The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-08-27
az FredlIerick }. HaaIin.)

p
(By Frederick ). Haskin.)
The man on the street q to be-
treated to surprise when fho Te-
ports which naval experts are 70
make to the Pres.dent and upon.
which the President Will base recon-
mendations to Congress are made
public. This surprise viii be due 70
the fact that the naval authorities Of
the nation viii say that the subma~
rine 10 OF little Importance aud that
the dreadnaughts sttu rules the
waves.
This, the experts hold. Is one OF the
big LESSONS of the war, but one that
Is not apparent 10 the casual observer.
The submarine has been one Of the
most striking Developments OF the
great conflict, has attracted more at
fention than any other OF the new
devices. Yet 1t has failed to matert
ally interfere with the commerce OF
Great Britain or france or TO have
any effect upon their dominance OF
the seas The ships OF England have
gone steadily about their business de-
spite It and the loses Of vessels leav-
ing British ports has been but two
in a thoIand. The 998 have borne
their cargoes to the ports for when
they cleared. The losses have been
accepted as a chance Of war and have
not prevented other ships from put
ting forth.
Losses Slight.
a path OF the sea has been steadily
kept open between England and
France. soldiers have been freely
Transported and supplies have gone
forward in q constant stream. the
loss of transports or lighting SHIPS ,s
has been so slight as to amount TO
almost nothing.
Yet, the experts point out the con-
ditions roundabout England are ideal
" advantageous to submarine war
fare. Germany has had her own
home ports as a basis of operations
and the sea lanes leading out from
British harbors have been In easy
l.reach ofSthe German base. The same
is true Of the Italian ports with re
lation to Austria. Yet the submarine
has proved itself but a wasp that
could sting most aggravatingly at
!, times, but which could indict no mortal
wound.
IL submarines could not prove them
selves a vital element in war be-
tween European nations situated as
are those engaged in the present con-
dict. it is said that it would deserve
little Consideration in any conflict
with any nation that could be consid-
cred an ambitious possible enemy OF
the United states. The distance that
lies between this country and any
other that is at all powerful would
render the submarine SO much less
| eMective than it is around England
that Uncle sam would have little 70
fear from it.
Equally interesting is the expert
opinion upon the part that the dread
naught mas played in the present war
and upon its Importance in con
Isideratfon of possibilities that may
arise. The big lighting craft have
made so few spectacular appearance
that they have been almost forgot
item and the public has begun to say
that the big ships are a thing OF the
past and that future naval battles Will
tbe fought by submarines and small
fast cruisers.
Experts Disagree.
with this opinion the experts most
Istrenuously disagree. They state that
the greatest victory OF the war 50 far
has been won by the battleshtp, al
most without having fred a shot
That victory is the dominance OF the
seas. The battleshtps OF Great Brit
ain have bottled up Germany Ine1r
very presence in hidden Ravens
around Scotland or Ireland or Wher-
ever they are, has prevented the
German feet from leaving its home
ports. They have in this way made
!it possible that German merchant
ships should be driven from the seas
and that German trade should be en-
Iurely cut or.
The navy men hold that the feature
that promises to eventually conclude
/ the war is this bottling up OF the
central nations and the consequent
Exhaustion Of something that is essen
ltial to its carrying on. If the central
nations are eventually successful
they must establish a dominance OF
1.-The seas, an accomplishment possible
lonly through meeting the enemy fleet
land defeating it. This would have
Ito be done by big hips.