The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-01

matter. II ~precipitated an ocean OF
press comment and added fuel to the
bia1e or public alarm. which waa per-
maps the very thing that the German
Admiralty had Vost wished for.
Such. was the nate OF affairs when the
German Government Issued its decre.
establishing a blockade Of all EAElish
ports. ~straightway the United States
Government warned Berlin that Ger
many would he held to a strict account
ability for any injury occurring to
American shipping through subma rine
activities. Germany agreed on Feb
ruary is to the principles invoked by
the Washington Government. and at one
minute after midnight on February IS
the hockade went iuto effect.
Nine Victims In Three Dsys.
On the first day two British ships
were sunk. on the second day two
more were destroyed. on the third day
there were no losses. but during the
next two days. FEBRUARY 20 and Is, four
more steamships were sunk Only one
steamer was added to this list b. the
END OF the month. making q total OF
nine steamer in as many days.
The first six days OF March passed
and not a British steamer was attacked.
At this the press OF ENGLAND grew con-
hdent and the submarine scare subsidized
TO a great extent. But on March
submarine activities recommended with
increa sed momentum and by the end of
March ~thirty-four steamers had been
added to the number OF victims.
Most OF these steamships were sunk
without warning and the loss OF life
was considerable The German excuse
that self-protection demanded action
me- r -.
ceived in good part and Great Britain
determined TO treat the crews OF can
tured German submarines as prisoners
OF war without honor, Germany retail
lated by placing ar equal number OF
British officers in solitary confinement
and after a month Of bitter 'recrimIna-
tons between the press Of the two
countries Great Britain accorded the
usual rights OF prisoners 10 submarine
crews and Germany ceased her retalia-
tory measures.
There has apparently been little sys-
TEN TO the German submarine pro-
gramme. Some British naval critics have
sought to show that the attacks were
sporadic. that IL for a period of a fort
night there would be great activity by
the submarines followed by an eoua
period of inactivity. Some have at
tempted TO show that Germany pro.
ceeded by spurts. az II were, in order ia
gauge public opinion. II does not seem
likely. however. that the policy which
has directed Germany's submarine war.
fare will be known until after the war.
4 ever.
Trsing to Cut OF Britsin's Sun.
plies.
The campaign against trawlers be.
gan In the middle OF April and was
inspired no doubt by the fact that this
submarines. while able to sink a good
many merchantmen. were unable 70
menace British shipping seriously. TIN
erect OF this campaign was 10 create
a temporary shortage OF Ash in tho Brit
ish market. but not one Of sufficient
proportions TO cause serious alnr n 10 this
authorities.
The submarine warfare has been a
costly business to Germany. At the end
OF May II was estimated In Landau
mat seventeen German submarines had
been destroyed. Since then unofficIu
reports have said that ms many more
have been sunk, II IL impossible, how
ever, to obtain official information re-
specting the submarine losses and the
unofficial reports must he considerably
discounted.
At the end OF July the British naya,
critics are unanimous In their conclu-
sion that Germany 10 una bile by the use
OF submarines to hamper British shin.
pins seriously or to accomplish any
thing like an effective blockade Of the
British Isles, Nevertheless, vas,
mount Of shipping has been DESTROYED
approximately 100000 tons--which
represents q serious loss. ALLOWING
800 a ton, the amount used by insur-
ance brokers in estimating the ap-
proximate value OF z ship. this would
mean that the value OF the shipping
destroyed totals 3&S.o o 1000.