On Friday the Admiralty announced that they bad good reason
to believe that the German submarine ' U29' bad been sunk with all hands. The vessel was commanded by Captain Weddigen, who sank three British cruisers at the be- ginning of the war, and who on March 12th, when off the Scilly Islands, destroyed three trading ships. Captain Weddigen, for the courtesy he displayed to his victims, earned the name of the "Polite Pirate." He not only expressed his regret at having to sink merchant ships, but entertained the crews and towed their boats some distance towards the land. He was brave and skilful, and as humane as his orders would allow him to be. The sinking of the 'U29' brings the roll of destroyed submarines up to five, but it ie, of course, possible that the German losses have really been larger. Considering their activity and considering also the numbers engaged, it must be admitted that the number of submarines accounted for is very small. The problem of naval warfare is still—How are we to deal with the enemy's wider-water craft P As yet no satisfactory way of attacking them has been disoovered.
Previous page
