Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-12-14
Naval Officer States That U1ldersea Offensive Cause
 of High Sinking Rate.
MANY SUES SUNK
 BY ALLY NANTES
Menace Under Contro'. Despite in. crpasHs in Sinking Duriny Pas. Few WcekS-Germany's Su.
 frcrc I'HtierSea Effort Past.


 i authority if "the anti-submarine wa was going well and what was the req son for the high rate of sinkinys i1 the past three weeks," the answer was:
 "The enemy has had more subma rines at work. He has actually beer attempting submarine offensive O. the greatest possible magnitude in al effort to reinforce his offensive or land. He is trying to bring off cou1 which will incline US to peace.
 "He has failed signally on the sef and as on land and he has had to pa. a heavy price. Our counter meas. ures are meeting with increased sue cess.'
 No Less Optimistic.
 Despite the fairly large numbers of sinkings reported this week there is nc decrease in optimism among those who know the submarine war situa- tlon, who see no reason for modifyino or alterino Premier Lloyd Georges statement on November 20 that there lis no longer any fear of the subma- rine proving a decisive factor in the war.
 Events since November 20. in fact have tended to increase rather than decrease the confidence with which the premier spoke. The month of Mo- vember was red letter month in the anti U-boat war. The loss of tonnage during the month was the lowest since the unrestricted submarine campaign began, the sinkings of enemy subma rines were the greatest ever recorded in a single month and the launchings of new merchantmen from British yards came 'within measurable dis tance' of equalling the loss of ton mage by submarine attack. The phrase within measurable distance" is that used by the government spokesman in the house of commons and the margin between the sinkings and launchings was so slight that if the Germans had sunk one or two less ships there would actually have been more ton mage launched than sunk.
 The sinkings Of submarines during November also were "within measur- able distance of the largest number the German U-boat yards were capa- ble of turning out in the same period.
 No Run of Luck.
 This destruction of submarines was by no means due to any spasmodic run of luck, but to the development of a detailed comprehensive cam paign involving many devices and embracing many phases-a campaign which will grow more efficient rather than less so as time goes on, accord ing to expert opinion.
 The first days of December have maintained the good records of Mo- vember as far as the U-boat sinkings are concerned. Moreover, it is consid cred inevitable that the British American success in this direction will find a reflection in the morale of the submarine crews, making them less confident and less efficient at the same time that the British and Amer ican naval men are becoming more confident and more efficient.
 The convoy system of protection for shipping which the allies have adopt ed and perfected has forced the sub. marine campaigners to alter some ot their plans. It is no longer possible for the submarines to lie in wait for unprotected merchantmen and pot them in leisurelv fashion. The U-boat shows it's periscope nowadays at great neril when within torpedoing distance of a merchantmen. for the latter is only one of a considerable number in the neighborhood and if any one of the scores of skilled lookouts sights that periscope the submarines chances of escape from the conveying destroy CTS are slim.
 The German reply to the convoy system is to send submarines out. in groups which attack the convoy slm- ultaneously in the hope that in the re- sulting confusion, considerable dam ape can be done and an easy escape effected. This system of group at tack. while it occasionally has been effective, is very costly when it fails for it spells the doom not merely of one U-boat, but of perhaps three oi four. war can be written fully, some of the most thrilling tales will be the won derful accomplishments of one or two destroyers against whole squadrons of submarines.