New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-19
Postponing the U-Boat Decision

1t is evident that the people of Germany
are not so we'll satisfied with the work of
the submarines as their spokesman in this
country would have us believe. Mr.. Rid
der, who processes to accept every state
ment given out by the imperial govern
ment as gospel, has lately been at infinite
rains to reassure the readers of the
"Staats-Zeitung" and to demonstrate by
means of figures supposed to have been
drawn from neutral sources (but really
emanating from Berlin, as he well knows)
that there is very little reason to fear that
cur enemy will not ultimately be victorious.
1t is true that he is now inclined to believe
that we and our allies have tonnage enough
to see us through the present year, but if
all goes we'll Germany must inevitably
emerge triumphant in 1918. 1t is perhaps
rot extraordinary that the Germans them
selves, the Germans in Germany, should
be more apprehensive and subject to occa-
sional fits of depression, but certainly they
do not seem at the present moment to be
quite so cocksure of the event as their sym
pathetic friends in this country.
A correspondent of The Associated
Press at Copenhagen is informed that the
more responsible sort in Germany have
already abandoned hope Of bringing the
a c,,JJov oDJipo, b,,, nc tho
submarine, and that consequently the popu-
lace are beginning to murmur, saying they
we're deceived and misled by the preach
ers of submarine ruthlessness, who had
promised them a speedy peace, but had
merely brought the United States into the
war"
We must not take reports of this kind
too seriously, however. The submarines
are doing a vast amount of damage, and
there is no reason TO doubt that they will
continue in the same course for some
time to come. 1t is true that toward the
close of last month Mr.. Lloyd George
spoke confidently of the future. During
the last three weeks or month";" he said,
I'VE have dealt more effective blows at
the submarine than during any correspond
ing period of the war" But it is quite clear
that he did not mean that the peril had
teen overcome, nor is there any reason
whatever TO suppose that a sovereign rem
edy has been found. Mr.. Ridder and his
friends have as yet no reason to be I'M
easy on that score.
What the Germans Of Germany appear
70 be troubled at is disposition on the
part of their leaders to divert their atten-
ton from the submarines, or at least to
discourage too intensive concentration on
this aspect Of the war alone. Thus il is
remarked that the estimates of the Nav
sinkings have not yet been published by
the government. The March returns were
given out on April 10, those Of April on
May s, and the people had reason to hope
that by this time the promised increase for
last month would have been established
and made known 10 the world. The silence
of the government has therefore given rise
to fear that the May list is not quite so
encouraging as was expected
There are other circumstances that tend
to create anxiety. Major Moraht lately
had the temerity 70 complain that the
U-boats had failed 20 interfere seriously
with the shipment Of supplies between
England and France. This indiscretion
apparently set up reaction in the News
Office Of the Imperial Ministry Of Marine,
and the newspaper correspondents we're
promptly authorized 10 announce that the
campaign had attained what was desired
by interfering with supplies Of raw ma