Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1917-12-19
U-bOAT MENACE
HELD IN BOUNDS
Damage Done to Shipping Is
Decreasing.
MORE DIVERS BEING SUNK
First Lord of Admiralty Declares Ship
building Is Not Yet Replacing
Losses-Submarine Of
fensive Failed.

menace, in my opinion, is held but not
yet mastered" said Sir Eric GeddeS,
first lord of the admiralty, in the house
yet replacing our losses.
"Since November 1, when made my
last statement, the downward trend of
mercantile marine losses has cOntin-
ued satisfactorily. The upward curve
of merchant ship building and the up
ward curve of destruction of enemy
submarines have been equally salts
factory. 1 have no reason to doubt
that all three will continue satisfac-
tory.
''It has been suggested that pre-
vious statements had been too Optimis-
tic regarding the submarine situation.
But l stated that the enemy was build
ing submarines faster than they were
sunk, and, although our losses were
decreasing, they were still sinking
ships faster than they were being re-
placed.
what I said then still applies. We
cannot be accused of failure to recog-
nize the gravity of the situation"
Big U-Boat Offensive Fails.
London, Dec. 14.-When the CORE
spondent inquired of high naval au-
thority eff the anti-submarine war was
going well, and what was the reason
for the high rate of sinkings in the last
three weeks" the answer was:
1.-THE enemy has had more subma-
attempting a submarine offensive or
the greatest possible magnitude in an
effort to re-enforce his offensive on
land. He is trying to bring off coup
which will incline us to peace.
HE has failed signally on sea as on
land, and he has had to pay heavy
price. Our counter measures are meet
ing with increased success"
Despite the fairly large number OF
Sinkings reported this week, there IS
no decrease in optimism among those
who know the submarine warfare stu
alton, who see no reason for modifying
or altering Premier Lloyd Georges
statement of November 20 that there
is no longer any fear of the submarine
proving a decisive factor in the war.
Events since November 20, in fact,
have tended to increase rather than
decrease the confidence with which
the premier spoke.
November Big Month.
The month of November was red
letter month in the anti-U-boat war for
| three reasons.
l. The loss of tonnage during the
| month was the lowest since the unre-
stricted submarine campaign began.
2. The sinkings of enemy subma-
rines were the greatest ever recorded
In single month.
8. The launchings of new merchant
men from British yards came within
measurable distance" Of equaling the
loss of tonnage by submarine attack.
Whiting Measurable Distance.
AS to the number of submarines de-
stroyed during the same period, 1t Is
not permitted to give the actual figures
but this much may be said:
"The sinking of submarines during
| November was within measurable dis
lance Of the largest number the Ger
man U-boat yards were capable Of
| turning out in the same period"
This destruction of submarines was
| by no means due to any spasmodic run
| of luck but to the development of de-
tailed comprehensive campaign invoIv-
ing many devices and embracing many
phases-a campaign which will grow
| more efficient as time goes on, accord
| ing to expert opinion.
The convoy system of protection for
shipping which the allies have adopted
and perfected has forced the subma-
rine campaigners to alter some of their
plans. 1t is no longer possible for the
submarines to lie in wait for unpro-
| tected merchantmen and pot them In
| leisurely fashion.
The U-boat shows it's periscope now
adays at great peril when within tor
pedoing distance of a merchantmen,
| for the latter is only one of a consider
able number in the neighborhoOd and
| If any one of the scores of skilled look
outs sights that periscope the subma-
rine's chances of escape from the con-
voying destroyers are slim.
Submarines Out in Groups
The German reply to the convoy sys-
| TEN is to send submarines out in
groups which attack the convoy stimuli
taneously in the hope that in the re-
sulting confusion considerable damage
can be done and an easy escape be eff
fected. This system of group attack,
while it occasionally has been effec-
tive, is very costly when it fails, for 1t
spells the doom not merely of one U
boat, but of perhaps three or four.
When the story of the submarine
war can be written fully. some of the
| most thrilling tales will be the wonder
| full accomplishments of one or two de-
stroyers against whole squadrons of
submarines.
20 Stores Burn at Pitcher, Okla.
H;oy,oi .0l-1a nQa 14-Eirn do