Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-04-27

and usually when one had stopped a mer-
chant ship and ordered the crew to the
boats n shot from us, no matter how far
away we were or how far from the mark II
struck. was enough to make the submarine
dive for safety. During the last year since
we have been arming our ships, they have
usually avoided these vessels to pursue the
unarmed neutrals."
He told of one experience which Brit
ish trawler had with submarine. The
r-boat came up close to the trawler
that the two vessels touched one MEM
her of the trawler's crew of four men
called to another for something to smash
the thing with" He was handed a shovel
and proceeded with that to smash the glass
in the U-boats periscopc. The submarine
was thus rendered incapable Of diving and
rose fully to the surface. The matches were
opened, and the German crew stepped out
on deck, and one of them waved n white
flag. THE occasion would have been somC-
what awkward for the trawlcr," Admiral
de Chair said, with its crew of four to
take care of thirty-seven Germans had not
a British destroyer happened along in time
TO take the surrender"
one member Of the German crew was left
on board to open the seaCoCkS and sink the
U-boat He failed to get out In time and
went down with the vessel. The others were
| taken aboard the destroyer
The Admiral spoke of the memorable les
| sons the Allies had learned in the war. and
| said he and his colleagues had como to
| place them at the disposal of the American
| Government
II only wiSh,' he said that could tell
| you the number of German submarines that
| we have sunk Unfortunately, however.
| that is n naval secret. as also are the means
| of detection of submarines and of com.
| batting them, which il will he necessary to
| guard in closest secrecy until the end of the
| p1Dr lag hnp ftt Ip1 ttit
full details, however, by the present mis-
| sion"
OF the prospect of submarines appearing
| in American waters Admiral de Chair said
"lt would not pay Germany TO mau-
| gurate a general submarine campaign of
| the American coast unless she could also
| establish bases here. Each submarine car
res from eight to ten torpedocs besides a
limited fuel supply, which would largely
be wasted in the long trip over and back
| not to mention the warm reception she
would probably receive.
Mother submarines to supply fuel aud
torpedoes are known to he in operation
but little direct evidence has been received
that they are successful. The great diff
ficulty in locating the submarines on pa
troll is largely responsible. AS a result
the Germans prefer to stay out for two o
three weeks and then return to port. whence
| they are sent out again almost before tn,
| crews have had time to reach shore.
| NOBODY knows exactly now many sun
marines the Germans are building. but "
know they are working at feverish spec
and have heard reports that they are turn
ing out from two To three a week, TIL
time of construction IL about eight months
| with a similar length Of time for tor
pedoes, and great uncertainty exists as {
how long Germany can continue to suppl
both vessels and torpCdocS We only wis
the press could help us to learn this
. The entrance of the American fleet int
the war hardly makes II more probabl
that the Niles will send their big fleets il
after the Germans. 1t is not good stratcg
e TO risk war vessels against land fortified
tonS. Nevertheless, we continue. as durn
nearly three years. to hope that the Ger
mans will come out. We will take ever
risk to meet them. as we did in going :
close to their shores in the ,Iutland fight. "
Admiral de Chair sl<etChCd vividly tn
. long night vigils of the patrol vessels, tn
terrible winter storms which sometimes SEN
vessels to the bottom without leaving
= trace. the menace Of floating mines. tn
hide-and-seck game between submarine
and their prey and the cVer-present ten
sion and alarm.