The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-08-31
MERCHANTMEN
(. NOW Conveyed
BY WARSHIPS
Protection Has Greatly Re-
duced Percentage of
Losses by Submarines
MENACE Is BEING
STEADILY ABATED
Va
New Devices and Greater
Efficiency Will Event
ually Stamp It Out
(By Associated Press.l

=
Washington, Aug. 31.-American
naval forces are conveying mer-
chant craft across the Atlantic, II
was disclosed officially yesterday al
the navy department and examina-
ton of the record shows that the
loss of the conveyed ships by sub
marines has averaged less than one
half of one per cent.
Details of the convoy system are
withheld. It was stated, however,
that American war vessels are reg
ularly escorting fleets OF allied mer-
chantment across, the protection be-
ing supplemented when the danger
zone is reached by destroyers and
other patrol craft.
American naval officials believe
that an effective system for check
ing the submarine menace Is being
built up gradually but certainly.
Many devices and many methods
enter into the task. Among other
things depth bombs are proving ef-
fective. Official reports indicate that
American destroyers have encount-
cred several U-boats and accounted
for them with these weapons. No
announcement of such incidents will
be made, however, unless absolute
proof Of the fact Is available.
No u-boats Captured.
No C-boat has been captured by
the Americans. II is the best Judg-
ment of high officials, however, that
several have been sunk by Admiral
Sims destroyers and they are con-
fident today, more confident than
ever before that the submarine mem
ace will be substantially abated as
the number OF destroyers and other
craft available for the work Is in
creased.
REPORTS from London that the
submarines are working now farther
at sea than formerly were confirmed
by the navy department. It may be
that new boats OF greater size ana
better sea- keeping qualities lend to
this extension of the zone OF actiyi-
ties, but 1t is regarded as more proD-
able that the increased and increas-
ing vigilance of the anti-aubmarine
forces is mainly responsible.
The effect of the increasing patrol,
the employment of airplanes and OF
the adoption of new devices to the
weapons has been 70
force the U-boats under water 70 a
greater and greater degree.
Effectiveness Limited.
Their effectiveness Is limited In
proportion. They cannot run down
4 merchant ship of average speed II
kent under water. They can operate
only against ships that almost STUN
bic upon them. And all the time they
are under water they are consuming
the stored power Of their storage
batteries. decreasing their range OF
Underwater action and compelling
them TO come up at night and lie
idIe on the surface while their oil
engines are used to recharge the
The decision Of the navy depart
ment 10 spend $3.50, 100000 on new
destrovers and destroyer building
facilities, approved by President
Wilson Wednesday, Is based upon
the effectiveness Of the swift lighting
machines as proved by Admiral
Sims forces. Every effort TO speed
the new program as well as the OLD
will be made and during the next
year the American destroyer rorce
in European waters probably can
Be more than doubled. DestroyerH
now under construction are being
rushed to completion and reports on
progress are satisfactory.
American experts have developed
4 depth bomb for use against sub
that is deadly at consider
aisle range. The bomb, containing
.1lrh explosive, is dropped from de-
sfroyer over q spot where the pres
snce Of q submarine Is indicated. II
IS timed TO explode at a certain
depth. II the explosion occurs be-
low the U-bcat and within rea-
sonable distance, the hull Of the un-
derwater craft is crushed.