An item reported that in a supplemental budget money was asked for the building of three submarines at a shipyard along the north west Californian coast for service in the Dutch East Indies. Immediately after they were completed (around 1,5 years) were they to be sent to the Dutch Indies waters.(1) The Dutch shipyard Kon.Mij. De Schelde at Flushing was ordered to built the three submarines to be named KVIII-X, which were an improved KIII-design, also for service in the Dutch East Indies.
Note
1. The comments dealing with the budget for the Dutch East Indies for 1917 chapter I and the Dutch national budget 1917 chapter VI (document 163.4) confirmed this intended building. A commission was sent to the USA to investigate the possibilities to purchase suitable submarines on short notice. The commission reported that despite the war declaration by the USA shipyards along the American west coast were able to built submarines on short notice this in contrary to the east coast shipyards. The Dutch cabinet believed that a strengthening on short notice of the Dutch submarine fleet was of the highest importance. Despite the war between the USA and the Germany was it now possible to order this building. Temporarily negotiations made clear that at san Francisco 3 submarines could be built of which the first was to be delivered within 18 months and on its own via Honolulu-Guam or Honolulu-Japan towards the Dutch East Indies. Building costs for each submarine excluded the torpedo- and artillery armament etc. (estimated costs 300.000 Dutch guilders) were maximum ƒ 2.500.000. Displacement of these submarines fitted out for service in tropical waters was 569 (surfaced)-680 (submerged) tons. Germany announced on 4 February 1915 that all neutral ships destined towards British ports would be torpedoed despite a warning of the USA that she would act if American citizens were killed of their properties destroyed. On 11 February 1917 announced Germany the unrestricted submarine warfare followed by the American declaration of war on Germany on 6 April.
