The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-07-20
MUST KILL
OFF U-B0ATS
An Offensive Is the Only So
luton Of the Cam
paign
COMMERCE SHIPS
BEING WIPED OUT
Serious Loss to Shipping
Calls for Prompt
Action

in combating German submarines. 9th
|, erwise, Germany is likely to win the wal
= eventually. These statements are baseC
: on the best authority obtainable. Tn,
l assertions in this dispatch are made with
4 the intention of giving the American peo
, pie as correct an impression as possible
of the U-boat menace.
The statement was made yesterday
that the citizens of the United States
were not being told the whole story OF
the success of Germany's policy of sub
marine frightfulness. While the British
government is issuing statements weekly
giving the number of ships over and un.
der 1900 tons sunk by submarines, it is
carefully guarding the exact total ton.
mage lost each week. A statement one
week shows that smaller number of ships
were sunk during that en-day period
than during the previous seven-day Pc
riod and the public gains the impression
that the Uboats have been less success
full As matter of fact, it has happened
that the tonnage lost during a week
showing the smaller total of ships sunk
is larger than during the week when
more ships were sent to the bottom of
the sea.
If the allies would make public the
tonnage lost since Germany began her
campaign of ruthlessness, the announce
ment probably would show that the aver
age loss has been at least 100000 tons
4 &.
age tonnage sunk by Uboats and does
not include vessels lost in wrecks, col
lisions, etc. If Germany maintains her
present ratio 1t is very possible that
100000 tons of shipping will be lost
by the end of the year. The writer has
received from an usually reliable source
statement to the effect that the ton
mage that will be built during that same
period by the entente allies, by the
United States and by neutral countries
whose shipping can be utilized by the |
allies is not expected to exceed 1000, 900 |
tons. This is a net loss of eight million |
tons of shipping during the year.
1t is this that has resulted in the ex
preston of the fear that defeat threat |
ems the allies unless the loss in tonnage |
suited in the demand being made now
that the allies adopt a new policy. I'm
til now the allies have been conducting
a defensive rather than an offensive cam
paign against U-boats. The allies naval /
warfare has been headed by England.
Her policy has been TO protect merchant
men instead of to take the offensive
against submarines. If warships convoy
ing merchantmen have sighted U-boats
they have attacked them, but they have
not made concerted move against the
undersea craft. The hardest war ques-
ton to answer is why the allies have not
adopted offensive policy. One possible,
but perhaps not the correct, answer is
that England is trying not to endanger
her warships so the feet will be nearly
intact at the end of the war.
Those who are advocating offensive ac-
ton against submarines admit very
frankly that it is a gamblers chance, but
they say it must be tried out. They say
that the allies should do everything pos I
sible without further delay to prevent 7
the submarines from getting out into l
The ocean. This can be attempted in {
any one of a dozen ways from a com
bned naval and aerial drive at enemy i
submarine bases down to attempting to
Ieep the submarines within certain sea ?
Irea. President Wilson, it may be said, b
,aa baJ tba no 90 placad sauarelv bafnre v
Tim and has been urged to ask our al G
les abroad to adopt an offensive policy. l
lie is giving the request most careful g
consideration, but nothing has occurred n
IS vet to indicate that he has actually o
made the request. Thus far the admin
stration has been following England's c
'olicy. Secretary of the Navy Daniels =
as been carrying out his instructions to
he letter, as a result of which possibly
he American people do not understand
he real situation.
At last from the United States navy n
tself comes the demand for a drive on
he submarines. All of the young Off
ers in the navy and many of the old
Ulcers are agreed that the United States
hould adopt an offensive plan of some =
ind. They believe that every United =
tates battleship which possibly can be +
pared from our waters should be sent .
broad to search the seas for submarines y
nd that England and France should give =
lore attention to hunting the sea for
he subsea craft than TO conveying mer-
iantmen. Lord Northcliffe. il may be -
lid without qualification, holds the same
lew. II is even asserted he told his T
that it must adopt the often
We policy to assure success. Ii may be FC
lrther stated that snti-submarine in
sntions have accomplished little thus
II.
There are many officials in Washing ~
n who hope that once the people real SCI
e the seriousness Of the situation they va
in demand full information, on Ger M
any's U-boat campaign and viii de- X
and the adoption Of an offensive policy.
aey hope, too. that the people win de- -
and that the Goethsls -Denmsn contro- q
rsy. which has seriously retarded our
sborsfe shipbdilding program. viii b.
tiled once and for an still another A
msnd i for the construction Of many a
1re powerful and effective submarine / II,