[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."]
SIR,—From the accounts which have appeared in the news- papers it seems that both in America and on the Continent of Europe steps have been taken to provide the navies with the new submarine vessels. This is especially the case in France, where there are already some of these craft ready
for service, and now the new programme of thc Government provides for the construction of twenty-six more, which will bring up the number in the French Navy to thirty-eight. I have never seen any mention of submarine vessels in connec- tion with the English Navy. Has nothing been done in the matter by our authorities ? The subject is one which should have prompt and full attention. The submarine vessel is as yet untried in warfare, and it is impossible to say bow it will behave. It may be that it will prove to be of little or no value as an.offensive weapon, but, on the other hand, it may turn out a powerful and effective arm, capable of inflicting unlimited damage on anything floating, with perfect impunity owing to itssubaqueous position. Our Government, if they have not already done so, should at once see to it that the country be provided with the new vessel in proportion to the rest of the Navy. Also that experiments be made to ascertain the best methods of dealing with the attacks of submarine craft. It would be a pitiful close to England's sea-power for her magnificent ships to be stung to death one after the other without the possibility of their dealing a blow in self-defence. When the day of trial comes let us be prepared.—I am, Sir, Stc.,
[It is interesting to note that our correspondent on the other aide of the world has,.without any communication with us, been moved as strongly as we have by the failure of the Admiralty in the matter of experimenting with submarine boat s. —E n. Spectator.]
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