The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-10-26
Admiral Benson Tells of Meth
ods Adopted to Foil
Submarines.
EDISON INVENTION IN USE
Smoke Bombs and Smoke Screens
Are Proving Effective-camou.
fage Employed to sarpris-
ing Extent.


being used by American ships as a
means Of escaping or destroying Ger
man submarines is given by Admiral
Benson, chief Of operations of the navy
Several Of the methods under trial at
present, one Of them the invention of
Thomas A. Edison, the admiral regard
ed as inadvisable to describe, but he
discussed without reserve the devices
in general use on merchant ships and
naval vessels.
It was admitted that the naval con-
voy furnished the most effective safe
guard against the submarine. Admiral
Benson thought that the number off
conveyed ships sunk was even less
than the average up to month ago,
when it was estimated that only one
half Of 1 per cent fell victim to the
submarine. The impossibility of con-
voying more than small per cent Of
the merchant feet leaving American
shores, however, has made necessary
the adoption Of other protective meas
ures.
Devices Employed.
Among those most in use on mer-
chant ships, the admiral said, were
"smoke bombs" and smoke screens.
Camoufage also is being employed to
surprising extent, but particularly
on naval vessels. The smoke bombs
are merely containers filed with chem
icals which when cast overheard
throw of dense black smoke, obscur-
ing the ship from an attacking subma-
rine.
A great variety of experiments In
camoufage have been tried on naval
vessels. They have been painted ev-
cry hue Of the rainbow that might
tend to merge the ship in its back
ground and make it indistinguishable
to investigating periscopes. Admiral
Benson said many Of these devices had
been demonstrated to be of great
merit. Warships, too, are equipped
with detectors which indicate the prox'
unity Of other ships.
More and more Of the merchant
ships, Of course, are being armed 50 as
to be able to give a good account OF
themselves lin encounters with the
U-boats, and experiments constantly
are going on in the navy to improve
the weapons of offense employed
against the submarine. A special en-
deayor is being made to perfect the
operation of depth charges so that it
may be possible more frequently to
spot" the U-boats as they suomerge
or as they run along with only thelr
periscopes showing.
= Balloons are employed on the ships
for observation purposes, but their use
is not at all new.
It was said today, in contradiction
of q recent interesting story, that no
invention had been perfected in the
United States navy which would en-
able an attacked ship to defect the
course of torpedo once it was hreo'
This report, according to Admiral Ben
son, had no foundation Whatever.
Bigger Submarines.
Another report which has been max
ing the rounds is that German SUD
marines recently have been making II
practice of sparing all passenger
ships they encounter. The only Dasis
for this belief, it was said, is the 1act
that fewer passenger ships have oeen
sunk. They have been attacked now
ever. but in most. cases have escaped.
There have been no German subma-
rines near the American coast since
this nation entered the war, so FAR as
the navy department has learned. A
submarine has been sighted nearly IN
mid.Atlantic, but that is the nearest
approach one is known to have made.
The navy department has evidence
that Germany is increasing the size OF
her submarines nearly to the proper
tion of small cruisers. This evidence
was obtained by ocular observation, ID
1.oro fort fh4t fh0