Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-12-20
SEES DECREASE IN
TONNAGE LOSSES
Pollen, British Expert, Says Anti
U.Boat Campaign Is Real.
ly Counting.

New York. Dec, 19.--Arthur Pollen, the
British naval expert, who has sailed ior
Europe after spending six months In the
United States gave to the Associated Press
a statement in which he said that the
campaign of the allied navies against the
suhma rine has at last resulted In keeping
tho worlds ship tonnage from showing
a monthly decrease, or Will soon DO 30.
Mr.. Pollen gives credit for this success to
the change in the chief command car
ried out by the British admiralty last
spring and the participation In the cam
paign of the American navy.
Mr.. Pollen pointed out that six months
ago the German submarines were caus-
ing net attrition In the worlds tonnage
at the rate Of nearly 70 per cent.
annually. While the present rate OF at
triton il difficult to estimate, It appeared
that last month Great Britain launched
as much tonnage as she lost; the first ship
laid down by the United States since the
war has been launched and within the
next twelve months a substantial portion
of the 100000 tons provided for in this
country will undoubtedly be afoat. Great
Britain's shipbuilding program will SINH
larly increase month by month and more
over the campaign of the allied navies
against the submarine will grow in value
week by week, he said.
1.-THE Significance Of this to the fortunes
of war does not have to be pointed out"
Mr.. Pollen continued. ut means that
Germany's flank attack on allied COM
binations has failed and that there Is
no reason why ultimately the full mill
tary power Of Great Britain. France and
Italy and more important Of all Of the
| United States should not be felt In the
| " t. l. A.
| mendous result"
command in the British admiralty Mr..
Pollen said:
I'm bringing about this new order of
things at Whitehall, the reformers were
undoubtedly assisted, first. by the fact
that an extremely effective, well equipped
| and brilliantly commanded contingent OF
American destroyers was already at work
in q very important area of the theatre
of war, and next by the British govern
ment waking up to the truth that the
belligerency Of America meant not only
the cooperation Of a very gallant and
enterprising ally, but the domesticatior
SO as to speak Of new and extremely
intelligent critic"
Mr.. Pollen mentioned the consultations
with the British admiralty Of three dis
tingushed and resourceful American
naval officers" Admrals Sims, Mayo ant
Benson. Through these men. American
professional knowledge" ne said, "ha
gained a first hand experience of tn
reality of war and has been able to con
tribute an impersonal and impartial judg
ment upon the character Of the operation
to be pursued and Of the methods Of com
mand under which they should be carried
out. cannot doubt for a moment tina
much Of the improved efficiency Of tn
} counter campaign is due to this in
tellectual stimulus"
Adverting to the recent North sea rail-
by German forces. Mr.. Pollen said
! 1.-THE only remarkable thing about sucl
incidents Is not their occasional oc
currence. but their rarely. Were the Brit
ish or the American navy in the position
OF the German navy fancy they would
be far more frequent