The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1917-07-23
Muddl.d Thought Abou. U-Bo.s..

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The eoeksureness with which some
journalists proceed offhGnd to settle
the submarine menace and to lecture
and hector naval experts because they
are dereliet IN graphing with the
problem. 10 only another example Of
the fiashy superfieiaHty Of which
Americans are the most gullible vic
Tins m the world.
II IL so easy for some person who
commands the privilege Of print to
say: There is only ore method by
which the submarine can be beaten"
The fact that the great naval and
scientific brains Of the world are ap-
preaching the subject from a score OF
different angles, are studying It in all
its ramiications, means little to the
writer who is merely exploiting his
own positivism. his own omnisclence.
And at regularly recurrent intervals
now a new submarine panic starts.
usually inaugurated by someone who
declares that Britain and the other
allies are deceiving the world as to
the extent Of their losses, and are on
the verge Of ruin.
The British have had three years Of
submarine fighting and have grown
somewhat stoIcal on the subject; but
Americans. fed on all sorts OF con-
fiicting reports, are likely to be en-
tirely forgetful OF the deadly menace
one day, and to find on their break
fast tables the next newspapers show
ing that the U-boat Is exacting so
heavy a toll that victory for Germany
IL in sight. They do not know what
to think; and the sum total Of their
irritation is demand that some
thing be DONE" that we attack the
submarine lairs, or perfect an anti
C-boat device without delay, or some
thing Of that sort.
1t may safely be surmised that the
naval experts of Great Britain,
France and the United States know
much more about the submarine and
the exact measure of the progress
made in circumventing it, than do any
Of the Notwithstanding copymakers
who are filling the public prints. That
marked progress has been made in
coping with the menace Is not open
TO doubt despite the heavy shipping
losses which are sustained. As to
attacking submarine bases such as
Ostend and zeebrugge, air assaults
on the former by British planes have
been decidedly effective, but have not
succeeded in Gripping it beyond re-
pair. zeebrugge also has been attack
ed by aeroplanes. but without the
same effectiveness. American naval
officers do not believe that an attack
froA the sea is practicable, or that
tho combination Of mines. nets, shall
low water, and the shore guns could
be met by batttleshlps with any sue
cess.
What the allies are working for is
i+SN 7CAAAo DA5s jules
Verne plan Of putting the subma-
rine out OF usiness''-welcome as
such an achievement would be-but
for rational. practical. everyday
methods of keeping submarine losses
down to minimum. They are maxi
ing steady progress in this direction.
1t is entirely true that shipping is be-
ing lost now at a rate which cannot
be sustained indefinitely. But there Is
only a small chance that these losses
will continue without diminution. If
they are, it is high time that we be-
gan turning out ships. ships, and then
mere ships; all that are possible with
in our great industrial organization;
for while waiting for a U-boat cure
we should do all we can to replace
the tonnage that is being sunk.