Fergus County Democrat., 1915-10-14
SUBMARINE FLEET NOT A NAVY.

SUBMARINE FLEET NOT NAVY.
Because of the spectacular effects of the German submarine
paign which launched last March, many people led be-
eve that the day Of the big baehp and that all nation
such requires adequate defense against
ackng foe large fleet Of underwater craft Very we'll IN
enone people suggested that the construction Of
deanugh and spend the bulk Of naval appropriations for sub
marines.
careful Of The actual accomplishments Of types Of
fighting craft including submarines fast and dreadnaugh
during the Of the present hardly stes the prediction
that the day o the Big floating fortress and the fast battle
ended
While the flock submarines which Germany forth break
the British blockade caused great deal Of and did dam
shipping into the Of millions the fact remains that
they did succeed seriously interfering with Engand
traffic They have prevented the landing Of billions of dollars
worth Of goods which shipped from the Americas Aus
aa and other foreign ports the British isles They could pre-
vent England from transporting approximately two million lighting
the channel the battle line Northern France and the
untold of and supplies required that
foreign soil They did prevent the country
and her allies from sending hundreds Of thousands Of and
say supplies the Dardanees They have sunk five hun
dred boats Of them Of small tonnage but all the while Eng
land placing better ships commission rapidly than their
older being destroyed
Despite the submarine activities Of Germany England remains
Of the the blockade against Germany holds and the great
German fleet remains inactive and useless behind the big guns
Hegoand furthermore official reports by the British admiralty
indicate that between fifty and seventy German submarines have been
sunk or captured the undersea launched
months ago
Thus, be that offensive weapon the submarine
still unable offset great preponderance of dreadnaugh and
battle cruisers Admiral Trphs policy of ariton whereby it
hoped by German sympaze that the submarines would whit
tie down the English fleet something approaching parity with
the German fleet has failed and the Ieutonc powers expect
decisive naval engagement they will have face the greatly
strengthened fleet of the British that encounter
The value Of submarines for defensive purposes doubtless much
than offensive factor For this reason this country
should lose time getting quickly possible
large fleet OF such craft generally understood that the
use shall have for of fighting machine protect
our shores against invasion by from beyond the IF
present plans NATURE within three years. this country will have at
least hundred submarines and that will be formidable factor
/ our defense program.
But rely wholly upon submarines We need to keep
building great deadnaughs and should particular attention
the construction OF fast battle branch Of naval equip
:. ment OF which we are lamentably lacking.
with the utmost reluctance that the American people have
rived at the conclusion that immediate Strengthening their navy
They have been stampeded into this state Of mind
by aamsts OF the Guse Gardner Richmond Pearson Hobson type
but have simply had their opened by which have shaken
this old world shaken before They have given slight
heed the efforts of great interests which, foeeeng the
mense profits which would them by the promotion of
OF Wdeyed ensee marm have been fostering the
tor altogether of army and navy They
desire adequate defense the possible aggression of any
and bankrupt foreign power and will expect congress to pro-
vide such defense. but do and will tolerate the up
building of gigantic military power which would be only bot
buenome and dangerous subyersWe of the spirit of peace low
ing people.