New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-19
Giant Submarines, Wash
ington Believes, VIII Be
Sent in Spring
SUCCESS OF U-53
SHOWS FEASIBILITY
Trouble with Germany
Over Sinkings Deemed
Almost Certain '


Washington, Jan. ls.--The most
practical certainty that faces the
Washington Administration to-day IL
that as soon as spring permits U-boats
10 cruise in the North Atlantic there
will be a German blockade of the
American coast.
This has been ir the minds Of ON
Gals ever since the visit Of the U-53'
Almost nobody considered that an iso-
lated episode. And since then has come
information of an even more disqulet-
ing nature.
This is that Germany has ready for
service new fleet of super-submarlnes'
one of which has been identified in &C
ton in the North Sea. According to the
reports received here, they are much
larger than would be required for COM
meree raids near their base. That they
were designed primarily for trsnsat-
lantic cruises is not doubted.
Submarine operations are always cur
tailed in the winter. and especially in
northern waters. The demonstration
trip made by the U-53 came too late
in the season to admit Of following up
on large scale.
U-5S Exhausted Torpedoes
But. more than this, the U-53's ex-
perience showed that a submarine OF
the medium-sized type cannot carry
enough torpedoes for an extended raid.
1t is believed that the submarine eN-
hausted her supply of twelve torpe-
does, although only five SHIPS were
sunk, and was obliged to return home
for that reason.
Fuel and food can be supplied easily
in several ways. A base may be estab-
lished on this side. The U-boats may
be furnished by violations of the Amer
lean neutrality laws, as German raiders
were supplied in the early months OF
the war. Best of all, captured prizes
NAV be plundered before being sunk.
The matter of torpedoes, however. is
more difficult. Merchant ships sailing
from American ports do not carry
them as cargo, and it would be diff
cult 10 have them manufactured in this
country and slipped out of American
ports surreptitiously in q pro-German
neutral vessel.
The failure Of the United States to
protest vigorously at the time Of the
U-53 episode undoubtedly has con-
WINGED Germany that so long as her
submarines conform with the rule OF
warning and visiting .Ils government
will not protest agalrr, the virtual
blockade OF its ports. therefore, an
expedition of giant I-boa may be ex-
pocted to appear on Ouy Atlantic coast
10 intercept Allied and neutral ship
ping with every appca rance OF inno-
cence.
Foresee Trouble with Berlin
OF course, it is readily admitted by
Administration officials that such Il
condition would be intolerable. It
would mean the crippling OF American
foreign trade. for not only would many
vessels be sunk, but many more would
be prevented from sailing at all be-
cause of the prohibitiye insurance rates
that would follow.
The United States would be obliged
al once 10 take the position that the
vital interests Of the country had been
threatened. This undoubtedly would
provoke another violent controversy
with Germany. Whether It should be
settled amicably or not. in the mean
time great damage would have been
done.
The same thing on a smaller scale IL
already happening in the South At
lantic. Because unable TO conceal her
self. the German raider is obliged 20
move rapidly from place to place, and
cannot establish herself permanently
in the lanes of commerce, as sub
marines can.
But the sea raiders operations al
ready have caused officials some con
cern. particularly because of the frag-
mentary reports indicating heavy loss
of life. including some Americans.
Until complete reports are received,