New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-03
U.Boat Drive to
Stop u. S. Supplies,
Says Northclife
Probable Germany Has
Concentrated Part of Sub
marine Force Off France
Need More Transports
He Backs Sir Joseph Maclay's
Appeal for 5000, 900 Tons
of American Ships Yearly

Lord Northclife. head of the British
War Mission, said yesterday in an IN
terview here with representative OF
the United Press that Sir Joseph Mac
laws warning that the United States
must construct 100000 tons OF ship
ping year or enter the war crippled.
was "the most urgent news that has
crossed the Atlantic since arrived
"You ask me-" he said. IF | agree
with Sir Joseph. | do not profess to
have any Of the technical knowledge of
shipping of the hard-headed Scots
man. who was chosen by Premier Lloyd
George for task that is much more
difficult than even that Of food con-
troller-the control OF a shipping that
is being sunk more rapidly than it is
being constructed, and that. mark you,
at n time when the demand for ship
ping. owing to the transport needs of
the United States army. - increasing
daily.
Superhuman Effort Necessary
but maintain that nothing that
has happened alters my conviction that
the combined shipyards OF the Allies
and their combined navies must make
q superhuman effort TO overcome the
losses and growing demand as to AT
lantic transport to-day.
"The whole system of publishing the
figures Of submarine sinkings by the
Allies is misleading. and | have pro-
tested against it ever since IL was
adopted ! do not believe that any SUP
stantil progress has been made IN
stopping submarine depredations. Last
week we were told officially that the
submarine sinkings Of British ships
were the lghtest since the policy oil
ruthlessness commenced. Within Few
hours cables flashed the news that the
sinkinCs Of French ships over the same
period were the heaviest yet recorded.
an other words, it is probable that
part of the submarine force OF Ger
MANY that ia fighting the greatest
naval battle of the world oil the south
coast Of ireland was sent to the French
coast to stop the arrival OF urgent
necessities from America for your
daily growing army.
L. s. Army One Menaced
"Rememb,r, that the army that Is
principally menaced by the policy or
operating of the coast of France Is the
American army. The British army Is
supplied from Great Britain 10 an in
creasing extent as to meat, materlel
and munitions across a channel OF
twenty or thirty miles. adequately
guarded. The French and Belgian
armies are at home on their own soil.
"The giant supplies for your boys
have to travel nearly 5000 miles. and
across the very track Of submarine
ruthlessness. OF danger 10 actual
transports there is probably little.
Not one Canadian soldier has vet been
lost nj sea out of the 100000 boys that
have gone from Canada 70 France.
admit the comparative success OF
the convoy system; admit the bravery
and ingenuity OF the British and Amer
lean captains OF destroyers; admit the
worth Of some of Mr. Edison's ingen-
ious devices.
There yet remains the serious state
ment by the greatest authority on
shining in Great Britain that the
United States requires 100000 men TO
he engaged in shipbuilding; that you
must build three times more than the