result of the submarine " blockade " may be tbe hastening 
of tiat era. If the " blorkade " has taught us the limita- 
tions of the submarine, it has also served to give us a clearer 
idea than heretoforb of its potentialities. 
It is early days yet to prophesy that this war v.ill witness 
the disappearance of the Dreadnought as a naval unit. Such 
ft state of affairs could perhaps only be brought about by a 
succession of incidents in which the Drcnd nought was invari- 
ably annihilated by the submarine — and it is a far cry to 
adopt that as a probability. 
None the less — for all that, little to justify such an 
hypothesis appears to have occurred — there is reason to believe 
that the nest two or three months or so are going to witness 
profound modifications of many of the previously accepted 
ideas of naval warfare. If not fully up to the prophecy of 
Admiral Sir Percy Scott a year or so ago, all the present 
Indications are tliat the capital ship will presently be the 
iubmarine, all other vessels gradually becoming subsidiary 
and auxiliary to it. 
THE DARDANELLES. 
Up to the time of writing (Monday niglit) there have 
been no further developments in the Dardanelles. Occasional 
bad weather interferes with the operations, and mine sweep- 
ing is considerably hampered by the perhaps somewhat 
unexpected activity which the Turks (or, more probably, 
their German advisers) are displaying in the matter of repair- 
ing forts and making use of mobile artillery. 
At and about the Narrows the channel is so restricted 
ttiat every sort and kind of weapon can be utilised to annoy 
the mine sweepers, while concealment of guns from aerial 
observation has now become such a fine art that it is unfair 
to expect too much assistance from the sky. Pending the 
clearance of the shores by a land force, it is difficult to sea 
how progress aflcat can be aught but very slow and tedious, 
especially since every spell of bad vreather gives opportunity 
to the enemy to make good his damages. 
THE BOSPHORUS AND BLACK SEA. 
The Russian Black Sea Fleet is now reported to be con ■ 
'ducting operations against the Bosphorus defences, but so 
far as can be gathered nothing of a serious nature has yet 
been attempted. Very probably the Russians are badly 
hampered by lack of equipment and supplies for any co- . 
operating land force, while they are undoubtedly furihsr 
hampered by the circumstance that they can ill afford to lose 
any of their ships, as they have no reserve to draw on such as 
we and the French have. 
The difficulties of any naval action against the Bosphorus 
were dealt with in these Notes a fortnight ago. One way and 
another, therefore, it is likely enough tliat Russian progre;•.^ 
will be as slow or slower than our own. 
The small Turkish cruiser Meiljiilifh is semi-officially 
reported to have struck and been sunk by a mine in tlie Black 
8ea, where she was conducting some marauding operations 
devoid of all military significance. Her loss can liave no 
material effect on the campaign, as her fighting value was 
■mall and she was getting old. 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
F. A. C. M. (Bath).— (1) All except the very latest 
German submarines have a peculiarly raised bow which 
cannot be mistaken. (2) The captain of a mercliant ship 
would certainly be unable to tell the nation.ility of a sub- 
merged submarine from its periscope. On the other hand, 
no British submarine would approach a merchant ship in 
■nch a condition, so " sunk by mistake " that way would be 
an improbable event. (3) In the national interest the 
Admiralty may at any time see fit to conceal a loss, but you 
may take'it that they would immediately inform privately all 
the relatives of the lost. 
PoBBi.ES. — The Navy has quicker ways of disposing of 
hostile mine fields than by the scheme which you suggest. 
W. A. W. (Clifton). — ^You are by no means alone in 
criticising the responsible naval authorities because the Ocean 
and other sliips were sunk by floating mines. But, as I pointed 
out at the time, no information has yet been forthcoming as 
to the conditions which obtained, and in the absence of any 
Buch information both comment and criticism must necessarily 
be unfair and futile. Trust the British Navy. 
R. N. (Belfast). — A submarine can lie at the bottom of 
the sea provided the water be not too deep. It could do so 
down to 150 feet or so. If, of course, it tried to do the same 
thing in the deepest part of the Atlantic the pressure would 
(Dtumple it up. 
J. H. (Scarborough). — (1) I am sorry, but I do not know 
the answer myself. Possibly some of the big projectila-makers, 
such as Hadfield or Forth, would give you the inforir.ation you 
require. (2) The llin. and 12in. German shells have two 
copper bands; I do not remember what the 8.2 has. (3) 
The marlrs on the nose of the shell presented to you by the 
German warships are no clue to the dimensions of the shell. 
(4) Nothing seems definitely certain as to which sliips bom- 
barded Scarborough, but the sliips out are generally believed 
to have been Moltke, Scydlitz, Bcrftlngcr, Von dtr Tann, 
Bliichcr, and some of the small fast cruisers like the Bostock. 
One, at lea.st, will never be seen again. 
M. W. C. (Bristol).— (1) At the present moment, to all 
intents and purposes German cruisers are swept off the seas. 
The fate of one or two is somewhat uncertain, but they aro 
certainly quite harmless. (2) The Gazelle was got into har- 
bour badly damaged. (3) The Admiralty very wisely object 
to comments on questions having to do with the particular 
condition of any particular ship. (4) The Emden's landing 
party apparently got away while the Sydney was otherwise 
engaged. (5) Portugal has no Navy suitable for modem 
naval warfare. She has been several times reported as being 
technically at war with Germany, but that appears to be the 
end of the matter. 
E. P. S. (Cheltenliani). — When a ship is interned she is 
usually more or less taken possession of by the j^ort authori- 
ties, and it is legally correct to disarm her. 
W. C. S. (West Hampstead).— Devices for catching sub- 
marinss under water are as common as blackberries. They 
are unfortunately nearly always based on a failure to appre- 
ciate the capabilities of modern submarines. 
O. W. J. (Liverpool). — A device such as you suggest is 
feasible, but even at the present time the submarine ia 
" nobody's friend." It might deceive merchant ships, but 
would not deceive naval officers. 
A. B. P. (Winchester). — I do not think that there is 
any truth in the rumour to whicli you refer, but in any case 
it is inadvisable to allude to it in print. For the successful 
conduct of this war it is absolutely necessary for the public 
to trujt the responsible authorities and to be content to remain 
ignorant about matters which are naturally of the utmost 
interest to everybody. 
R. C. B. (London, S.W.).— If you study the title of that 
photograph of the Fleet outside the Dardanelles, you will see 
that no date is specified. It was probably taken quite early in 
the war, and no connection with the more recent operations. 
E. S. R. (St. Andrews). — The scheme you suggest is 
quite feasible, but the British Navy is hardly likely to be 
caught napping that way. 
W. S. C (Glenarm). — The scheme you suggest was em- 
])loyed in the American Civil War and has been in use ever 
(•iuce. 
J. S. D. (Highgate). — (1) American newspapers are 
always discovering " young inventors " who have hit on some 
idea to revolutionise war. The writer of the paragraph which 
you enclosed is obviously entirely ignorant of what can be 
done with modern torpedoes. Any of the latest Whiteheads 
will easily travel five miles. (2) Your periscope suggestion 
was, I happen to know, submitted to the Adir.iralty by an 
optician very early in tlie war. It is, of course, based on a 
device commonly used in the music-halls. The bulk of the 
periscopes which are seen by people are hallucinations — even 
men daily trained to look for them find it very liard to see 
them. (3) I understand that this idea has been experimented 
witli, but that it did not prove practical. (4) I think the 
same answer applies. 
Hopeful (York).— There is little limit to the auxiliary 
services for which submarines can be employed, but success 
always depends entirely on the individuality and ability of the 
officers in charge. 
MR. HILAIRE BELLOC S WAR LECTURES. 
Biimingliam To^Yn Hall Tuesday 13 April, 3.30 & 8.30 
Leamington 'J'o\vnHa)I Wedut-saay 14 April, 3 p.m. 
Xottiugham Albert Ilall Wednesday 14 April, 8 p.m. 
London Quecu'slla!] \VtJn*L.day 5 May, 3.30 p.-n. 
MR. FRED T. JANE ON THE NAVAL WAR. 
Leeds Albert Hal] Thursday 15 April, 8 p.m. 
Shpflield A'ictnri.i Hall Fiiday 16 .\pril, 8 p.m. 
Harrogate Kursaal Saturday 17 April, 3.30 p.m. 
MR. CRAWFURD PRICE ON "SERBIA." 
Bl.-H'kpool Winter Gardens.. .Monday 12 April, 8 p.m. 
Si ,%rboroiigh Opi-ra House -Tuesday 13 April, 3 p.m. 
York Opera House Wednesday 14 April, 3 p.m. 
Manchester Free Trade Hall. Thursday 15 v^pril, 8 p.m. 
Boutbport Cambridge Hall.. Friday 16 .\pril,8p.m. 
PROFESSOR LEWES ON "MODERN E.XPLOSIVES." 
Torquay Pavilion Fiiday 9 April, 3 p.m. 
u? 
