The successful attack of the British submarine B. 11 on the Turkish battleship Messoudieh in the Dardanelles once more emphasizes the importance of the human factor in submarine work. Lieut-Commander L. 8. Holbrook is a young Officer who had previously won distinction in the service, and his experience as a gunnery officer stood him in good stead in firing from a submarine in hostile w: There can be no question that successful submarine officers are a great acquisition to any navy, but it is uncertain whether the essential qualities are altogether inherent or can be acquired by experience. German newspapers asserted that Lieut.-Commander Weddigen, the commander of submarine U.9, was responsible for the sinking of the Aboukir, Hague and Cressy on September 22 and also the Hawke on October 16. Captain Horton, who torpedoed the Hela and then a German destroyer, is also an officer who had previously attracted attention to his skill in submarine work. Admiral Bacon, prior to the outbreak of war, asserted that the human element must always be the supreme factor in submarine work, and events go to prove that this dictum in justified.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.