Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1917-03-02
ltaIy's Operations Against Sub
marine Menace Is Clue TO
Allied Methods.
DIRIGIDlEs AS SEA SCOUTS
All Ports Protected BY Nettin9--mIne
sweepers Win Little Glory and
Lees Publicity, but Are Most
Important Factor.
81 EDGAR ANsEL mowRHa.

.
Newa)
Italian Coast.--What can the allies
do against the submarine mensce7 A
great deal IN such small landiocked
waters as the Adriatic. the Aegean
and the Tyrrheniaa seas. less ia the
open Atlantic. But IN the Adriatic
particularly many devices can be prof
itabiy 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 10 permit the passage OF ships.
Hence submarines have become chary
Of entering an enemy port. preferring
20 walt Just outside or block the chan
nei by row OF mines. In consequence
mine sweepers have become a neces-
sity and hardly port but harbors
fleet Of them. These small ships.
which often fall victim 10 their task.
becoming aware of mine only ms
their keel strikes II and amid the
thunder OF death. win little glory and
less publicity. They are among the
enchanted humble. the housemaids OF
naval warfare.
Al ships that pass floating mines on
the high seas shoot az them and sink
them, sometimes by rifle Ore. more. Of
ten BY gun fre.
THE Invention OF nets against sub
marines" writes Paolo Glordanl. 'ls
due 20 the British admiralty. which
not long ago. after several months OF
tollfui silence. celebrated the certain
sinking 90 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
AZ drifteFs. Great Britain has already
modified more than 100000 fishermen
with at least 1900 ships.
Some hundreds OF these drifters
have been loaned 10 Italy. Each drift |
er drags out and places a section of /
net some 1000 meters long, for which
II II responsible. A submarine strikes |
piece OF net like some blind night
flying beetle. The nearest drifters wait
a certain time 10 see II the submarine
Is prepared TO come 20 the surface and
surrender. II not bomb is dropped
Into the dlm thickness OF wuter. There
Is choked report. disturbance In
the waves and then all is quiet Sub
marine and net have disappeared. And
proudly the successful drlfter. return
Ing homeward with or without prison
ers. hoists to the masthead the black
sinister flag OF the pirate. the ancient
symbol Of good catch. Every drifter
Is moreover armed with little guns at
stem and stern. wireless apparatus
md a megaphonc. through which the
hardy sailors. the same who manned
he ship in time OF peace, call back and
'orth to each other.
Already the number OF submarines
mink In the Adriatic Is not small. ,
Humble Fishermen Lose Lives {
'But." continues Sig. Glordani. 'it |
hoes not always happen In this way. !
rhe torpedo boat that inspects this z
TRANCE guard notices an open door, a !
lrokcn ring IN the chain. No matter.
mother drigter takes the place OF the )
me swallowed by the waves and the 9
hnln Is again closed. the shackles OF b
mbush again assured" The drifters v
70 offered In sacrifice TO the sea and 4
he submarine that great ships may {
mss safely where they will. The hum u
ie Fishermen Of the coast still look to q
he dominion OF the seas. q
Next 20 the patient net throwing y
ritter the most picturesque weapon Is o
he armed motorboat. These fast fly n
rs have the advantage OF greater K
peed and vision over the submarine. a
hey are so small that they are not e
iorth a torpedo and draw SO little wa "
RI Il would be almost impossible 20 a
Drfs4,fo them. Rack and forth. the
myth and breadth OF the patrol. day
nd night Ia an weathers. these diml- +
utive knights. errant cruise In search :,
Z the submsr,ne-th sea serpent OF h
irror aGd death. n
mosorbcats Chase Submarines HI
The first fleet was formed OF fast a
Ieasure launches. Communicated aud II
armed 10 use for which they were II
ever made. More recently larger. h
,~ter. more comfortable aud sea- n
orshy steel notorboats painted lead A
,lor and Ia appearance not unlike ol
ihmartnes. were built aud artaed by r
- government Boats az this type @
irfi guns, machine guns. torpedoes. -
al occasionally hotabS For weeks
icy cruise and watch In vain and N
,en. perchauee their patience and W
iduranco are repald--an Austrian Al
ibmariue trying 10 run 10 close for IN
y AZ the big ships slips 10 the bot. 81
'm Of the gray sea. W
The life Of those who remain at sea
such little ships In all weathers Is h,
~ ~ abnegntion and discomfort. W
Larger than motorhoats. cruisers. a
estroysrs and torpedo boats aid In @
he submarine hunt And OF these tor N
Edo boats are the most useful. To "
n truth obvious 10 any student OF OF
MAI tactics the Italians have found II