The Delta independent., 1917-05-25

been subjects of conferences may be
written about fully because publicity
has been given to suggested scheme
for getting after the German subma-
rines at their bases. If the destruc-
ton of these sea assassins is not pos
sible in their building and fitting out
ports. 1t is within the scope of the
suggested plan to attempt to prevent
their setting forth on their voyages OF
destruction
Offers Possibility of Success.
Nothing has been revealed concern
ing plans for sending ships in to blast
the submarines ut their moorings, or
to mine and net their approaches to
the open sea, but the mere suggestion
that something of this kind shall be
tried by the navies of Great Britain
and France is proof that some of the
sea captains think the scheme offers
N possibility of success. 1t may also
prove that the urging of American
naval officers has been met with sue
cess, a success made easier perhaps
because the civilian population of Eng
land through the press has been ask
ing for months why the British navy
did not crush the sea hornets in their
nests.
Civilian criticism, aud there has
been a lot of it in England, is apt to
be based on an entire lack of knowl-
edge, or at best only half knowledge,
of conditions. Recently there came TO
the United States from England an
American who had lived for years in
one of the channel ports of the island.
He is a friend of the writer of this
article. He said that the civilian pop
ulation of England seemed to feel that
II would be possible for the navy, with
out sacrificing anything of strategic
value, to wipe out the submarine base
at Zeebrugge. Belgium.
The English newspapers for long
time have been carrying in ''the voice
of the people" and "old subscriber"
columns letters demanding to know"
why the navy does not sail over and
smash the submarine base at the Bel
gian port named. These letters have
been answered occasionally by sailors
who naturally did not sign their names,
but the answers simply have breathed
the word impossible" without giving
any real reasons as to why the thing
cannot be done.
zeebrugge Well Defended.
Zeebrugge is directly across the wa
ter from Margate and Ramsgate, Eng
land, and the distance is not great.
Margate and Ramsgate have been bonn
barded several times. 1t is the close
ness of this hornets nest which has
brought 1t to the sharp attention of
the English people from time to time.
The Belgian coast near this submarine
base is low and sandy. but the whole
sea area of its front is mined and
there are huge land batteries protect
Ing the approaches.
The defenses of the place are such
as to have made IT appear TO the Brit
ish authorities that II the place and
its contents were destroyed the de-
struction would not be worth the losses
which must be incurred in the opera
tions.
England Not Yet Hungry.
Probably every reader of an Ameri-
can newspaper noticed that after the
statement by Secretary of the Interior
Lane that the submarine situation was
desperate, the British commissioners,
without allowing themselves to be
quoted sought to soften the effect of
the cabinet officers words.
The English people have not yet
gone on a ration basis. Just what Is
the food condition of the island? This
question has been answered fairly full
ly by some OF the British commission
erS.
OF course, the submarine menace
has a direct connection with the feed
ing of England. France and Italy. Eng
land today has enough food to supply
her people and her armies for some
time to come. and IL Is probable that
far as the island is concerned
things will be on two-thirds self
sustaining basis when the new crop
is gathered
England, however. as has been point
ed out recently. must look after
France and Italy. Therefore, the sit
hation In the islands becomes the sit
uation In the countries of its western
allies. For long time after the war
began the British authorities made no
effort to cut down the food consump-
ton of its people. The submarines
had not succeeded In cutting of sup
plies to such an extent that things
were getting dangerous. 1t was only
comparatively recently. in fact. that
England has felt the necessity OF curb
Ing the appetite of Its people.
The other day King George issued
proclamation urging the English to get
along with three-Quarters of the food
that they were using ut that time. 1t
has been figured In England that about