The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-20
U-BOAT BEATEN
Is DECISION OF
BRITISH EXPERT
Last Month Great Britain
Launched More Tonnage
Than She Lost
MEANS AMERICA
CAN GET INTO WAR
American Destroyers TAX
ing a Very Effective
Part in Campaign


New York, Dec. 20.--Arthur Pollen,
the British naval expert, who sailed
for 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 SUD
marine, has at last resulted in keep
ing the worlds ship tonnage from
showing q monthly decrease, or soon
win do so. Mr.. Pollen gives credit
for this success to the change in the
chief command carried out by the
British admiralty last spring and
the participation Of the American
navy.
Mr.. Pollen pointed out that six
months ago the German submarines
were causing 3. net attrition in the
worlds tonnage at the rate of nearly
25 per cent annually. While the
present rate Of attrition is 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, q
substantial portion Of the 5000 900
tons provided for in this country will
undoubtedly be ahoat. Great Britain's
shipbuilding program will similarly
increase month by month and more
over, the campaign of the allied
navies against the submarine viii
grow in value week by week, he
said.
Attack Has Failed.
"The. significance OF this does not
have to be pointed out" Mr.. Pollen
continued. ct means that Germany's
-R1swA anvpnVaNrw4@n Afnmm has
failed and that there is no reason
why ultimately the full military
power Of Great Britain, France and
Italy and the United States should
not be felt in the western theater Of
war. This is q tremendous result"
Speaking of the change in the
chief command in the British adj
miralty, Mr.. Pollen said:
"In bringing about this new order
OF things at whitehall, the reformers
were undoubtedly assisted, first, by
the fact that an extremely effective
wei equipped and brilliantly COM
manded contingent OK American de-
stroyers was already at work in "a
very important area Of the theater
OF war, and next by the British gov
eminent waking up to the truth that
the belligerency of America meaut
mot only the CO=upCIdb41n "a q NGAE
gallant and enterprising ally, but the
domestication, so to speak, Of q new
and extremely intelligent critic"
Mr.. Pollen mentioned the consulta-
lions with the British admiralty Of
three distinguished and resourceful
Americas naval ficers"-AdmiraIs
sims, Mayo and Benson. 'Through
these men, American professional
he said, has gained
first hand experience of the reality
of the war and has been able to con-
tribute an impersonal and impartial
Judgment upon the character OF the
operations to be pursued. and OF the
methods of command under which
they should be carried out"
Adverting to the recent North sea
raid by German forces, Mr.. Pollen
said:
"The only remarkable thing about
such incidents is not their OCCASION
al occurrence, but their rarity. Were
the British or the American navy
in the position Of the German navy,
I fancy they would be far more