Evening star., 1934-03-18

are given a much less Spectacular
role, yet quite as important in war
fare. Their victims are to be the
merchant ships Of the enemy. 1t is
because of this use Of the submarine
that the world at large was SO emo
tionally moved during the German
submarine campaign.
Each conference on Limitation OF
naval armaments since the war has
made heroic efforts to restrict, If not
outlaw, the surprise attack Of sub
marines on merchant ships. All that
has been so far achieved along this
line is an agreement, according to
which the submarine is pledged to
give warning before attack. The
crew and passengers meanwhile are
not to be unduly jeopardized, but
given a reasonable opportunity for
safety before the merchant ship has
been sunk.
Agreement Ineffective.
While the ink was yet wet on this
agreement, the naval experts of all
countries realized only too well that
nothing of the kind would be con-
sidered by the signatory nations when
they became belligerents. The tech
nique in operations Of the submarine
would not permit of such procedure.
1t was evident to the experts that
to carry out such an agreement must
make innocuous the submarines at
tack upon merchant ships. besides
jeopardizing the safety Of the sub
marine itself.
However, the statesmen signed the
agreement, leaving it on the con-
science of the nations at war to ac-
cept the onus of breaking a solemn
treaty stipulation.
A submarine in order to give a
warning to its intended victim, q
merchant ship, must of necessity be
on the surface and fire a shot
across the vessels bow. To assure
itself that the merchant ship, after
the warning shot is fired, will not
use its maneuvering power and higher
speed to escape, the submarine must
have approached to close range. This
brings the submarine, a most vul-
nerable type to the effect Of shell
guns VI IllC AilSiNAAoAAS
ship. That all merchant ships will
go armed and with guns possibly
bigger and surely more numerous
than the submarine is evident.
To expect a submarine to place
itself in the power Of a merchant
ship is absurd. Should the mer-
chant ship, given q warning, open
Are on the submarine, the latter would
have no alternative other than to
submerge at once. During the better
part of minute before the submarine
will have found security under water,
its very existence and the lives OF its
crew of half hundred trained and
expert men will be in dire peril
In consequence, we may be assured
that submarine attacking merchant
vessels will approach without detec-
ton to as short range as possible
and use a torpedo to cripple seriously
its victim. Even with it pretty sorely
stricken, it will yet not dare to Sur
face" until through the periscope it
sees the merchant vessel is incapable
Of using its gun armament. When
the merchant vessel is recognized to
be in a helpless condition, the sub
marine then can show itself and aid
in the rescue of the personnel of the
sinking ship. The submarine will not
risk even then broadcasting over the
radio an sos to call up rescuing
vessels. To render this humanitarian
service would bring fast anti-sub-
marine ships to the spot The sub
marine would desire to be well clear
of the scene of the tragedy before
notifying the world.
Must Work Pitilessly.
Submarines of this class must be
pitiless in their work, else they will
be unsuccessful in the role given them,
that of the destruction of enemy
merchant ships, the vital lines Of
communication Of the enemy.
The single merchant vessel on the
high seas is vulnerable to attack not
only from surface warships but also
from submarines and aircraft. 1t Is
plainly impossible to provide a war
ship escort to accompany each single
merchant ship. The belligerent pow
ers during the World War readopted
an age-old plan, that of convoy and
escort
Merchant vessels, according to this
plan, are collected into conveys OF
from half a dozen to upward OF
nearly a hundred ships. A strong
escort. composed of various types of
warships, depending upon the charac-
ter of enemy warships liable to be en-
countered, is attached to the convoy
for its protection.
During the war conveys expected
attack only from submarines. All
other types of enemy warships were
securely bottled up in port by the
ubiquitous British fleet. The ocean
conveys were escorted by one or more
cruisers. When nearing the ports OF
arrival in Europe where submarines
were operating, flotilla Of destroyers
would join up to carry the convoy
through the danger zone.
The convoy system was an old idea
revived. It had been used during long
wars with success hundreds OF years
ago in Europe.
Even with strong escort, the
merchant ships in convoy will not find
themselves immune from submarine
attack
Besides giving greater security to
merchant shipping, the convoy and
escort system forces the attacking
submarine to make its attack within
sight of the vessels that are fitted to
encompass its destruction with depth
bombs. When merchant ships were
permitted to go singly, the submarine
could attack and sink its victim with
impunity and safety to itself. Now,
however, when a submarine fires its
torpedo, the underwater craft is i'm
mediate1y detected by many vigilant
eyes upon surface warships and the
attack upon 1t is Immediately and
often fatal. A torpedo when fired
from a submarine leaves tell-tale
bubble Of air from the tube that fired
it and also a white track of bubbles
in the wake of the torpedo itself as
it speeds toward its target.
Doubtless, Immediately war is de-
clared, all merchants ships Of the
belligerents will be collected into con-
voys. The placing of an embargo on
shipping is the last thing to be con-