Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1917-08-29
DEVICE TO DETECT
U BOATS At SEA
Hope to Locate Submarines
Ten Miles Away.
MAY ATTACK GERMAN BASES
Experts Agree That German Subma-
rines Must Be Eliminated Before the
War Is Won-Undersea Explosive
Has Played Large Part In Combat
ing the Menace.

ing the Menace.
The navy departments twofold pro-
gram in this war, based partly upon
the prospect of perfecting a device to
detect submarines at ten miles, has
been outlined to the press.
If the device is perfected-and the
best brains in this country are secretly
working on it day and night-a Gordon
Of destroyers will bottle the U boats
at their base. If it is not a COM
bined naval and aerial attack must be
made upon the German coast and the
occupied coast Of Belgium. The sub
marine, it is agreed, must be eliminate
ed before the war is won.
Expect Success Soon.
The general board feels that the pres
ent method of fighting the submarine
menace Is merely makeshift and that
1t will never make the seas safe for
merchantmen. no matter how well the
surface Is controlled by the allied ma
vies. Some success has been achieved
+ with the mechanism of detecting sub.
marines, but the invention has yet to
be perfected. Within the next few
months it Is believed that the mechan-
ical experts who are working on the
device will be able to report to the
navy department that it is ready for
service.
In the event that this invention
proves its value as a detector over a
range of ten miles it is the purpose
of the American navy TO establish q
line across the Skagerak, another
across the English channel and an
other across the North sea in front
of the German coast. Other lines OF
deteCtors will be stretched across the
various waters where the submarines
operate.
The first consideration, however, will
be to get an underwater detection
across the channels used by the sub
marines in leaving and entering their
bases. When this is accomplished the
submarine lighters which are now at
tempting to pick up the submarines
will be drawn in solid line in con-
nection with the detectors.
Undersea Explosive.
When the underwater raiders at
tempt to leave their bases they will be
spotted by the detectors. The surface
craft will then get a line on them, and
it is believed that it will be virtually
impossible for them to make their way
to the trade routes.
The detection invention represents
the great scientific contribution which
the United States has been reported to
have in the making. Heretofore its
nature was never explained publicly.
Already the United States navy has
had great success with the underwater
explosive which is dropped into the
water and explodes upon contact with
the submersible. These will be used
extensively in the new campaign.
The general board of the navy has
under consideration terrific naval and
aerial attack upon the German coast
and upon the coast of Belgium now
| controlled by the Germans. The navy
experts believe that it would be in.
advisable to attempt to make this at.
tack until thousands Of aeroplanes are
available to carry out the campaign.
This joint attack will have to await
the completion Of the American aerial
fleet, and therefore 1t cannot be en-
gineered before next year Naval ex.
perts realize that this attack, If sue.
cessful, would be extremely expensive
In life.
The army and navy joint councils
are satisfied that 1t is hopeless at pres.
ent to try to break through the west.
ern line and that no successful attack
can be made until the German bases
are destroyed and force is landed OH
the German coast Before this pro.
gram can be carried out they agree
that the submarine must be eliminated.
Since the United States entered the
war the younger naval officers have
urged the administration to suggest to
Great Britain the ACCESSIBILITY Of max
ing a naval drive at the German coast
| to destroy the submarine base. Vice
| Admiral Sims, In command Of the
American naval forces In European wa
tiers, has reported that such an attack
would not be feasible at this time.
Plans for a great naval engagement
have been worked out. but their con-
summation depends upon factors which
| cannot now be brought into NAV
At the present time the United States
has every available ship Of the minor
class in European waters assisting the
British feet In destroying submarines.
Just as rapidly as more ships are sent
down the ways they will be sent
abroad.