TaÌˆgliches Cincinnatier volksblatt. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1885-1919, 1915-04-12
BRlTlsHER DISCUSSES
SUBMARINE ETHICS
Says British admitted it,

D.
In an issue Of the British publication
the Field recently received In New York
David Hannah, the well known ppbli-
cist, discusses the absurdity Of the Hri-
tish outcries against submarines, as
follows:
"ln the DAYS before the war and in
company where such questions were
discussed certain prophecy was not
uncommonly to be heard. II was that
in the naval warfare OF the future the
kinds Of vessels most likely TO be EN-.
ployed In some form of cruising -name-
", the DESTROYER and the submarine
would not be able to take prizes. Their
crews, it was said, were not large
enough TO permit them 70 spare men
and they themselves had no room to
take on board the crews OF the enc.
my's merchant vessels. Therefore only
one course would remain. The destroy
er or submarine which met an enemy's
merchant ship would send It 70 the
bottom-crew, passengers and all.
English Justified Submarine Warfare.
And this was not only said in conyer-
sation where men talked loosely with
humorous exaggeration for victory or
for effect. Ii was maintained in letters
to the Times which were presented as
/ matters Of serious discussion OF proba-
bIities By Sir Percy Scott. In view Of
these notorious facts, there would seem
TO be an eIemsnt of--well, not Of sober
comment In the loud outcry raised over
the sinking Of merchant ships BY Ger
man submarines 1t was only what has
been predicted and justified as nsees'
sary, "a inevitable, By many among our
/ selves.
"The German government has taken
example by Napoleon and declared the
British isles in a state Of blockade from,
the 18th Of February. IL threatens to
enforce its decision by the use OF sub
marines acting In tho drastic way we
have heard predicted. Events have
proved that the German submarines are
simultaneously busy on parts Of our
coast remote from one another. Al the
watch We keep IN the North SEA has
not prevented them from resching the
coast OF Lancashire.
They nave been busy Tor . period
Shieh now begns TO stretch into
months IN the channel. There Is no
need to recapitulate the successes they
have made, and i is more 70 the pur-
pose to inquire how far Il l. probable
that they will do or eome within q
measurable distance Of doing what the
Germans expect Of them as dishrbers of
traffic.
The newest herman submarines are
credited with q speed Of seventeen
knots on the surface. II they do
possess this speed they would keep
up with. u not overtake, the big steam
crs. which DO the meat. wheat and
passenger traffic Of South America.
And they carry guns which no doubt
are small but are still quite large
enough 10 pierce such bandbox a. an
iron steamer from end TO end. ! have
seen mere touch by elumsily handled
brazilian coal lighter cut one Of them
open as II she had been q safdine box.
Merchant Vessels Helpless.
"rhe fact that . submarine carries
| only a few torpedoes would be in the
favor OF the pursued vessels. Torpedoes
cannot be fired off In lavish way.
But, on the whole, the unsrmed steam
er OF today is a. helpless sgainst q
submarine carrying guns as ever was
the wooden trader against a well ap-
pointed priyatecr,
There il no sure defense for the
trade except the waYship which cruises
ior her protection. And tbs question
IS how far the cruiser can give that
protection. We see from now rather
I
prolonged experiences in the North sea,
tie channel and the Irish sea how very
difficult it !. 70 detect the presence Of
submarines.
"lf the merchant vessels are 70 he
collected in fleets under the convoy OF
men war they would present a far
bigger target tltan single vessel. They
would be bound TO 60 at the rate OF the
slowest among them, and they could
be attacked from any point all around.
That is one Of the considerations which
render a modern use Of convoy Inn
probable.
Prospect Unpleasant.
cit is not a pleasant prospect TO have
before u., but none the less II Is the
fact that our best defense against the
submarine blockade lies in the lack Of
sufficient number Of these ugly craft in
the German nsvy. II they really had
$50 or 200 equal TO U-2l, enough %
relieve one another so as 70 keep one
half in action. the task Of protectina
trade all around our coast would be q
hard one indeed.
".rhe only course TO avoid heavy los