Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-02-22
By w. s. Forrest.

BY W. s. Forrest
/, Omitted Press staff eorrespondent.)
Paris, Feb. 22.-"If Germany is
,, building hopes that her submarine
blockade win cut off the allies sup
plies, decrease their military strength
and thus end the war-these hopes are
misplaced. The blockade will never sue
, eeed.''
Admiral LaCaze, frances minister of
marine, gave this reply today when the
United Press correspondent asked him
for a message to America on how
France views the German submarine
war.
cit was German thickness that in
augurated commercial submarines, os-
tensibly to carry merchandise, but in
reality to supply war submarines in the
open sea-" he declared.
cit is impossible for me to see how
competent German officials believe
their new move-whieh is said to be
aimed principally at France and Italy
can achieve the hoped for results, :"
he continued. "On the whole, it cannot
change conditions much for the past.
eff the German people are looking to
the submarines for peace, let them
! take eognizanee of the fact that since
the beginning of the blockade on Feb
ruary / about the same number of
French mercantile ships have been ar
irving at our ports as British. The to-
tai was more than hundred daily. That
figure is inmutable.
Has Little Effect.
| "I do not believe conditions viii
change much from 1916, when the aver
age of French imports deubled-from
9 12 to 5 million tons monthly.
"Also since the beginning Of the war
we have doubled our seaboard iports.
The blockade may reduce the present
figure somewhat. but it is materially
impossible for the Germans to abolish
these imports.
! 90 Take the two main Frenchr imports
coal and flour. The enemy has been
able to sink only little over half of
one percent-.0053 is the exact figure
of the general average ON coal, while
the flour loss is less than one per cent
"This flour loss does not equal the
amount the French baker normally
wastes.
"This is the third time the Germans
have announced merciless submarine
warfare Twice alirOa of x-to1auaa
wera hriaflv reocbaa-tbor tbav s,h.
sided
UTba 1oeses of vorld,s TONNAGE IN
tba mast has neva,. haen sncb os +o Lr;,,e :,
critical condition as far as tbe allies
supplies are concerned
ouest;on of Endrrsnco
"Even suppose that the German sub
marines DESTROY more than formarIv
the situation simplv resolves itself info
the question as to who Is able to hold
out the longest.
"Germany,s LONG immersed in econ.
omic difficulties. is now derived Of all
sea trade except that of Scandinavia
"The ententeis MARGIN on the otba,
! hand, is still of the widest
"The worst that can, befall ms is
! more rigid restrletio,s Of civilians Rast
assured. wen keen all necessities
"But this is merely hvpotbetical-
we haven + beoan to worry abon+ snr
plies.''
The admiral reiterated his disbelief
that the protaponists of ruthless snh
warnings were ever greatly onnosed IN
1 German offic;aldop,
"My opinion is, y he explained. "thai
I such a difference of opinion was nm.
nounced for effect on neutraIs sim.
liar German trickiness is annarant n
the Inauguration oq commercial subma.
rines Ostensiblv thew were 70 carry
merchandise Tn reality. tbev were bn;it
to supply war submarines ON the omen
sea.