El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-08-31
j. s. FLOTILLA
SINKS U-B0ATS
Many Signs of Destruction
~ Visible After Use of
Depth Bombs.

Washington, =. c., Aug S1-No
U-boat has been captured by the
American fotiIla in European waters
Il is the best judgment OF high off
Gals. however, that several have been
sunk 5- admiral Sims's destroyers and
they are confident that the submarine
menace viii be substantially abzted
as the number OF destroyers and
other craft available for the work Is
increased
Reports from London that the sub
marines are working farther at sea
than formerly were confirmed by the
navy apartment Il may be that new
boats Of greater size and better sea
keeping qualities lend 10 this extension
OF the zone Of activities. but lr is
-reea rded as more probable that in
creased vigilance Of the antisubma-
riue forces is mainly responsible
The effect Of the increasing patrol
OF the employment OF airplanes and
of the addition OF new devices to the
anri-subruarine weapons has been to
force the U-bosts under water TO a
greater degree Their effectiveness
is limited in proportion. They cannot
run down a merchant ship Of average
speed If kept under water. They can
operate only against ships that almost
EElnDle upon them ana All LuE llul5
they are under water they are con-
suminE the stored power Of their
storage batteries. decreasing their
range Of under water action and com
polling them TO come up at night and
lie idle on the surface while their oil
engines are used TO recharge the bat
The decision Of the navy depart
ment to spend S55O.0O0,OOO on new de-
ztrovers and destroyer building IA
% "a HrHH M 6 H.
dent Wilson is based on the effective
ness Of the swift fighting machines
as proved by admiral Sims's forces
Every effort to speed the new Pre-
gram as vel as the old will be made
and during the next year the Amerl-
can destroyer force in European va
tiers probably can be more than dou-
Depth Bomb in Use.
Destroyers now under construction
are being rushed TO completion and
reports on progress are satisfactory
American experts have developed
depth bomb for use against subr1a-
-ines that is deadly at considerabl bic
range. The bomb containing high eN-
plosive. is dropped from destroyer
over q spot where the presence Of
submarine is indicated It IS timed 10
explode at 9. certain depth II the eZ-
p1osion occurs below the U-boat and
within a reasonable distance, the hull
Of the under water craft cannot with
stand the pressure but is crushed like
en- eEEsheu
signs OF Destruction.
signs Of the destruction in this way
appear on the surface in the shape OF
oil from fuel tanks. bits OF floating
ureckaEe and the like 1t is difficult
TO be certain of a hit as the Germans
IN more than one occasion have re-
leased oil purposely, turned loose
vreckaEe prepared in advance and
done everything else possible TO ere
ate the impression that q boat had
len sunk
AirpIanes are being used In con-
junction with the destroyer Work OF
The allies along the French coast ana
The channel This means or delecL-lls I
the presence of submarines VIII be I
used bv the Americans wherever prae- I
tlcabls as the planes become avail .
The under water radius OF the aver I
axe C-boat is less than $50 miles IN
Ger most favorable conditions. To ger
rhzt distance it would have 10 IraNel j
al a rate OF very few miles an hour.
IL is argued. therefore, that by /
means Of aircraft, CestrOyers and an I
other agencies for the oetecuon or I
submarines a zone $50 miles or less
In width could be drawn about the
German bases or the entrance OF me
North sea in which submarine CO
come 10 the surface only az rare m
re~vz1s the Germans would not De
, HE 70 operate on q scale TO threaten
supply lines. except inside that zone.
Quicken Destruction OF U-BOuts.
Whatever the plans Of the allied
governments are as 10 future pollcg
zrsfnsr the U-bozts, rapid develop
7reur OF the devices for checking the
under water campaign. accelerated by
the entrance Of the United states into
the war. are taking such shape as 70
indicate that a ray may be IounQ III
me end 10 6fsDose OF the menace Re
suits Of. L--boar activities this winter
vii be closely watched IS having
bearing on the subject
Rough weather may work equally
against submarine or antl-su buarlne