Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1917-03-07
u BOATS WORKING
IN OUR WATERS
How 6errlan Submarines Might
Obtain Initiative.
WOULD OPERATE ON COASTS

easss Prepared Before Break In Dip
iomatie Relations, Says Naval Expert.
Mine FisIds Along German Coast
Might Prevent Thsir Return.
The German military mind looks far
into the future, and her military
movements are made with delibera-
ton. She strikes when she IL ready.
Despite much loose talk to the con-
trary, the proclamation Of the present
ruthless submarine campaign was not
an act inspired by sudden anger. mad
ness or despair. On the contrary. It
was the public announcement Of . de-
llberate military movement, long pre-
pared, carefully thought out and
launched only when the grand general
stan considered that the means were
ample and the time propitiOus to -
cure complete success. says "Nauticus,"
a well known naval expert, In the
New York Tribune.
vaiue Of the. Initiative.
The German military mind looks far
ahead, and nothing that can be cover
ed by careful planning II ever left to
chance; hence when Germany took the
step which she believed might tend
to drag Us into the war we may be
sure that she had formulated plans by
which she could obtain the initiative
and carry the war ut the very outset
into American waters. This she can
do only by sea raider and submarine.
as her great fleet Is locked up In her
harbors.
In the large submarine feet which
Germany has been building up with
feverish haste she possesses a weapon
| which, provided the necessary bases
could be established, would be as eff
fective against shipping In American
waters as 1t Is In the North sea and
of the coast of Great Britain and
France. And herein lies the sinister
significance Of the recent visit Of U
boat IS to Newport. II single boat
could make the trip Of 1000 miles. bag
half dozen ships and return without
mishap what could not n few fotillas
Of these craft accomplish II German
sympathizers established secret bases
for them in the West Indies, on the
coast Of friendly Mexico or even.
during the summer months, on the un-
frequcnted coast OF Labrador?
Mine Fields May Prevent Return.
Moreover, it Is entirely possible that
| the elaborate mine fields with which
Great Britain has surrounded the exits
from German harbors may prevent the
return Of many of the large seagoing
/ submarines which form the latest ad-
dition to the German fleet. II so, they
will be forced to transfer their base
from the Old to the new world.
1t would be gigantic task to in
lose the German coasts with a mine
field SO closely sewn as to form a
screen impenetrable by the U boats
But there is an impression among
many Of the officers In our own sub
marine service that this is what the
British navy seeks to do.
The task would be favored by the
shallowness Of the North sea, partic-
ularly as the German coast Is ap-
preached. In the northern part the
depth varies from thirty to seventy
five fathoms, but in the latitude Of
Germany it is from fifteen to twenty
five fathoms. Now, ninety to $50 feet
IS depth that would lend itself ad-
nirably to the placing Of nets. These
are the depths which prevail In the
strait Of Dover, and here netting has
proved an insuperable barrier to the
Carmen submarines
German Bases on This Side Needed.
\ leading French naval officer has
gone On record as believing that the
latest German submarines are of 1900
to 2,tG0 tens displacement. Such boats,
If they could establish bases for re-
plenish,nent of fuel aud supplies on
this side CT the Atlantic. would be ia
vorably placed both for attack on
American shipping in American wa
tiers ard on allied shipping within the
recently established submarine zone
In view of this threat-and 1t Is
very real one-it should be the part Of
the Unite,l states navy to establish
a most thorough patrol not only of our
own waters. but Of the Mexican coast
AMI Of the islands of the Caribbean.
To do this effectively will call for a
vast auxiliary feet to supplement the
work of the destroyers, scouts and