowRER.

correspondence OF the Chicago Dahl
News.)
Italian COast.-What can the allies
do against the submarine menace? A
great deal In such small landlOcked
waters as the Adriatic, the Aegean
and the Tyrrhenian seas, less in the
open Atlantic. But in the AdriatiC
particularly many devices can be prof
ltably employed. The most important
OF these is doubtless the wire subma-
rine net. All ports are now protected
by netting which can be opened and
shut to permit the passage Of ships.
Hence submarines have become chary
OF entering an enemy port, preferring
to wait just outside or block the chan
mel by a row Of mines. In consequence
mine sweeperS have become a neces-
sity and hardly port but harhOrs
q fleet Of them. These small ships.
which often fall victim to their task.
becoming aware of mine only as
their keel strikes it and amid the
thunder of death, win little glory and
less publicity. They are among the
enchanted humble. the hOusemaids of
naval warfare.
All ships that pass floating mines on
the high seas shoot at them and sink
them, sometimes by rifle fire. more Of
ten by gun fire
Ihe invention of nets against sub
Marines writes Paolo Giordani. "iS
due to the British admiralty. which
not long ago. after several months of
tOilful silence celebrated the certain
sinking of the Tooth enemy submarine
shared in the tolls. These nets are
most ingenious and formidable"
"Drifters" Hold the Nets.
The nets are tOwed through the wa
ter by small steam fishing boats known
as driftcrs. Great Britain has already
modified more than 100000 fishermen
with at least 1900 ships.
Some hundreds of these driffers
nave been loaned to Italy. Each drift
er drags out and places section OF
net some 1000 meters long. for which
1t is responsible. A submarine strikes
piece Of net like some blind night
lying beetle. The nearest drifters whit
IS prepared 10 come to the surface and
surrender. If not Il bomb is dropned
INTO the dim thickness of water. There
IS choked report. disturbance in
ne waves and then all is quiet. Sub
marine and net have diSappeare,l And
proudly the successful drifter. return
INK hom"Ward with or without prison
nfS HOSTS to the masthead the black
flag Of the pirate. The ancient
symbol Of u good catch. Every driftar
= moreover armed with little guns at
stem ana stern, a wireless apnarafus
md nogaphonc through which the /
lardy sailors. the same who manned I
ne ship IN time of peace. call back and
orfh TO each other
Already the number Of submarines
uHk In the Adriatic is not small
Humble Fishermen Lose Lives.
But, continues Sig. Giortlani ..it
loeS not always happen in this way.
ne torpedo boat that inspects this
TRANCE guard notices an open door. -
Fokrn ring in the chain No matter.
mother drifter takes the place Of the
he swallowed by the waves and the
nam IS again closed. the shackles of
mbuSh again assured" The iriftars
re offered in sacrifice 10 the sea and
ne submarine that great ShinS may
ass safely where they Will. The hum
ie fishermen Of the coast still look 70
~ dominion Of the seas.
Next 10 the patient net throwing
ritter The most picturesque weapon is
I" armed motorboaf These fast AZ
rS haze the advantage Of greater
Deed and vision over the submarine.
hey or" 50 small that they are not
orfh & TORPEDO and draw 81 lif-le wa
r Il would be almost impossible -
'rpedo them. Back ana forth the
H-ih ana breadth If the patrol. dav
u night. il an weafhers. these ,iirni-
ltive hAightS-errant cruise in search ;
the SuFmarn'-th he sea serpent Of
rror and ae1fh
Motorboats Chase Submarines.
lie i.rst fi"et VAS formed Of fast
ensure launches canfnan,leere1 and :
Ffitd W l4Sc for which they nero
t'4' ift'HtN larger
S1er. more comfortable and SEA :
1fihy steel taoforboats, painted lead !
lor ani II APPEARANCE not unlike
-2Iilarire~. were built ana armed hy I
e government. Boats of this rype
rFS guns machine guns, torpelo,s
= occasionally bombs For weeks
= cruise ana watch in vain and
"a. perehance, their patience and 5
luFaiic" are repaid-an Austrian c
oi1laiiii' trying 10 run in close for 5
at The big ships slips TO the bot u
N Of the gray sea. O
ne NE u those who remain at sea d
sucn niue ships in all weathers is c
re OF abnegatiOn and discomfort i,
La'eef than motorboats, cruisers, b
S'rosers and torpedo boats aid in f
{ submarine hunt And Of these tor I