Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-12-19
|U-BOAT MENACE
HELD IN BOUNDS
Damage Done to Shipping Is
Decreasing.
MORE DIVERS BEING SUNK
First Lord of Admiralty Declares Ship
building Is Not Yet Replacing
losses-Submarin Of
fensive Failed.

London. Dec. 1.-THE submarine
menace, in my opinion, is held but not
yet mastered" said Sir Eric Geddes.
first lord of the adr.iralty. in the house
Of commons. Our shipbuilding is not
yet replacing our losses.
''Since November /, when | made my
last statement, the downward trend of
mercantile marine losses has cOntin-
ued satisfactorily. The upward curve
of merchant ship building and the up
ward curve of destruction of enemy
submarines have been equally salts
factory. | have no reason to doubt
that all three will continue satisfac-
tory.
1T has been suggested that pre-
yious statements had been TOO Optimis-
tic regarding the submarine situation.
But stated that the enemy was build
ing submarines faster than they were
sunk, and, although our losses were
decreasing, they were still sinking
ships faster than they were being re-
placed.
What l said then. still applies. We
cannot be accused of failure TO recog-
nize the gravity of the situation
Big U-Boat Offensive Fails.
London, Dec. 14.-When the CORE
spondent inquired of high naval au-
thority IF the anti-submarine war was
going well, and what was the reason
for the high rate of sinkings in the last
three weeks" the answer was:
"The enemy has had more subma-
rines at work. He has actually been
attempting submarine offensive. or
the greatest possible magnitude In an
effort to reinforce his offensive on
land. He is trying to bring off coup
which viii incline us TO peace.
''He has failed signally on sea as on
land. and he has had to pay heavy
price. Our counter measures are meet
ing with increased success"
Despite the fairly large number OF
sinkings reported this week. there is
no decrease in optimism among those
who know the submarine warfare stu
alton. who see no reason for modifying
or altering Premier Lloyd Georges
statement of November 20 that there
is no longer any fear of the submarine
proving a decisive factor in the war.
Events since November 20, in fact.
have tended to increase rather than
decrease the confidence with which
the premier spoke.
November Big Month.
The month of November was red
letter month in the antiU-boat war for
three reasons.
l, The loss of tonnage during the
month was the lowest since the unre-
stricted submarine campaign began.
.. The sinkings of enemy subma-
rines were the greatest ever recorded
in a single month.
3. The launchings of new merchant
men from British yards came within
measurable distance" of equaling the
loss of tonnage by submarine attack.
Whiting Measurable Distance.
AS to the number Of submarines de-
stroyed during the same period. 1t Is
not permitted to give the actual figures
but this much may he said:
1.-THE sinking of submarines during
November was within measurable dis
lance of the largest number the Ger
man U-boat yards were capable of
turning out in the same period"
This destruction of submarines was
by no means due to any spasmOdic run
of luck but to the development of a de-
tailed comprehensive campaign involv
ing many devices and embracing many
phases-a campaign which will grow
more efficient as time goes on, accord
ing TO expert opinion.
The convoy system of protection for
shipping which the allies have adopted
and perfected has forced the subTna-
rine campaigners to alter some of their
plans. IT is no longer possible for the
submarines to lie in wait for unpro-
tected merchantmen and pot them In
lefsureEy fashion.
The U-bOat shows its periscOpe now
adays at great peril when within tor
pedOing distance of a merchantmen.
for the latter is only one Of consider
able number in the neighborhood and
if any one of the scores of skilled look
outs sights that periscOpe the subma-
rine's chances of escape from the con-
voying destrOyers are slim.
Submarines Out in Groups.
The German reply To the convoy sys-
fem is TO send submarines out in
groups which attack the convoy stimuli
taneously in the hope that IN the re-
suIting confusion considerable damage
can be done and an easy escape he eff
fected. This system of group attack.
while it occasionally has been effec-
tive. IS very costly when 1t fails, for 1t
SHELLS the doom MOI merely of one o.
boat. but of perhaps three or four.
When the story of the submarine
war can be written fully, some of the
most thrilling tales will be the wonder
full accomplishments Of one or two de-
stroyers against whole squadrOns of
submarines.
20 Stores Burn at Pitcher, Okla.