If an old-fashioned sailor could have suddenly been dropped on
to the deck of a transport in the midst of a convoy of camouflaged
ships he would have thought all their helmsmen were drunk or stark,
staring mad; for they would have seemed to be steering every which way
at large and not one on any proper course at all.
When this was added to their other troubles the submarines thought
twice before risking an attack on a convoy of ships guarded by
cruisers, as well as by destroyers ahead and on both sides, zig-zagging
about on the hunt for submarines, much as a good sporting dog quarters
likely ground for game. A "mothering" cruiser would keep station
astern, where she could have her weather eye on every one. In narrow
waters like the English Channel there would also be an airship
overhead, a little in advance, with seaplanes on the flanks. These
aircraft could spot a submarine almost a hundred feet down in fair
weather, just as seabirds spot fish. If a submarine did show up, it
was kept in sight till the destroyers charged near enough to ram,
shell, or torpedo it on the surface, or sea-quake it to death with a
depth bomb if submerged.
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