Evening star., 1917-05-03
MISSIONS BELIEVE
GERMAN OUTLOOK
IS MORE CRITICAL
Say the Teut0ns Face PeriIS
Which Human Ingenuity
Cannot Solve.
ARE MUCH LESS ALARMED
THAN AMERICAN OFFICIALS
Secretary Lane Regards Great De.
struction of Ships as Menace
to the United States.

TO the UnlleQ states.
While members of the entente
missions share the alarm of
American officials at the growing
inroads of the submarine menace.
they do not regard the situation
as in any sense fatal.
1t means, in their view, period
of very great self-denial and
further restrictions, but they do
not credit in the least any opinion
that it is certain to lead to starva-
ton or the loss OF the war. They
are counting on ships, men and
money froal the United States,
and possibly American inventive
genius, to outweigh the U-boat
terror.
Germany Faces Unsolvable Perils.
| They point out that Germany faces
| perils which human ingenuity cannot
| solve. among them the shortage Of man.
power. the impossibility of getting food
from outside and incapacity to increase
| interior production farther than the limits
| to which it already has been pushed.
Though figures about the sinking OF
allied vessels have not been made public
J in London, it is probable that through the
aff -ltor slar
may be made public, since the Germans
| already are in possession Of them. It
was stated that members OF the commits
| sion believe the statement that a loss OF
| 400, 900 tonnage was sustained in a single
| week is exaggerated, though the weekly
losses. it is admitted. have increased.
Figures on the accomplishments OF
the submarines in destroying allied
| tonnage are not being given out, even
| to parliament, though IT is probable.
mission members believe. that this may
| be done. since it will inform English
people of facts already known to the
/ Germans.
Report Of Loss Exaggerated.
In respect to the estimate of Secre.
tary Lane that 100000 in British ton
mage had been destroyed by German
submarines in week. 1t was stated in
one quarter today that this report was
| exaggerated. and that probably the hg-
ure Mr. Lane had in mind was one esti-
| mate that 100000 tons of allied tonnage
had been destroyed in a period of two
4 weeks.
| Critical as the allied situation 10
made to appear, allied diplomats say
! 1t is as nothing to the insuperable Diff
| ficulties of Germany, almost entirely
| hidden under the censorship.
1t is quite possible. they say, that
Herbert c. Hooyer's figures Of 100000
| cattle in the central empires are cor
rect, but distribution of these and
other supplies is almost impossible
when Germany's military necessities
are so seriously overcrowding the rail-
roads.
Submarine Issue Paramount.
That the submarine menace and ways
to combat it by increased shipping,
freight selection and naval co-opera-
ton is the main interest Of the British
mission became certain today from
many different sources.
The issue was focused by Premier
Lloyd Georges statement in parliament
recently that the need was for ships
and still more ships; Lord Percy's ex-
PLANTATION here that destruction was
outrunning construction. and declara-
tions of Secretaries Lansing and Lane
that the submarine situation is grave.
1t is now evident that other matters
tbefore the British commission, however
vital. are being subordinated
The British naval officers in coming
to this country hoped to get a consid-
erable number of small boats to use as
submarine chasers, but they have been
disappointed to discover that the few
available are needed here. The Brit
sh shipping experts. however. have
found encouragement in the emergency
efforts of the shipping board and the
availability of many German ships.
Proposed Freight Curtailment.
Proposed curtailment OF the non-essena
tial freight now being carried to Europe
would give increased tonnage for neces-
sary supplies. The American govern.
ment has agreed not only to restrict inn
ports, as the British already do. but to
impose export restrictions authorized by
the bill now pending in Congress.
One Of the greatest uncertainties OF tho
situation is a total ignorance of the num-
ber of U-boats Germany is building. ADJ
miral de Chair estimated this at two or
three a week, but many officials here be-
leve it possible to turn out many more on
standard plans.
Secretary Lane told the conference OF
state officials yesterday that the great
destruction of ships was threatening
France and menacing the United States.
No one he said, knew the exact tonnage
of ships lost recently. but estimates put
last weeks submarine toll at 100000
tons Later he explained that this esti-
mate probably was too high.
Eighty Lost in One Week.
Secretary Lansing declared the seris
o,eness of the submarine situation
conld not be exaggerated and that it
u,s time the country awoke to the true
facts Reports to the State Department /,
rive a total of eighty vessels lost in one
week. figures much higher than any
contained in recent British announces
ments.
the rate of destruction in recent weeks
md continued unchanged, and that it
showed no alarming increases. All its
members agree the situation is critical.
however, and that the combined ship
building facilities of the world can
meet the peril only IL their output IL
Increased tremendously.
Announcing the governments pro-
gram for exercising more direct con.
troll over the country's shipping and
shipbuilding facilities. Chairman Der-