New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-04
Submarine. and the British Admiralty

Lord Beresford, who for some time has
been a relentless critic Of the British Ad-
miraltv as well as Of the Foreign Once,
spoke on Friday Of the present posture OF
naval affairs as most unsatisfactory and
of unparalleled gravity" He complained
that no systematic method of dealing with
the submarine menace had been devised
and intimated that 20 meet the Crisis 1t
would be necessary 10 adopt new strategy
and new tactics. His criticism was in the
main negative, but he did suggest two
definite steps-rcpeated air raids on Zee
brugre and the arming Of all merchant
vessels.
There can be no doubt about the value
of Zeebrugge TO the Germans. Without
this base the recent raids on the English
coast and on shipping in the Channel
might have been impracticable. Against
so constant a menace it would unquestion-
ably be we'll TO provide, and it is a menace
that will persist until the port has been
rendered unserviceable. It Is not certain,
however. that it can be destroyed either
from the air or from the sea. It has, in
fact. often been attacked in both ways, and
as long ago as last March the hope was
expressed that serious damage had been
done TO the harbor in one of the air raids.
Only a few days later however, German
DESTROYER division took refuge there after
an inconclusive encounter with some Brit
ish destroyers, showing that the mischief
wrought was not, at any rate, irreparable.
The worst of air raids is that it is not
always easy to determine the degree OF
success achieved. German Zeppelin COM
manders alone appear to be able to divine
the precise results of their attempts and
TO describe in a minute way what they can
not see. 1t may be that Zeebrugge can
not be completely destroyed without the
assistance of land forces, but certainly
there is nothing new in Lord Beresford's
proposal to assail it from the air.
Even if it were disposed Of, the subma-
rine problem would not be solved. This
has become a more difficult problem as the
submarines radius of activity has in
creased, and it is perhaps hardly just to
censure the present naval administration
by comparing current conditions with those
that prevailed in the first year Of the war.
Lord Beresford on former occasions has
proposed the general arming of merchant
men, and it is quite certain that the War
Committee has had the matter under con-
sideration. 1t has been estimated, though
on what authority it is difficult to say, that
of attacks on unarmed vessels about four
out Of five are successful, whereas four out
of five armed vessels succeed in beating off
such attacks and escaping.
Mr.. Winston Churchill, of all men in the
world has lately shown an inclination to
make light Of the submarine danger, de-
claring that the people of England should
be thankful to have got through year and
a half of war with loss so small that it
has almost been made good from other
sources. That may be true enough, but the
losses have been a cause of very general
anxiety, and if the new Board of Ad-
miralty can find means TO mitigate the
menace they will undoubtedly in
sure the confidence of the public as they
could in no other way.