Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1917-09-05
GIVING SUBS. MUCH THOUGHT.
To Attack On Water, Under Water
and From the Air.

washington, Aug. 30.--American
naval forces are conveying merchant
craft across the Atlantic, it was dis
closed officially to-day at the navy de-
partment, and examination Of the
records shows that the loss Of con-
vOyed ships by submarines has aver
aged less than one-half Of one per
cent.
Details Of the convoy system are
withheld. 1t was stated, however,
that American war vessels are regu-
larly escorting fleets of British,
French or other allied merchantmen
across, the protection being supple
mented, when the danger zone is
reached, by destroyers and other pa
troll craft.
American naval officials believe
that an effective system for checking
the submarine menace is being built
up gradually, but certainly. Many
devices and many methods enter into
the task. Among other things depth
bombs are proving effective. Official
reports indicate that American de-
stroyers have accounted for several
U-boats with these weapons. No an
nouncement of such incidents will be
made, however, unless absolute proof
is available.
Several Submarines Sunk.
No U-boat has been captured by
the Americans. 1t is the best judg-
ment Of high officials, however, that
several have been sunk by Admiral
Sims destroyers, and they are conf
dent to-day--more confident than
ever before-that the submarine
menace will be substantially abated
as the number Of destroyers and
other craft available for the work Is
Increased.
Reports from London that the sub
marines ar working farther at sea
than formerly were confirmed by the
navy department. 1t may be that
new boats Of greater size and better
sea-keeping qualities lend to this ex-
increasing vigilance Of the anti-sub-
marine forces is mainly responsible.
The effect of tho increasing patrol
of the employment Of airplanes and
OF the addition Of new devices to the
anti-submarine weapons, has been TO
force the U-boats under water to a
greater and greater degree. Their
effectiveness is limited in proportion.
They cannot run down merchant
ship OF average speed if kept under
water. They can operate only against
ships that almost stumble upon them.
And all the time they are under VA
ter thcy are consuming the stored
power OF their batteries, decreasing
their range Of underwater action ana
compelling them to come up at night
and lie idle on the surface while their
oil engines are used to recharge the
batteries.
To Speed Up New Program.
The decision Of the navy depart
ment to spend $350,000,000 on new
destroyers and destroyer building fa-
cilities, approved yesterday by Presi-
dent Wilson, is based on the effective
ness Of the swift fighting machines as
proven by Admiral Sims forces. Ev-
cry effort to speed the new program
as well as the old will be made, and
during the next year the American
destroyer force in European waters
probably can be more than doubled
Destroyers under construction are be-
ing rushed to completion and reports
on progress are satisfactory.
American experts have developed
depth bomb for use against subma-
rines that is deadly at considerable
range. The bomb, containing high
explosives, is dropped from de-
stroyer over spot where the pres
ence Of a submerged U-boat is indi-
Gated. 1t Is timed to explode at
certain depth. If the explosion oc-
ours below the U-boat and within a
reasonable distance tho hull Of the
underwater craft cannot withstand
the pressure, but Is crushed like an
egg shell.
Signs Of the destruction in this way
appear on the surface in the shape Of
oil from ruptured fuel tanks, bits of
floating wreckage and the like. That
is all that is ever heard of the lost
boat. 1t is very difficult, therefore, to
be certain OF hit, as the Germans
oil purposely, turned loose wreckage
prepared in advance and did every
thing else nnSSihln 10 creatn tho In,