New-York tribune., 1917-07-14
Germany's Hope
Of Victory by Arms
Gone, Says Lacaze
France Making Headway
Against Submarines,
Admiral Asserts

Paris. July l3.-"The Germans have
abandoned hope of obtaining victory by
arms" said Admiral Lacaze, French
Minister Of Marine, TO The Associated
Press to-day "As last resort they
have tried submarine warfare, pro-
claiming that in four TO six weeks we
should be on our knees.
Gas A matter Of fact, we are bringing
1000 600 tons weekly into the country.
II is true we are suffering considerable
losses, but every month increases our
certainty of being able TO repair our
losses. Furthermore, we are in posi-
tion TO stand these losses, as large
part in new construction will be taken
by the United States. The shipbuild-
ing already under way, the effect Of
which will naturally only be felt after
a certain time, is great enough to re-
place the highest average of destruc-
tion the submarines are likely TO reach.
Never IN peace times have the en-
tries into French ports been so numer-
Gus as now.
Germans EIaggerate
"The German authorities cxaggerate
the results Of the submarine activity
by from 80 to so per cent, while the
French statistics are absolutely correct.
The curve representing the tonnage
sunk does not mount steadily, but rises
and falls. We know, too, that the Ger
mans find great difficulty in obtaining
trained crews for submarines.
What a blow to their illusions was
tho landing Of American troops in
France and the enthusiastic acclama-
"a. II - L.. L,F
marched through Paris! The manifes-
tations Of even those in the most
crowded quarters Of the city testified
TO the feelings Of q people which re-
fuses to allow the Germanic spirit 10
gain any hold on il and aft. Ns its will
10 conquer. | trust that the German
spies in Paris have not failed duly 10
inform their employers.
1--WE shall conquer. We are certain
Of victory. We have traversed the
grievous and difficult stages and now
must hold out a quarter Of an hour
longer than the enemy. The press must
undertake the task OF destroying every
germ of demoralization. The province
OF the press is 10 enlighten the nations
under arms as 10 the necessity OF
maintaining the fighters at the highest
level.
"The Germans can no longer import
c. export anything from overseas. At
the beginning, the sea warfare having
assumed an unforeseen form, we had 10
lmproyise, but now the regular organi-
cation has succeeded As President
Wilson has said, we must build boats
and develop our means OF action In
every way, for IN proportion TO that in
crease we move from the defensive 20
the offensive. The Allied fleets already
have obtained certain results by means
which cannot yet lC d.gulged, because
secrecy in naval matters is Of capital
Importance.
"The greatest event Of the third year
Of the war is the entry Of the United
States The Allied navies had consid-
cred that they held the supremacy Of
the sea. and such supremacy has been
strengthened marvellously since Amer
ica Joined us.
"The Germans have used submarines
as they used other arms heavy artil-
lcry or asphyxiating gases but this arm
will give them no more decisive success
than the others We have had 70 en-
dure the maximum Of their efforts, and
now they can only grow weaker as the
collaboration OF the American naval
forces OF all ranks becomes daily more
effective. Never have we felt greater
confidence in the certainty Of victory,
and every German attempt TO shake our
morale will remain without effect