Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-05-08

VIE expected often proves most unex
1pected, but never have events so star
tlingly outdone the wildness OF prophec
than in the case of the utilization of the sub
marine in warfare. Our own Robert Fultol
saw something of what was coming, but Pit
was the only man who manifested much in
terest In his ideas on the prScticability o
submersibles, though Earl st. Vincent Shove,
his concern by saying of the Prime Minis
ter, Pitt is the greatest fool that ever ex
listed to encourage mode Of war which we
who command the seas. do not want, ant
which. If successful. would deprive us of It,"
Eight years ago the famous inventor, Johr
P. Holland, pictured the situation in which
Great Britain finds herself at present, He salt
this: ut is safe to say that when the frs
submarine torpedoboat goes into action sh,
will bring us face to face with the most puz
zling problem ever met in warfare. She viii
present the unique spectacle, when used ir
attack, of weapon against which there Il
no defense. You can pit sword against sword
rifle against rifle, cannon against cannon
ironcad against ironclad. You can senC
torpedoboats against torpedoboats and de.
stroyers against destroyers But you car
send nothing against the submarine boat, MOI
even itself. You cannot fight submarines
with submarines"
So 1t is not lack Of an efficient submarine
fleet which places Great Britain in her pre-
dicament. The simple fact is that no method
of coping successfully with actual attack by
submarines has yet been discovered, It has
not been proven that the British submarines
are inferior to the rival German boats. and
when it comes to disparity in numbers the
odds remain in their favor. The English un-
hoVa narfprn1nd or tuO
remarkable feats. The difference lies in a
difference of opportunity. The Kaisers bat
tleshp fleet is on the defensive and the Ger
man mine fields keep the English submarines
at bay. Entrance to German harbors and
roadsteads is prevented also by heavy steel
netting and other obstructive devices. The
German submarines are at liberty to pass
out into the high seas and carry on their
operations In waters that are practically free
from Instructions. Purposely the British
have done little to obstruct their navigable
waters In order that the nations commerce
and source of food supplies might not be
interfered with.
Germany's Speciality
1t is true that Germany has been special
izing in submarines. but not during so long
period as their recent spectacular success
would lead forgetful reader of news to sup
pose. She was one of the last of the great
nations to view this type of fighting craft
with favor, and, indeed, the growth of the
submarine feet did not become rapid until
after the revelations OF the naval maneuvers
in the autumn of 1912. Germany, however,
enjoys a certain advantage in this particular
field of construction. She has two shipyards,
one the State establishment at Danzig, and
- .,Ia- Irg
the Germania works. For several years the
Imperial Danzig dockyard has specialized in
the building of submarines, and In fact has
built no other type OF war craft for some
time. At that plant there are at least 10
slips for the building of submarines, and
1t is said that nearly the same facilities
exist at Kiel These arrangements not only
mako for quick construction, but also con-
tribute to the perfection Of the product, be-
cause the art calls for expert knowledge and
special facilities The submarine in its get
up bears about the same relation to a bat
tleship in mechanical nicely that a high
priced chronometer does to an ordinary 90
cent alarm clock. The Germans however
though distinguished for ingenuity and ef-
have no monopoly on mechanical
and scientific ability, and we doubtless let
our imagination go too far when we account
for the uncanny performances of their sub
marines by attributing everything to super
human inventiveness behind the mysterious
wall of their isolation.
The uneanniness about it all is really a
matter OF fact rather than matter of mys-
terry. The wonder Is how the German boats
operate so far from their known bases, and
the only answer is that they probably operate
from unknown bases-some desolate isle, per-
haps. or sheltered inlet Still the wonder
grows, ana very naturally, but we can do
little more than guess.
The comparative invisibiIty OF the subma-
rine enables IL TO make its home IN hostile
waters with some degree OF security. When
travelling submerged, with only the thin peri
scope tube above the surface, It Is almost i'm
possible 70 detect Its approach before Il gets
within torpedo range. ana when cruising On
he snrfaes It cannot be seen a fen miles