Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-09-11
U-BOAT MENACE STILL
MAJOR WAR PROBLEM
Continued From Page H.


construction is estimated at less than
a million tons. leaving the net loss to
allied and neutral shipping at about
three and half million tons. The loss
to American shipping is said to have
been less than one-half Of per cent.
While the decline in shipping loss in
July and August was substantial, it
cannot be regarded as satisfactory.
and the situation continues to call for
the kind Of activity demanded by a
great emergency.
OPPORTUNITY FOR U. s. A..
Americas opportunity for service
lies more Immediately and urgently in
the direction of putting down the sub
marine menace than even in sending
soldiers to France, all important as it
is. In fact, these two matters are in
separately connected.
AS submarine attack and defense
are reduced to business a good deal
OF mystery surrounding the war under
water is clearing up and commonplace
facts are becoming known.
The popular mind pictures the
waters Of the British coast as swarm
ing with submarines.
It is q matter of general knowledge
In naval circles now that the number
OF German submarines in the Atlantic
ocean never exceeds twenty and that
the submarines operating in the north
Atlantic off the British coast does not
exceed ten.
These figures do not include subma-
rines engaged exclusively in mine
laying.
It is estimated in the best British
naval circles that Germany has = not
gether, and that about $50 Of all con-
ditions are in existence today.
U-soAT Is CRANKY.
The U-boat Is of very delicate mech.
anism and needs frequent repairing,
which, in the main, explains the small
number operating in the Atlantic and
elsewhere. Most Of the boats are be-
ing repaired or being replenished con-
stantly and out of commission.
Still another reason Is the difficulty
in finding crews and keeping them go
ing. The work Is so hard and the dan
gers are so constant that officers and
crews peter out. After few months
the men lose their appetites and can
not sleep.
The internal arrangements OF 4 sub.
marine are such as to make life on one
of them extremely trying. Plumbing
fixtures, kitchen and eating facilities
are jumbled together and ventilation is
necessarily bad. 1t is very difficult to
maintain whole crews in service.
GERMANS HAVE TROUBLES.
Another difficulty, and one constant
ly increasing, is the shortage of mate
rails for torpedoes. Wild shots are
much more frequent than formerly.
The multiplication of destroyers has
greatly increased the nerveracking
character Of submarine duty. U-boat
are deathly afraid of the de-
stroyers, with their speed, ,gunds and
depth bombs.
The presence of destroyers and 9th
er patrol boats in force in the English
Channel explains the immunity OF
transports which have carried millions
Of soldiers back and forth between
France and England without serious
loss.
CAN'T WORK IN SCHOOLS.
Another submarine weakness which
lmpedes operation and shakes the
nerves Of U-boat men Is the blindness
Of their craft.
When submerged they cannot see.
and there have been many collisions.
For this reason they cannot operate
in companies, which furnishes still an
other explanation Of the small number
utilized.