Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-15
U-BOAT RESULTS
ARE DISAPPOINTING
IContinued From First Page1

larly Disappointing to the Germans
themselves" says the review. "At the
beginning of January 1917, Great Bri-
tain possessed approximately 3.731
vessels of 1900 tons and over. Many
others of lesser tonnage are not taken
into consideration, owing to the i'm
portance of restricting the question to
overseas traffic and cargo.
From February l until March IA
the losses of British ships of over 1000
tons were approximately rs, which
number deducted from the total leaves
the British mercantile marine with D.
653 ships of over 1000 tons after six
weeks German submarine warfare.
1T should be remembered that a
very large proportion of tonnage is on
the stocks building for the British
mercantile marine, and fair percent
age of the total is being turned out
monthly. In the total above mention
ed no account is taken of ships COM
pleted or bought in neutral countries.
U-Boats Fail
During the period from February
1 to March 10 no British ships have
been in any way blockaded in harbor.
Every opportunity of carrying out
their plans has been at the disposition
of the Germans after their declaration
of unrestricted submarine warfare. 1t
is extremely improbable that the Ger
man authorities will ever have the
same opportunity, for the following
reasons
First, A large number of old
tramp steamers, slow of speed, have
been sunk, as they afforded easy
prey.
Second: Their efforts would be
directed for the first six weeks or two
months towards producing the most
considerable results by careful organi-
zation and administration, with view
to affecting the morale of neutral ma
tions. A careful study of the German
methods has been made by the British
naval authorities and antisubmarine
measures have been adopted, which,
as the outcome of experience, have at
tanned large measure of success.
Ships Being Armed
Third: The arming of merchant
vessels is rapidly taking place, and it
is capable of proof that a submarine
takes particular care in attacking arm
ed vessels, a large percentage of which
always escape.
Fourth: Antisubmarine devices
are being daily perfected. but a little
time must necessarily elapse in order
that they should receive a proper trial.
Fifth: The German naval authori-
ties are bound to find some difficulty
in replacing the trained personnel, of
which they have lost a considerable
portion. It should be remembered
that there is considerable difference
between the efficiency of individual
commanders and the greatest losses
have been incurred through the action
of a few German submarine COM
manders, who by their skill and train
ing stand far above the average u
boat officers who leave Germany on
missions of destruction.
"The losses of the British mercan-
tile marine are being steadily reduced.
During the past two weeks only 30
having been sunk, as opposed to AS
sunk in the first two weeks. The Ves-
sells engaged in the coastal trade are
continually exposed to German sub
marines and are naturally included in
a German commanders reports.
One Serious Aspect
"The most serious aspect of the
fiected by consideration of post bell
lum conditions with regard to short
age of world tonnage. Besides affect
ing the whole world, II is likely to af-
feet most seriously the smaller nations
who have no mercantile marine Of
their own to rely upon and are de-
pendent upon that of other nations for
their sea traffic. However much the
Germans may desire to force neutrals
to lay up their vessels and close neu-
trail harbors, such a state of things
cannot exist long because the neutrals
themselves must obtain certain neces-
saries in order to avoid the intense
economic situation which at present
obtains in German. This fact is neces-
sarily better known to the neutrals
themselves than to those not imme-
diately concerned"