The Midget Submarines
The news of the brilliant attack upon enemy shipping off the Norwegian coast commented on last week is followed by the report of the still more remarkable feat of seamanship and daring accomplished in the Alten Fjord by British midget submarines. That these craft are in existence is news to the British public, and no doubt was news to the crew of the German battleship on which they suddenly inflicted severe damage in waters doubtless deemed to be perfectly safe. The submarines were not only operating r,000 miles from their base, but had to penetrate narrow fjords fifty miles from the open sea, through minefields and past strong enemy defences? It is now established that the damage done to the Tirpitz,' the most. powerful battleship in the German fleet, is considerable, and that she will need months of repair to make her fit for action. These repairs cannot be done in her Norwegian anchorage, and it remains to be seen whether, after she has been patched up, efforts will be made to take her by sea to Kid. British warships and aircraft will be looking for her. By this spectacular exploit the submarines have dealt a heavy blow at the German fleet, and enormously reduced its potential striking power against our shipping in the North Atlantic.
