Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-12-20
British Naval Expert Declares
Worlds Tonnage Is Keeping
} Even With SinkingS; Soon
to Surpass,
AMERICAN NAVY PROVES
WORTH IN PATROL DUTY
Germany's Aim to Seriously
Interfere With Supply Routes
Across Atlantic Has Met
Defeat,
Icy MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED WIRE,

10y MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED wtREl
New York, Dec. 19.-Arthur Pollen
the British naval expert, who has
sailed for Europe after spending six
months in the United States, gave to
the Associated Press a statement in
which he said the campaign of the
allied navies against the submarine
has at last resulted in keeping the
worlds ship tonnage from showing
monthly. decrease, or soon will do so.
Mr.. Pollen gives credit for this sue.
cess to the change in the chief COM
mand carried out by the British ad-
m1ralty last spring and the participa-
ton of the American navy.
Danger Was Serious.
Mr. Pollen pointed out that six
months ago the German submarines
were causing net attrition in the
worlds tonnage at the rate of nearly
25 per cent annually. While the pres
ent rate of attrition is difficult to esti-
mate, it appeared that last month
Great Britain launched as much tom
mage as she lost; the first ship laid
down by 'the United States since the
war has been launched, and, within
the next twelve months a substantial
portion of the six million tons pro.
vided for in this country will un-
doubtedly be floated.
Great Brtain's ship building pro-
gram will similarly increase month by
month, and moreover. the c, 'lfpaigp
of the allied navies against the sub
n'arine VII! agoNs II. value week py
week, he said
Armies to Decide War.
''The significance of this to the for
tunes of war does not have to be
pointed OUT Mr.. Pollen continued.
"It means that Germanys flank attack
on allied communications has failed,
and that there is no reason why uti-
mately the full military power of
Great Britain, France and Italy and
more important of all, the United
States should not be felt in the west
ern theater of war. This is a tremen-
dous result"
American Navy Praised
Speaking of the change in the chief
command in the British admiralty
Pollen said:
'In bringing about this new order
VI liihSS ct w illttIldll IUp TCIOTmGrS
were undoubtedly assisted, first by
the fact that an extremely effective
well-equipped and brilliantly com.
manded contingent of American de-
stroyers was already at work in very
important area of the theater of war,
and next by the British government
waking up to the truth that the bel
lgerency of America meant not only
the cooperation of a very gallant and
enterprising ally but the domestica-
ton, so to speak, of new and ex-
tremely intelligent critic"
Mr.. Pollen mentioned the consulta- |
tions with the British admiralty of
three distinguished and resourcefu. !
American naval officers''-Admirals |
Sims, Mayo and Benson.
Reality of War Seen.
Through these men, American pro-
fessional knowledge" he said, has
gained first hand experience of the |
reality of war and has been able to
contribute an impersonal and impair
tial Judgment upon the character Of |
the operations to be pursued and of |
the methods Of command under which |
they should be carried out. I cannot |
doubt for moment that much of the |
improved efficiency of the counter
campaign is due to this intellectual
stimulus"
Mr.. Pollen paid tribute to Secretary
Daniels of the navy, praising what he
described as the secretary's policy of
obtaining loyal team work by allowing
the forces under his orders to be di-
rected, in strictly professional mat
ters according to the judgment and
advice Of the singularly able and ef-
ficient officers that, so to speak, form
his council Of war;"
Adverting to the recent North sea
raid by German forces Pollen said:
The only remarkable thing about
such incidents is not their occasional
occurrence, but their rarity. Were
the British or the American navy in
the position of the German navy
fancy they would be far more fire.
quent,"