Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-01

OES German submarine ACTIVITY
IN menace Enslana's North Amer
~ Not long ago dispatch from
st. Johns, Newfoundland, reported that
provision for an effective patrol OF the
ocean areas of Canada and Newfound-
land had been taken by the military
and naval authorities with a view to
preventing the Germans establishing
submarine bases in those regions.
BY many persons the suggestion of
the German submarines reaching the
North American coast is regarded as
fantastic. Perhaps it is fantastic, yet
one of the great surprises of the world
war has been the movements OF the
German submarines. A year ago 1T was
considered fanciful to suggest that
they could operate 1880 miles from
their bases in the North sea, but the
fancifulness quickly vanished when
they appeared off the Irish coast. 800
miles distanct from Wilhelmshaven,
and they have reached the Dardanelles,
double that distance, by way stops
There have been persistent reports of
a hidden base somewhere along the
Irish coast 1t is assumed. however.
that the British admiralty would be
able to uncover any such rendezvous.
X
Nevertheless it might not be too safe
to assume, in a war period filled with
surprises, that the Germans would not
be able to form at least a temporary
base. 1t is known that every month
submarines are turned out of the Ger
man shipyards more powerful than
anything previously devised.
If they can make their way $500
miles through the North sea to the At
lantic coast off Ireland the prophet
may be a little rash who assumes that
some new type of submarine could not
cross 1000 miles of the Atlantic, Tor
that is the distance from the coast of
Ireland to the coast of Newfoundland.
Bearing on this possibility was re-
cent dispatch from Bridgeport. claim
ing that Capt. Simon Lake had de-
signed an American submarine which
could travel eleven miles an hour for
5000 miles without refueling. This
would mean that it could cross the At
lantic and back. and that, too, not from
the nearest land points.
A conclusive test has not been made
of this craft, and moreover, its secret
is not supposed to be in the possession
of the Germans. but If an American in
ventor is making progress In adding
to the radius with which submarine
warfare can be conducted there is no
reason for supposing that the Germans
with their past achievements are not
doing the same; Whether Admiral Won
Tirpitz and the German admiralty
would consider a raid on the coast of
Newfoundland and Canada good
strategy is another question. Hereto
fore, they have shown no hesitation in
taking daring risks.
Reports from Newfoundland have not
indicated that the colony is seriously
alarmed at the prospect. but some of
he rfNyty n lor ,Tnr.c how Had
that not long ago they were setting
forth the advantage of their coast as
starting point for the aeroplane
which one day would cross the At-
lantic A shortening of the distance
by thousand miles is something to
the ocean aviator, and the coast of
Newfoundland offers this advantage.
In an age when crossing the Atlantic
by means of a flying machine is con-
,Adently predicted, it is not fantastic to
query whether undersea vessels may
not, under the stimulus of war; beat the
aeroplanes.
The practical view apparently taken
by the people of Newfoundland and OF
the Canadian coast is that there is not
much danger of an interruption to
ocean traffic, and particularly to the
st. Lawrence route, but it is not beyond
the range of proba bility. The ice fields
In the north Atlantic are considered a
partial protection.
Newfoundland. a rule. does not
care to have icebergs exploited as one
of her resources, defensive or other
wise. Years ago an iceberg hoated
into the bay of st. John, and remained
there until it melted away. Another
one was pushed out by steam launch.
During a visit one summer, 1 asked
various persons in st. Johns about
these icebergs, thinking that it was
an incident of which they would re-
tain a lively remembrance, and that
they might even be proud of it. Instead,
most of them were inclined to get an
cry. Some even professed not to recall
the circumstance, although they said
that an iceberg might occasionally be
seen a hundred miles or so out at sea.
Their poor memory was due to the feel