The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-08-25
.HELFFERICH in
REPLY TO LLOYD
GEORGE SPEECH
U-Boat Statistics Hum
bug Trade Rivalry
Cause Of War, He Says.

Amsterdam. Aug. 25.-vice Chancel.
lor Helfferich, in the course OF the
recent debate in the main COMMITTEES
of the Reichstag. said the real reason
why Great Britain entered the war
was the fact that Germany's trade in
1917 presumably would have reached
the level OF Britain's.
This war" the Vice Chancellor
said, lis the result Of tension created
Eby the fact that Great Britain was
constantly feeling the glazing and in
creasing proportion between her supe-
rior world and naval power and Ger
mans increasing economic strength.
One ought clearly to recognize that
Great Britain's object was our eco
nomfc oppression. To abandon ones
self to any Illusion in this respect
would be fatal"
sDr Helfferich repudiated as unjus-
titled the reproaeh that he had ever
made any prophecies respecting the
efficacy of the German submarine
warfare.
'Prophesying..'' he said, "I leave to
Great Britain. Premier Lloyd Georges
statistics in hts latest speech are mere
humibug. If the British Premier, con-
trary to his declarations in April. now
uation-altho Tough 1t certainly has not
become more favorable-this proves,
first, that public feeling In. Great
Britain urgently needs to be comfort
| ed, and, second. that Lloyd George
considers 1t necessary to play upon
German public opinion.
| This impression is confirmed by the
obvious consideration that Premier
Lloyd Georges words can only be ex-
planned by the same direct menace
which operates. despite the prospect
of American aid, in the tremendous
dash on the western front, with an
immense concentration of men and
material. This menace is not so much
on land or in the air as 1t is In the
water.
1.-THE opinion, shared by Mr.. Lloyd
George. that fine weather is particu-
! 1a,rly favorable for U-boat activity Is
mistaken one Smooth seas and
lulls in the wind are very disagree
able for U-boats, especially in view Of
the enemy's defensive measures, re-
garding aircraft in particular Some
U-boat DONNA nders are of the opinion
that submarine warfare can be car
RED on with still better results when
the weather is not too fine ard the
nights are longer.
Inc 1laVlSaC1On OF SnlpS unQGr GS-
cort cbstructs the scope Of the U-boats
of course, but it also involves consid-
cradle disadvantage for the enemy,
owing to the fact that such a fiotilla
is unhandy and has difficulty in elud-
ing a submarine attack quickly
las sea traffic diminishes, sinkings,
of course, will probably decrease grad
ua1ly. Today the sinking of even a
single ship is felt much more intense
ly by the Entente than at the begin
ming Of the U-boat war.
! THE statements of our naval staff
Prospecting the tonnage resources OF
Great Britain may be regarded as Elk :
act. MIR. Lloyd Georges statements
are artificial manipulations of figures.
He mixes net and gross losses, anx-
iously avoiding definite particulars as
to total British losses in tonnage It
| Is interesting to note his remark that
all tonnage sunk among that requisi-
toned for the military must be COM
pensated from tonnage available for
commercial purposes. His ststemene
respecting British shipbuildinE must
be viewed with the utmost doubt.
| For continuation of the U-hoat
warfare all materials and the person.
mel required are ready in ample meas
ure, 50 that, in a military aspect,
| there cannot he any doubt that 1t will
be continued efficiently
l