The sun., 1917-03-15
U-BOAT SINKS AN AMERICAN SHIP:
SHELLS FIRED WITHOUT WARNING;
OUTCOME RESTS WITH CONGRESS
FAILURE OF SUBMARINE
WARFARE IS INDICATED
British Board of Trade Reports That Ruthlessness So
Far Has Cost Only 7s Ships-Blow Fall
ing Hardest on Neutras.

LoSpoH, March l4.---The Associated
Press has been placed in possession of
review OF the first six weeks OF the Ger
man unrestricted submarine campaign.
The figures given are from the Board OF
Trade reports, and the conclusions are
those of a highly competent authority.
The German submarine campaign,
reported TO have assumed enhanced
vigor on February /, must be singularly
disappointing to the Germans them
selves" says the review. AT the begin
ming Of January. 1917. Great Britain
possessed approximately 3.73l vessels OF
1.6o0 tons and over. Many others OF
lesser tonnage are not taken into con-
sderation owing to the importance OF
restricting the question to overseas traf-
fic and cargo judging the results care
fully and looking to possible future de-
velopments.
From February until March C4D
the losses OF British ships OF over 1900
tons were approximately seventy eight
which number deducted from the total
leaves the British mercantile marine
with 1868 ships of over ! 600 tons after
six weeks German submarine warfare.
Many ships Building.
at should be remembered that a very
large proportion Of tonnage is on the
stocks building for the British Mercan-
tile Marine and a fair percentage of the
total is being turned out monthly. In
the total above mentioned no account Is
taken of ships completed or bought in
neutral countries.
During the period from February
to March 10 no British ships have been
S,, Iod IN, y,
opportunity OF carrying out their plans
has been at the disposition OF the Ger
mans after their declaration Of unre-
stficted submarine warfare. II Is ex-
tremely improbable that the German au-
thorities will ever have the same oppor-
tunity, 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 di-
rected for the first six weeks or two
months toward producing the most con-
siderable results by careful organization
and administration. with a view to af-
fecting the morale of neutral nations.
A careful study OF the German methods
has been made by the British naval au-
thorities. and anti-suhlnarine measures
have been adopted which. as the out
come OF experience. have attained a
, large measure of success.
yessels Aiming Rapidly.
''rhird-The arning of merchant ves-
sells Is rapidly taking place. and 1t is
capable of proof that a submarine takes
particular-care in attacking armed ves-
sells, large percentage OF which always
, escape.
"Forth-Anti-subma devices are
being daily perfected, but little time
must necessarily elapse in order that
they should receive n proper trial.
''Fifth-The German naval authorities
are bound to find some difficulty IN re-
! placing the trained personnel. of which
they have lost a considerable portion. II
should be remembered that there is con-
siderable difference between the eff'.
cheney of individual commanders, and
the greatest Losses have been incurred
through the action OF few German sub
marine commanders, who by their skill
and training stand far above the average
C-boat officers who leave Germany or
| missions of destruction.
The losses OF the British mercantile