This newspaper reported that the two newly built Australian submarines were expected to arrive at Tandjong Priok on Monday 27 April. The Dutch journalist used another newspaper the Straits Times to supply more details with these ‘mighty weapons of war’. They were of the latest design with a displacement of 800 tons, a length of 176’and 1,600 hp engines of 860 rpm and 4 torpedo tubes. The crew consisted of Australian sailors which were trained in England. The Australian navy consisted of two protected cruiser, an armoured cruiser, 6 destroyers and 3 submarines. A third protected cruiser and 3 destroyers were being built at Sydney. The two submarines were commanded by the lieutenants T.F. Besant and H.H.G. Stoker lent by the British admiralty to the Australian navy. Both ships used their own engines for their voyage and not using towboats. In the edition dated 21 April the submarines were called A.E. 1 and the A.E. 2 and they were escorted underway by the 5,600 tons Australian cruiser Sydney (launched at Govan in August 1912). The newspaper Singapore Free Press reported the arrival of this cruiser at Singapore. The surfaced speed of the submarines was 16 and the submerged speed 12 knots.(1)
Note
1. Both ships were lost during the First World War.
