New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-05
Man Who Sank the Lusitania
Is Tutor Of U-Boat Assassins
Seinbrink Hands Stained With Blood of Innocens Hailed
as German Hero and Placed at Head of School for
Sea Murder-American Coast Marked

and difficult science Besides the
skilled captain. competent first oihcets,
wireless operators and artllerymcn'
engineers are needed Each man. too,
must be "seadog." Some OF the small
er submarines toss like tubs when they
reach the ocean and only touGhened
seamen can stand the wear and tear.
Hence the weeks and months which
are necessary TO put the men m order
before they leave home for their irst
excursion IN sea murder
But Germany has learned great
deal during two years OF hlt-aud-m'S IS
submarine campaigns When vog Tir-
pitt began. i'm February. 1914, he or
dered his men to work off the coasts OF
England. Then so many submarines
were lost n became a dangerous ana
expensive military operation. The Al
lies began to use great steel nets. hoth
as traps and as protection 10 war
ships. The German navy learned ms
within very short time. and the mill
tary engineers were ordered 20 perfect
torpedo which would go through a
steel net. The first invention was a
torpedo with knives on the nose. when
the nose hit the net there was MINOR
explosion. The knives were sent
through the net, permitting the torpedo
10 continue on it's way. Then the Al
lies doubled the nets. and two sets OF
knives were attached TO the German
torpedoes. But gradually the Allies
employed nets as traps. These were
anchored or dragged by fishing boats
Some submarines have gotten inside
been juggled around. but have escaped
1,..r... b,art Ia this
Many improvements
Then. when merchant ships began Ia
carry armament, the horoscopes were
shot away. so the navy invented So
called "hnCcr-perlscopc,' thn rod
pipe with d mirror at one end. Ihl-
rod could be showed out from the top
Of the submarine and used Tor Obser-
walton purposes i'm case the big peri
scope was destroyed. From time ia
time there were other inventions. A.
the submarine fleet grew the means OF
communicating with each other while
submerged at sea we're perfected. Cop
per plates were fastened fore and az
on the outside of submarines. and II
was made possible for wireless mes
sages 10 be sent through the water at a
distance or fifty miles.
The navy learned. too, that If sub
marines worked IN pairs they had bet
ter luck in sinking ships and escaping
Besides. a submarine cannot aim at a
ship without some object as a sight
So one submarine often acted as a
sight" for the submarine firing the
torpedo. Submarines, which at first
were unarmed, were later fitted with
II. ii
on deck. The biggest submarines no"
carry 6-inch guns.
SO much for submarines and thelI
crews. But what will they do now
that American ships are armed?
Some months ago ! had an interview
with Major Bassermenn, leader Of the
National Liberal party in the Reichs-
tag. Bassermann has always been vor
Tirpitz's right-hand adviser. | asked
Bassermann whether he favored an un-
limited submarine war, even If the
United States went 20 war.
All Regardless
Every man in the German navy viii
throw up his cap and shout 'Hurrah,
when the order comes to sink all ship!
regardless Of their nationality" he an
swered.
But, would you support an unlimlt
ed submarine war in defiance OF the
United States?" | asked.
well, | don't want war with Amer
lea" he replied, "but | think our sub
marines should be used against every
ship bound for England or France
Bassermann was frank and honest
but when | submitted the Interview q
the Foreign Office the censors cut out
everything which gave Bassermann
real views. When | read my dispatch
in the American papers ! saw. 10 my
great establishment, that Bassermanr
didn't want a ruthless submarine war
The censor had changed the version Il
suit the ideas which the German gov
eminent wanted the American people
TO believe. But Bassermann was right
The navy undoubtedly shouted "Hur
rahl" and is still shouting, because the
navy has offensive plans against the
United States and believes it can Eeer
the American navy busy in American
waters from now until the war ends.
U-53 was sent here for two purposes
First, it was 70 demonstrate to The
American people that, IN event OF war
submarines could work terror OF the
Atlantic coast. Second, II was 70 show
the naval authorities whether then
plans for an attack on American ship
ping would be practical. U-J3 failed
10 terrorize the United States, but IL
proved to the Admiralty that excur
sions TO American waters were feas
BILE
The German navy, too. has its eye'
on Mexico. The Allies obtain greai
deal Of oil from the Tampico oil fields
A few German agents planted along the
Mexican coast could supply a submar
inc for some time without belni
caught. CAPTAIN Boyd undoubtedll
took good care TO make all these ar
rangements before he left. If he didn't
there are enough German agents al
ready in Mexico to do the necessary
work.
I'm event Of war the American navy
will be kept busy in American waters
anc especially eff the coast OF Mexico
70 destroy Germany's plans over here
But Germany will make the attempt
Germany wants TO fight the UNITED
States. no. in EuroDe. but IN America
Her reservists, her agents. and hei
German born American friends viii be
modified to help her defy the Monroe
Doctrine, which she has always intend
ed 10 challenge.