Connecticut western news., 1917-08-02
DEVICE 10 DETECT
 J BOATS AT SEA
Hope to Locate Submarines
 Ten Miles Away.
MAY ATTACK GERMAN BASES

Experts Agree That German Subma-
 rines Must Be Eliminated Before the
 War Is Won-Undersea Explosive
 Has Played Large Part In Combat
 ing the Menace.
 The navy departments twOfold pro- gram in this war, based partly upon the prospect of perfecting device to detect submarines at ten miles, has been outlined to the press.
 If the device is perfected-and the best brains in this country are secretly working on it day and night-a cordon of destroyers will bottle the U boats at their base. If it is not a com bined naval and aerial attack must be made upon the German coast and the occupied coast of Belgium. The sub- marine, it is agreed, must be eliminate ed before the war is won.
 Expect Success Soon.
 The general board feels that the pres ent method of fighting the submarine menace is merely makeshift and that it will never make the seas safe for merchantmen, no matter how well the surface is controlled by the allied na- vies. Some success has been achieved with the mechanism of detecting sub- marines, but the invention has yet to be perfected. Within the next few months it is believed that the mechan- ical experts who are working on the device will be able to report to the navy department that it is ready for service
 In the event that this invention proves it's value as a detector over a range of ten miles it is the purpose of the American navy to establish a line across the Skagerak, another across the English channel and an- other across the North sea in front of the German coast. Other lines of detectors will be stretched across the various waters where the submarines operate.
 The first consideration, however. will be to get an underwater detection across the channels used by the sub- marines in leaving and entering their bases. When this is accomplished the submarine fighters which are now at- tempting to pick up the submarines will be drawn in solid line in con-i nection with the detectors. 2 a.
 Undersea Explosive. "'
 When the underwater raiders at tempt to leave their bases they will be- spotted by the detectors. The surface craft will then get a line on them, and it is believed that it will be virtually impossible for them to make their way to the trade routes.
 The detection invention represents the great scientific contribution which the United States has been reported to have in the making. Heretofore it's nature was never explained publicly.
 Already the United States navy has had great success with the underwater explosive, which is dropped into the water and explodes upon contact with the submersible. These will be used extensively in the new campaign.
 The general board of the navy has under consideration terrific naval and aerial attack upon the German coast and upon the coast of Belgium now controlled by the Germans. The navy experts believe that it would be in advisable to attempt to make this at tack until thousands of aeroplanes are available to carry out the campaign.
 This joint attack will have to await the completion of the American aerial fleet, and therefore it cannot be en- gineered before next year. Naval ex- perts realize that this attack, if sue cessful, would be extremely expensive in life.
 The army and navy joint councils are satisfied that it is hopeless at pre- ent to try to break through the west ern line and that no successful atta .i can be made until the German has , are destroyed and a force is landed ol the German coast Before this pro- gram can be carried out they agree that the submarine must be eliminated.
 Since the United States entered the war the younger naval officers have urged the administration to su""est tp Great Britain the advisability of mak- ing a naval drive at the German coast to destroy the submarine base. Vice Admiral Sims, in command of tha American naval forces in European wa ters, has reported that such an attacl; would not be feasible at this time Plans for q great naval engagement have been worked out, but thoir con- summation depends upon factors which cannot now be brought into play.
 At the present time the United States has every available ship Of Inc m:co' class in European waters assisting the British fleet i'll destroying submarines. Just as rapidly as more sh.HS orc Sc # down the ways they will be sent abroad