The Springdale news. [volume] (Springdale, Ark.) 1887-1990, 1917-05-18
THE MENACE OF THE SUBMARINE

The British admiralty admits that 40 cargo ships of
1900 tons each were sunk by German submarines
last week
How many ships of less than 1000 tons sunk,
how great the total tonnage of ships sunk not
reported
The figures given and the solemn warning the peo-
pie of Great Britain which issued by Lord Devon
port the food controller, at the time indicate
that the submarine campaign is by failure.
We violate no confidence when say that officials
in the highest places at Washington have illusions
the grave possibilities involved in the increased
activity and effectiveness of the German submarines.
The success of the allied cause which is our
cause well, depends absolutely upon keeping Great
Britain France Italy and Russia supplied with food
and the materials for munitions.
1t is perfectly we'll recognized that if the Germans
have been able to sink half million tons of ships a
month during the bad weather conditions of the late
winter and early spring, which they probably have
done, it is quite possible for them to sink million
tons month during the six months of good weather
beginning
million tons of ships month the figure set
by the Germans when they declared ruthless sub
marine warfare against the world.
Because they did not achieve this result at once it
has been assumed by those not thoroughly posted
the situation that the German submarine campaign was
a failure.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Up to the submarines have been operating UNI
der the most adverse weather conditions
There is probably difference of between so and 100
per cent in the effectiveness of submarines in bad
weather and in good weather.
And the fact is that way has yet been found to
fight the submarines successfully
Without doubt many German submarines have been
sunk captured during the past three months. The
probabilities that the Germans increasing their
submarine fleet faster than the allies are decreasing
If the Germans had thousand submarines in
mission when they made their momentous decision to
add America to their enemies, they probably have
great many than that number
The best information obtainable is that they have
standardized submarine construction to the point where
they turn them with rapidity which would
have considered impossible before the
One story, not authenticated, but very circumsan-
tial, is that submarine hus being launched from
German shipyards at the rate of twenty a week.
Many of these said be devoted exclusively to
mne-laying.
There is not the slightest doubt but all of the
lanes leading to Great Britain France and Italy
being thick with deadly mines.
We Americans upon whom devolves the feeding of
European allies and keeping them supplied with
materials which vital to them, could make no
greater mistake than to underestimate the enormity
and dangers of task.
Assuming that the Germans do suffer such disas-
ter the western front this that they will be
forced to make peace at the allies terms, it may very
well happen that by fall the fate of the world will de-
through the submarine and mined that surround
Great Britain France and Italy.
We must expect that a great many ships which
for the ports of allies will be sunk either by
torpedoes or mines
We must be prepared to the German subma-
rne challenge with ships, and then ships
and yet ships.
And must be prepared with enormous reserves
for food and steel and coal and trained sailors.
Even if the should be land this summer
ships and sailors and food and steel and coal will
be magnificent contributions to hungry, impoverished
Europe.
But the probabilities that the will not be
land this
The British and French commissioners now in Wash
ington, who know about the European situation
advising and urging the United States to prepare
for at least three years of
They say that the central powers still have great
reserves of and material and that while
their food supplies low they probably sufficient
to keep the people going until the next harvest