Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-11-02
New Mexico Friday, November


ty per cent in number and thirty per
cent in tonnage higher than in April.
The enemy must, therefore, find an
other and better explanation for his
lack of success. ! can supply it.
THE explanation is that the long
arm of the British navy reached down
into the depths and thus the harvest
reaped is poorer and the number Of
German submarines which do not re-
turn is increasing
Promise in Figures.
Since April, the highest month for
British losses, they have steadily died
and latterly to marked degree. Sep
tember was the most satisfactory
month; October was only slightly
worse and better by 80 per cent than
any other month since unrestricted
submarine warfare began. The net re-
duction in tonnage in the last four
months is 80 per cent less than antici-
pated in the estimate prepared for the
cabinet early in July.
The total net reduction since the
in British tonnage on the official reg
lister in ships over 1.600 tons is un
der two and q half millions of tons
gross. or IA per cent and that after
period when our great armies and
their magnificent equipment received
priority and the great growth of our
navy was simultaneously achieved, to
tho detriment of mercantile ship
Now that the submarine is
for the present doing less damage
and the resources of the country are
again being devoted to a far greater
and an increasing extent to the up
building of the mercantile marine, !
look for net results still more formi-
dable.
situation Is Summarized.
Summarized, the submarine war
fare amounts to this:
"Our defensive measures have dur
ing the last seven months proved so
that in spite of the in
creased number of ships passing
through the danger zone, there has
done by the enemy submarines. In
the meantime we are sinking enemy
to an increasing extent,
Our offensive measures are improving
and will still more improve and null
tiply.
But on the other hand, the Ger
mans are building submarines faster
than they have hitherto done and
they have not attained their maxi
mum strength. II appears to me,
that in the submarine war
fare, as elsewhere, it is becoming a
test of determination and ingenuity
between the two contending forces.
For the present, | have come to
the conclusion that the submarine
warfare is going we'll for us. The en-
cmy has done less damage than he
hoped and less than we estimated,
He has done ii with a serious and
heavy loss to himself. At present, We
may be justified in telling that his at
tack on our trade is held and Is being
mastered and we are justified in look
ing to the future with courage and
confident that he will
fail"
Gcrmany's Loss Greatest.
The first lord sa'n it was interesting
to recall the position of the German
marine, continuing:
"At the outbreak of the war Ger
many possessed over 100000 tons of
shipping. Today nearly half of it has
been sunk or is in the hands of our
selves or allies. She has a so per cent
reduction to our IA per cent.
ut is well that the British public
should be told what they are up
against We must not consider our
selves alone, but the alliance as
whole"
Coal Economy Urged.
He pointed out that while Great
Britain has plenty of coal for victory,
Italy and France have not, and it was
essential that there should be the
greatst possible economy in food and
In all imports in order that the ton
mage should he saved so that it may
be diverted to other vitals needs of
the alliance. He declared
I'VE must lay our plans for a long
war. ! see no signs of its being a
short one, and all, by their economy,
can help the navies of the allies de-
feat the submarine"
Sir Eric urged Britons to do their
utmost. as there were greatest calls
upon the shipping world
"The huge army of the United
States" he said, ''is preparing and
has to be transported and maintained.
The French, Italian and other allies
require seaboard help. That help can
only be given if the nation is prepared
strictly and vigorously to curtail its
needs, develop home resources and
its present potential mari
timp ctrepOtb