The Washington times., 1916-04-13
REAL DENT MADE BY CAMPAIGN.

There is no doubt in the minds Of both
naval and military authorities In WASH
ington that the new submarine cam
paign has made. a real dent In British
assurance.
The British admiralty did not believe
that Berlin could put on so tremendous
campaign as has been put on since
March 1. Three months ago. in fact. the
London admiralty was pluming itself
on the fact that II had about sup
pressed the submarine. 1t is now quite
apparent that there was a serious mis-
take somewhere.
absolute amazement Is the only term
that reasonably describes the senti-
mentg entertained by Informed and re-
sponsible public men In Washington
concerning the present naval policy OF
Germany.
Neutral merchantmen. absolutely un-
armed and unoffending, are being de-
stroyed by the submarine with exactly
the same alacrity and abandon that are
displR yed In attacking the vessels OF the
entente powers.
In fact. one British maritime author
ity in Washington expresses the opinion
that the neutral nations are now suner-
ing much more severely. in proportion
to the number OF ships which they have
in service. than are the belligerents.
The stBtement was cabled from London
dav or two ago that since March
the submarines had accounted for forty
two British vessels. ten vessels belong
ing to other entente powers. and thirty
sailing under neutral fiags.
Thirty Neutrals Sunk.
That Is fifty-two vessels of the bellig-
erent countries have been destroyed
as compa red TO thirty belonging to neu-
trails. Considering that the belhgerents
include the British. French. italian. and
Russian merchant fleets. 1t Ia believed
that the proportion OF losses among
neutrals is now actually greater than
among the vessels OF belliGerents.
Appe rently. the present German policy
Is to destroy, any neutral craft trading
with any OF the allied countries. neu-
trail vessel thus has actually less chance
of escape than on flying the nag OF a
belliRerent; for the neutrals are not
armed. while nearly all the vessels OF
belligerent powers are now armed and
carry gun crews to fight of submarines
Thus the submarine takes a good deal
less chance when 1t attacks the neutral
merchantman.
Every day that the submarine cam
paign continues in its present intensity.
| the necessity for some sort or shipping
legiilation by this country is Increased:
1t has been ahserved since March
that while the German submarines have
| not hesitated to attack and sink ves-
Holland, Denmark. Norway. Sweden.
Spain-not a single vessel nying the
| American nag has been attacked. This
| is no longer considered a mere coin
cidence. 1t is strongly believed that the
German submarine commanders have
instructions to let American vessels
Apparently the Berlin foreign office is
! willing to debate with Washington about
its right to kill Americans on the mer-
chant ships of belligerents; but 1t seems
| to have no stomach for q discussion
such as would be started II German
submarine should sink an american
vessel as the Tubantia was sunk.
Danger of Real Crisis.
The danger of a real worldwide COM
mercial crisis as a result or the SUD-
marine campaign Is coming to be re-
garded very seriously.
No matter what happens to commerce.
Great Britain is going to take care OF
war necessities first. There is going
TO be no hesitation as to whether pre-
cedence shall be given to shrapnel or
wheat: shrapnel will go first and wheat
will wait. o,,,,,
spent some days looking into the ship
ming situation at Hampton Roads, de-
| clared that the British board OF trace
ls now ruling the British merchahi ma
rine as vigorously and unsparlngiy as
| the admiralty bosses the navy. Cap
| tains of merchant vessels frankly say
| that they no longer know VINO tntiI
owners are; their orders come n,ina1 from tn1
purposes they might Just as well De
| owned by the government. ,.,,. ,,o.-
| The other day there were eisnt YES
sells lying in the harnor Oh NIri9N; MwerT
one OF them had been German mer-
| chantman before the war. When the
war broke out they had been seized IN
British ports. and only recehtiy nave
been pressed into service
Germans Sink Own Ships.
| I'bese eight big cargoes OF mules are
beinR shipped to Alexandria. Egypt
| Tho sbip commanders explain that the
| annropriated German vessels are gen.
erallv being used In the Medtterranean,
because that is now the Most dangerous
area, and the British was oihee mas ,oeo ues
/ of sinking their own ships nrst'
| Nobody knows how many OF their own
| vessels the Germans have sunk since
| the war began; but II IL known ihat the
| present British policy is to make Ger
man vessels the easiest target for Ger
man submarines.
The problem of ships to carry the
world's trade Is hardly more serious
now than that Of getting sailors to man
| the ships.
Recent investigation as TO personnel
| Indicate that the navies and transport
services have absorbed nearly all the
first class seamen of western Europe,
| The need for sailors is so great that
the ports OF the world are being secured
for them and wages have gone up In
unpre ecedented fashion.
| At Hampton Roads last week $40 a
nontE was being freely offered by the
masters of several vessels whose crews
| were not complete; even at that figure
| =, l,l,l, Is alnnnaf "a ahnInnaIu htQh foT