The Detroit times., 1917-05-05
The Menace of German
Submarine Must Not Be
UndereStimated By Is

possibilities involved i'm the increased
activity and effectiveness Of the German
submarines.
The success Of the allied cause, which
now is our cause as well depends abso-
utely upon keeping Great Britain,
/ France, Italy ana Russia supplied with
food and the raw materials for NUM-
tions.
II is perfectly well recognized that if
the Germans have been able 70 sink half
a million tons Of ships a month during
the bad weather conditions Of the late
winter and early spring which they
probably have done. IL is quite possible
for them to sink a million tons a month
during the six months of good weather
now beginning
A million tons of ships a month was
the figure set by the Germans when they
declared ruthless submarine warfare
against the world.
Because they did not achieve this re-
suit at once it has been assumed by those
not thoroly posted on the situation that
the German submarine campaign was a
failure
Nothing could be further from the
truth.
Up to nowthe submarines have been
operating under the most adverse wealth
er conditions
There is probably a difference Of be
tween 80 and 100 per cent in the effect
iveness of submarines in bad weather
and in good weather.
And the fact is that no way has yet
been found to fight the submarines sue
cessfully.
Without doubt many German subma-
rines have been sunk or captured during
the past three months. The probabilities
are that the Germans are increasing
their submarine fleet faster than the
Allies are decreasing it.
! If the Germans had thousand sub
marines in commission when they made
! their momentous decision to add Ameri-
ca to their enemies they probably have
great many more than that number
now
The best information obtainabe is
that they have standardized submarine
construction to the point where they can
turn them out with a rapidity which
would have been considered impossible
before the war.
One story, not authenticated, but very
circumstantial is that submarine hulls
are being launched from German ship
yards at the rate of 20a week
Many of these are said to be devoted
exclusively TO mine laying.
There is not the slightest doubt but
all Of the ocean lanes leading TO Great
Britain, France and Italy are being sown
thick with deadly mines.
We Americans upon whom now de-
wolves the feeding Of our European allies
and keeping them supplied with raw ma
terials which are vital to them. could
make no greater mistake than to under
estimate the enormity and the dangers
Of our task.
+ Assuming that the Germans do not
suffer such disaster on the western front
/ this summer that they viii be forced TO
make peace at the Allies terms. it may
very well happen that by fall the fate Of
the world will depend upon now many
cargo ships we can send safely thru the
submarine and mined zones that sur
round Great Brt&R France and Italy.
We must expect that great many
ships which starr for he ports Of our
allies will be sunk either by torpedoes
or mines.
We must toe prepared % answer the
German submarine challenge with more
ships, and then more ships and yet more
ships.
And we must bee prepared with enor-
nous reserves Of food and steel and coal
and trained sailors
Even If the war should be won on land
this summer our shius and sailors and
food and steel and coal will be magnif-
cent contributions 20 hungry. impover-
ishcd Europe
But the probabilities are that the war
will not be won on land this summer.
The British and French commissioners
, now i'm Washington, who know az much
about the European war situation as any
body, are advising and Urging the United
States 10 prepare for at least three more
5 years of war
They say that the central powers still