Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-23
SUBMARINE FLEETS
GROWING STEADILY
Germans Building Underwater
Craft Faster Than Allies
Destroy Them.
DEFENSIVE WARFARE COSTLY
Neutral Shipping and Battle
Fleets Pay Heavy Toll to
Lurking U-Boats.

LONDON, September IA writer in
a London newspaper has the following
to say regarding U-boat warfare and
the development of defensive measures:
A good deal has been added within
the last few days to our knowledge Of
the war against the U-boat, but the
most significant of what to the public
are the new facts is in danger Of being
overlooked. The Primo Minister save
us what was. in many respects, a re-
assuring statement of the position.
Comparing July with April, our losses
fell by 4s per cent, but as they In
creased 81 per cent from March to April
(vide the weekly returns). an upward
movement must not be regarded as an
impossibility. In the best month
the sixth-of tho 1915 blockade We
lost twelve merchantmen, but In tho
four following weeks thirty-flve were
sent to tho bottom.
Tho remarkable thing that Mr..
Lloyd George told US. however. Is that
the number OF submarines Is increas-
ing. Coupling this with tho diminu-
ton in the sinkings, what does II
mean3 1t means that our war against
the U-boat Is primarily a defensive
war-that we are giving better pro-
lection to our merchantmen, but are
making no real progress along tho line
Of the only true defense, which Is tho
destruction Of the enemy. Tho Germans
are adding to their underwater fleets
faster than we are subtractinE from
them That is to say they are not only
reducing our available shipping At the
net rate Of nearly 100000 tons year
(Mr. Lloyd George gave tho monthly
net average for the first half year al
under 100000 tons'), but they are
also destroying tho shipping OF our al
lies and of neutrals and building uu
their f1otillas OF U-boats for Some Dos
stbly more direct military purpose"
SHIPS OF THE LINE LOST
TO ATTACKING SUBMARINES
In tho last twelve months enemy SUBJ
marines have been responsible for the
destruction of Ave battleships, nvo
cruisers. twelve destroyers. two subma-
rines. seven mine sweepers and eight
auxiliaries (such as armed liners) be-.
longing to the allies. In tho same
period our enemies are not known to
have lost anything above tho grade OF
destroyer Such facts indicate that
tho Legitimate fighting possibilities 81
the submarine have not yet BEEN St-
hausted: indeed. tho opinion of nSnY
of our most thoughtful and proKfSae
sive officers is that we have hardly
touched the fringe Of them any moro
than we have OF the use OF the mfns
in fleet tactics.
By the way, tho Prime Minister told
US that "losses from mines are not yery
considerable; they are mostly from SUBJ
marines" It comes to much tho Same
thing. however. since the great major.
ity of enemy mines are also from SUBJ
marines"
He nowhere said that we arc making
greater Roadway than before with tho
primary and vital task of dsstroyinr
the U-boats. The Admiralty plans are
increasingly successful" are meeting
with considerable success; but IL tho
enemy fs Increasing the number of his
sea-keepinS submarines, It is clear that
the plans are not successful In the only
oense In which success ought to be
measured. TIC paraphrase something
mat Lord Beresiord said thirty years
ago. we don't want to stop the enemy
from hitting us-we want to hit him.
and hard. Under the cover of our de.
rensiVe measures, whose success, pro
tem.' is certainly written leEibly
enough In the sinking returns, the
Germans are making good use of thor
submarines against both warships and
merchantmen. and ut tho same time
building up strong and ever more
numerous flotillas.
While that Is going on 1t Is absurd
for us to rlaim success. The German.
are building with 4 purpose, which NAV
or may not be the one they pirate about
SO loudly: and IL we are to fru..
trate that purpose, we must sink tho
U-boats We did not get rid of tho
cruiser-corsair by conveying our mar.
chantmen. but by capturing the enemys
oversee bases and tematically hunt.
ing down his ships