Arizona republican., 1917-11-02
SIR ERIC SEES END OF ACTIVITY
 OF THE U BOATS
(Continued from Page One)

British losses, they have steadily de- creased and latterly to a marked de- gree September was the most satis- factory month: October was only slightly worse and better by thirty per cent than any other Nonth since un- restricted submarine warfare began The net reduction in -onnage in the last four months is thirty per cent less than anticipated in the estimate pre- pared for the cabinet early in July.
 "The total net reduction since the beginning of the war from all causes in British tonnage on the official reg ister in ships over 1900 tons is under two and a half millions of tons gross, pr 142 per cent and that after period when our great armies and thelr mag nificent equipment received prlof1ty and the great growth of our navy was simultaneously achieved, to the detri- ment of mercantile shipbuilding. Now that the submarine is for the present doing less damage and the resources of the country are again being devoted to a far greater and an increasing eX- tent to the upbuilding of the mer- cantile marine, 1 look for net results still more formidable.
 Summarized, the submarine war
 
 measures have during the last seven months proved so efficaciouS that in spite of the increased number of ships passing through the danger zone there has been a steady reduction in the damage done by the e,:enIy submarines. Tn the meantime we are sinking enemy submarines to an increasing extent. Our offensive measures are improving and will still more improve and mul- 1 tiply.
 But. on the other hand, the Germans are building submarines faster than | they have hitherto G.,~- and they nave ! not attained their maximum strength | It appears to me therefore, that in the submarine warfare, as elsewhere, 1t IS | becoming a test of determination and ingenuity between the two contendlng 1 forces.
 For the present, I have come to the 1 conclusion that submarine warfare IS | going well for us. The enemy has done less damage than he roped and less | than we estimated. He has done Il with a serious and heavy loss to hlm- | self. At present, we may be justified | in feeling that his attack on our trade
 is held and is being mastered and we are Justified in looking to the future !
 ridcnt that he will fall.'
 The first lord said it was interesting | to recall the position of the German mercantile marine, continuing:
 At the outbreak of the war Ger l many possessed over five million tom 1 of shipping. Today nearly half of i
 has been sunk or is in the hands O | ourselves or our allies. She has lift, | tn cent. It is well that the British pub lie should be told what they are III
 against. We must not consider our
 selves alone, but the alliance as | Whole.'
 He pointed out that while Grea
 Britain has plenty of coal for victory
 Italy and France have not and it wa
 essential that there should be tn
 greatest possible economy in food am
 in all imports in order that tonnae
 should be saved so that it may be di
 verted to other vital needs of the ali
 ance. He declared:
 We must lay our plans for a lon
 war. 1 see no signs of it's being
 short one, and all, by their econom
 can help the navies of the allies defea
 the submarine
 Sir Eric urged Britons to do thei
 utmost, as there were greater call
 upon the shipping world.
 The huge army of the Unite
 States, he said, ''is preparing and ha
 to be transported and maintained. Tn
 French. Italian and other allies reuuir
 seaboard help. That help can only |
 given If the nation is prepared strictl ana vigorously to curtail it's needs, de
 Velop home resources and conserve il
 present potential maritime strength" had been asked whether Gre; brltaln was building merchant tomas al sufficient rate to replace the sink , ,hgs' The answer, he declared. ha ! peeil gwen negatively, but it was LIT { sound and inconclusive to take any or z idctor or output as against losses In I { vital indication of Great Britain , situation. i'' i'ai'i mas the country not justly tai | 0ieuit Tor the fact that in 1917 wit our military and munitions effort 2 tue Iha1Ilnum and when the call mn, | -ii'ii power has reduced our ayailab t osouices to a minimum he continue ( we shall nave produced naval a,
 LeiGdhtile tonnage practically eouaI r pest year ever recorded in eur hi eoiy' And Tn 1918 it will certainty Q very mucb greater.r !. me speaker expressed confidan Q hm tllat ehe skilled workers would sta, ' SS ehe nation in carrying out the ore t dnnn d,'ouliuins program, just as they h. y oe ofn1 ts III the munitions and other nee 2 or the country. nee 's TOT, he added, "thev may ,os. o T sureo that the parliament and f y ------e-- ollu JdWln rOWnd an tba l;,