New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-31
Navy Conveying
Merchant Ships
Across Atlantic
Loss of Vessels Under Escort
Less Than One-half
of | Per Cent


naval forces are conveying merchant
craft across the Atlantic, it was dis
closed officially to-day at the Navy De-
partment. Examination of the records
show that the loss Of conveyed ships by
submarines has averaged less than one
half Of l per cent.
withheld. II was stated, however, that
American war vessels are regularly es-
corting fleets Of British. French and
other Allied merchantmen across. the
protection being supplemented when
the danger zone is reached by the de-
stroyers and other patro! craft.
Rear Admiral Benson, acting Secre-
tary of the Navy, in the absence or
Secretary Daniels to-day gave clear
cut summary Of the submarine warfare
as Germany has extended it and Of the
efficient part the American navy is
playing in offsettng it.
American Fleet Intact
One thing he made clear especially
was that if the ultimate solution of the
submarine menace has not yet been de-
vised. at all events the flocks of patrol
craft in constant quest OF the sub
marines have the present situation in
hand.
I..zx -.:,L ,,oro opd Iaroer suh-
marines on the ocean, the Germans
cannot count on increasing their per
centage Of shipping destroyed, Rear
Admiral Benson indicated, because, as
the winter approaches. the weather
will be against them. He said:
There are two theories. One is that
| the submarines have the better of it
when the days are long, and the other
! that the rougher waters of the colder
months make it harder to locate the
| submarine. On the whole, the subma-
| rines seem TO operate more effectively
! when the days are longer and the
waters smoother
owe do not expect the coming
months to help the submarines as much
as they will help the patrols. On the
I
important part in the work of the pa
troll craft"
The American torpedo boat force in
European waters is rendering excellent
service and is holding up to expecta-
tions against the strain and actual
tests Of war. Admiral Benson stated
He said no American torpedo boat had
been lost.
American naval officials believe that
an effective system for checking the
submarine menace is being built up
gradually. but certainly. Many devices
and many methods enter into the task.
Among other things depth bombs are
proving effective. Official reports in
dicate that American destroyers have
accounted for several U-boats with
these weapons. No announcement OF
such incidents will be made, however,
unless absolute proof is available.
Several U-Boats Sunk, Belief
No U-boat has been captured by the
>nericans. II is the best judgment
of high officials, however. that several
have been sunk by Admiral Sims,s de-
stroyers. and they are more confident
to-day than ever before that the sub
marine menace will be substantially
abated as the number Of destroyers and
other craft available for the work is
increased.
Reports from London that the sub
marines are working further at sea
than formerly were confirmed by the
Navy Department. IL may be that new
boats Of greater size and better sea-
keeping qualities lend to this extern
sion Of the zone of activities, but II is
regarded as. more probable that the an
creased vigilance of the anti-submarlne
forces is mainly responsible.
The effect of the increasing patrol,
of the employment of airplanes and OF
the addition of new devices to the anti
submarine weapons has been TO force
the U-boatS under water to a greater
and greater degree Their effective
ness is limited in proportion. they
cannot run down a merchant ship OF
average speed. They can operate only
against ships that almost stumble upon
them.
And all the time they are under water
they are consuming the stored power
of their storage batteries, decreasing
their range OF underwater action and
compelling them 70 come up at night
and lie idle on the surface, while their
oil engines are used 10 recharge the
batteries.
Destroyers To Be Rushed
The decision Of the Navy Depart
ment 10 spend $3.50 100000 on new de-
strovers and destroyer building faclll-
ties, approved yesterday by President
Wilson, is based on the effectiveness
of the swift fighting machines as
proven by Admiral Sims's forces. Every
effort 70 speed the new programme as
we'll as the old, will be made. Destroy
ers. now under construction are being
rushed to completion.
American experts have developed
depth bomb for use against submarines
that is deadly at considerable range.
The bomb, containing high explosive, is
dropped from a destroyer over spot
where the presence Of U-boat IS indi-
Gated II is timed TO explode at a GER
lain depth. If the explosion occurs
below the C-boat, and within reason
able distance. the null Of the under
water craft is crushed like an egg
shell.
Signs Of destruction IN TINS way ap,
pear on the surface in the shape OF
oil and wrecksgc. 1t is very difhcuIt'
therefore, 20 be certain Of hit.
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