Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-09
UNDERWATER WARSH|PS
DISGUISED AS TRAMPS
Development Of Diving Cruisers De-
scribetl by Percival a. IIislam,
British Naval Writer.
Groeben Submcrsiblc Could Act as
Surface Raider and Dive Under
Water Only in Case OF Attack by
Enemy.
international News Bureau
PERCIEkL =. HlSLAM.

international News Bureau
PERCIVAL =. HlSLAM.
Ever since the earliest days of the
war occasional stories have reached ~
from neutral capitals to tho effect that
Germany was building for our d'scou.
Gture 4 special brand OF relatively
gigantic submarine. AS Ions ago nS
October. 1914, Copenhagen Informed US
that submcrsiblc transports were be
ing constructed for bringing over tho
army Of invasion. In tho middle ot
1916 We were warned that submarine
cruisers Of 5000 tons. designed FOR the
lonc-d:stance attack on commerce. were
on hand in German yards, but several
months elapsed before any details be-
came available
I, is now known that a Hun engi-
rcer. Grocbcn b. name, has designed
what we may call 4 submcrsible cruiser
OF very remarkable type. When
cruising normally on the surface there
10 nothing 20 distinguish Ii, even at
a very short distance. from typical
neutral merchantman. I!elow the water
level, however, the shin has the lines
Of very fast cruiser. and IS, In fact.
alleged TO be able TO make speeds Sew
eral knots greater than any decent
sized ship vas capable Of thre, years
aEo. Most striking Of all, the entire
ship, which is said 10 have dispiacc-
ment OF about 5.o1o tons. can be sub
merged and mancuvcrcd under water
like an ordinary submarine. though
only az very low speed, because OF
the enormous power that would be
e.,I, 4 xn1
of this size at anything capable Of
being called rapid rate.
The Groeben subme rsble is not de-
signed to operate as a submarine at all.
the ability TO dive being purely self
offensive. Such "a vessel would be able
to cover great distances in the night.
and during the day would operate d
tho Moewc and Sceadier did. display
ing signals OF distress and Turing mer-
ohantmen up closc alongside before
suddenly dropping the cola psible hull
wavks and Lighthouses and opening
fire with the concealed guns. In the
event OF the approach OF an average
patrol ship. the Groebcn submersible
would have three courses to choose
from. I, could decide TO put up
straight fight. being fairly heavily
armed, or it could take to it's heels
with remarkably good chance of get
ting we'll away. or ii could bring it's
submcrsiblc Qualities into operation and
gradually disappear from sight.
X has been suggested that they were
probably ships Of this type which car
ricd out the dramatic and successful
RAID on neutral convoy under British
guard III the North Sea on October
i'th last. but the Admiralty COM
nunipuc merely told us that the two
heavily armed" and that on both their
outward and homcward iournevs ,bc,
succeeded IN cyadinr ,bo l,ri,,sh
inr soundro,. 7, -,
,h"-o =, -; va ne seen mat
- ''"'''"s III 'h!S when conflicts
WIN inc theory that they might have
teen submcrsihlcs of the Ciroebcn type.
and the fact that they did succeed IN
evad;ng tho spidcr-wcb na,rois of ~.
British navy in tho Morn, So, doa.
,.,s, surr.s. M. "! "ea ooes' at
NJ ~. nc most cHcciiVe way
ana ou, -, we surface
|, ;s -.,,t'.rt
:. """'e 'h'hS that when