Daily Kennebec journal., 1917-05-01
BRITISH NAVAL VETERAN
TELLS OF U.BOAT WAR

BRITISH NAVAL VETERAN
TELLS OF U.BOAT WAR
Washington. April 2s-Rear Admiral Sir
Dudley r. S. De Chair. the veteran naval
officer Of Great Britains war commission.
to the United States gave a group Of
Washington newspaper correspondents
today first hand story Of some of his
experiences during the two years he
commanded patrol fleet chasing German
submarines. Without minimizing the
gravity of the submarine menace. he con-
fidently predicted that it would be over
come.
Commenting on suggestions that Ger
many might undertake submarine cam
paign on the American coast, the Admiral
said this would not be profitable from the
German point of view without extensive
supply bases on this side of the Atlantic.
The Admiral spoke of the memorable
lessons the Allies had learned in the war.
and said he and his colleagues had come
| to place them at the disposal of the
American government.
II only WISH" he said, that I could
tell you the number of German subma-
rines that we have sunk. Unfortunately.
however, that is a naval secret as also
are the means of detection of submarines
and Of combating them, which it will be
necessary to guard in closest secrecy un-
til the end of the war. Your navy has
been furnished with full details, however,
by the present mission"
OF the prospect of submarines appear
ing in American waters, Admiral de Chair
said
1T would not pay Germany to inaugu-
rate general submarine campaign off
the American coast unless she could also
establish bases here. Each submarine
carries from eight to 10 torpedoes. besides
limited fuel supply, and would largely be
wasted in the long trip over and back, not
to mention the war reception she would
probably receive here.
Mother submarines to supply fuel and
| torpedoes are known to be in operat: on,
but little direct evidence has been re-
ceiVed that they are successful The
great difficulty in locating the submarines
on patrol is largely responsible. AS a re-
suit the Germans prefer to stay out for
two or three weeks and then return to
port. whence they are sent out again, al
most before the crew have had time to
reach shore.
Nobody knows exactly how many sub
marines the Germans are building, but
we know they are working at feverish
speed and have heard reports that they
are turning out from two to three a
week. The time of construction Is about
eight months. with a similar length Of
time for torpedoes and great uncertainty
exists as to how long Germany can con-
tinue to supply both vessels and torpe-
does. We only wish the press could help
us to learn this.
The crew of a submarine as a rule re-
quires from six weeks to two months
training, but the officers and other ex-
perts require at least three months
There have been many reports that tho
Germans have been forced to weaken the
personnel of the high sea fleet to main
tain their supply of seamen, but of this
we are uncertain. 1t is. however, abso-
lutely true, that some of the captured
crews are nearly crazy and wholly sick
of their job
& "The best defense against submarines
we have found is the armed ship. During
the early days they entirely veered away
from such vessels and even now only at
tack them submerged.
Might attacks by submarines are not
especially to be feared as it is nearly as
easy for a vessel to see submarine as 1t
is for 2 a submarine to see the vessel.
Usually they run on the surface at night,
charging their batteries and leave behind
them plain phosphorescent wake as does
torpedo fired at night. Sometimes. Of
course, they catch the loom of ship on
the sky line to great advantage. 1t is at
night only that they have any opportuni-
ty to rig up their small wireless devices
to receive orders at home.
"Submarine chasers are very valuable
as they are very fast. and especially un-
pipular with the undersea boats. A three
pound gun is effective after it strikes the
bessers shell, but where the submarine Is
submerged four-inch gun is desirable to
break down the armored coming tower
Submarines, we know, are carrying four
inch guns themselves and some are re-
ported 10 De carrying NNS anu SiA AIiCA
guns. Their cruising capacity is also be-
ing largely increased.
''It Is extremely difficult to know II you
have actually sunk a submarine. as
sometimes they merely sink to the bot
TOM Presence Of oil on the surface Is .
good indication though not absolutely
conclusive. 1t may be used for deception.
All the indications are good that tho
American steamer Mongolia bagged one.
though it is possible 1t got away. One
Of the great difficulties we have had to
contend with is whales. who have alb
sorbed an enormous amount Of projectiles
fired in the belief that they were German
C-boats.
1.-The entrance Of the American fleet
into the war hardly makes 1t more prob
able that the Allies will send their big
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