Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-08-31
CONVEYING CRAFT
Continued from Page One)

ter They can operate only against ships
that almost stumble upon them And all
the time they are under water they are
consuming the stored power of their stor-
age batteries, decreasing their range of
underwater action and compelling them
to como up at night and lie idle on the
surface while their oil engines are used
to recharge the batteries.
Speed Destroyer Program
The decision of the navy department
TO spend $3.50 ooo. 600 on new destroyers and
destroyer building facilities approved
yesterday by President Wilson is based
on the effectiveness of the swift lighting
machines a proven by Admiral Sims
forces. Every effort TO speed the new
program as we'll as the old will he made,
and during the next year the American
destroyer force in European waters prob
ably can be more than doubled. Destroy
ers now under construction are being
rushed to completion and reports Of pro-
gress are satisfactory.
American experts have developed a
depth bomb for use against submarines
that is deadly at considerable range The
bomb containing high explosives is drop
ped from destroyer over a spot where
the presence of submerger U-boat is IN
dicated. 1t is timed TO explode at a GER
tain depth If the explosion occurs below
lance. the hull of the underwater craft
cannot withstand the pressure but is
crushed like an eggshell.
Signs of the destruction In this way
appear on the surface in the shape Of oil
from ruptured fuel tanks, bits OF float
ing wreckage and the like That is all
that is ever heard Of the lost boat 1t is
very difficult. therefore, to be certain OF
hits. as the Germans on more than one
occasion have released oil purposely,
turned loose wreckage prepared in adj
vance and done everything else possible
to create the impression that a U-boat
had been sunk.
Destroyer Work Of Allies
Appliances are being used in con-
junction with the destroyer work of
the allies along the French coast and
in the channel. So far. the Ameri-
can destroyers have not worked with
al CIdlt, DuC lHdI iiiS'iAo - oStoNtA4I
the presence of submarines will be
used wherever practicable as the
planes become available.
The under water radius Of the av
erage U-boat is less than $50 miles
under most favorable conditions. To
get that distance it would have to
travel at a rate of very few miles an
hour. 1t is argued, therefore, that if.
by means of aircraft. destroyers and
all other agencies for the detection
OF submarines, zone $50 miles or
less in width could be drawn about
the German bases or the entrance of
the North sea in which a submarine
could come to the surface only at
rare intervals. the Germans would not
be able to operate on scale to threat
en- supply lines except inside that
zone.
Whatever the plans of the allied
are as to future policy
gainst the J-hoats. rapid develop
ment of the devices for checking the
under water campaign accelerated by
the entrance of the United States into
the war are now taking such shape
as to indicate that a way may be found
in the end to dispose of the menace.
Results Of U-boat activities this win
ing bearing on the subject Rough
weather may work equally against
submarine or anti submarine plans.