Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-04-27
British Admiral
Believes Sub Menace
Can Be Beaten

Washington, April 2e.-Rear Ad'
miral Sir Dudley r. 8. De Chair. tn.
veteran naval officer Of Great Brit:
aims war commission to the United
States, gave a group Of Washington
newspaper correspondents today 9
p%eriences during the two years he
commanded a patrol fleet chasing Ger.
man submarines. Without minimiz.
ing the gravity of the submarine
menace he confidently predicted i,
would be overcome.
The admiral spoke of the memoir.
able Lessons the allies had learned in
leagues had come to place them at the
disposal of the American government
II only wish,'' he said. that I could
tell o the number Of German sub,
marines that we have sunk. Unfortu-
nately. however. that Is a naval sec
ret, as are also the e of detec-
ton of submarines and Of combating
nished with full details, however, by
the present mission.
Coast Safe. .
OF the prospect Of submarines APP
/ pearing in American waters. Admiral
De Chair said:
at would not pay Germany to in
augurate a general submarine cam
paign off the American Goa unless
she could also establish bases here,
Each submarine carries from eight
to ten torpedoes. besides a limited
in the long trip over n back, not to
mention the warm reception she
would probably receive.
Mother submarines to supply fuel
and torpedoes are known to be in op-
Grafton. but little direct evidence has
been received that they are successful,
The great difficulty in locating the
%sponsible. AS a result, h Germans
prefer to stay out for two Or three
weeks, then return to port.
Sub Defense.
1.-The best defense against subma-
rines. we have found, is the armed
ship. During h early days they en-
tirely veered away from such vessels,
and even now only attack them sub
merged, when it is necessary to waste
a torpedo. which can often be lodged,
and to expose the submarine itself to
destruction. We have found that
they are very much disconnected il III
armed ship turns on them direct and
tries to run them down.
Might attacks by submarines are
no especially to be feared, as it is
nearly as easy for a vessel to see q
GA ~ 40 AoA q uD1kkGk Nv III
see a vessel. Usually they run on the
surface at night, charging their bat
~teries, and leave behind them q plain
phosphorescent wake, as does a tor
pedo fired at night. 1t is at night
only that they have an opportunity to
rig up their small wireless devices to
receive orders from home.
Chasers Valuable.
Submarine chasers are very valu-
able. as they are fast and especially
unpopular with the undersea boats. A
three-pound gun is effective If II
strikes the vessels shell, but where
the vessel is submerged a four-inch
gun is desirable to break down the
armored coming tower. Submarines,
we know, are carrying four-inch guns
themselves. and some are reported to
be carrying five and six inch guns.
Evidence Scarce.
ut is extremely difficult to know
II you have actually sunk a subma-
rine. as sometimes they merely sink
to the bottom. Presence Of oil on the
surface is a good indication, though
not absolutely conclusive. 1t may be
used for deception. All the indications
are good that the American steamer
Mongolia bagged one. though it is pos.
sible it got away One of the grea,
difficulties we have had to deal with
has been whales. who have absorbed
an enormous amount of projectiles
fired in the belief that they were Ger
man Iy-hoatsn