The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-13
Germans Submarine Offensive
Went Into Trap.
Intended 1t To Accompany Re-
cent Drives on Land.
new SHIPS EQUAL NO. LOST
Lloyd George Repeats Subma-
rine Menace Not Effective.
U-BOats Destroyed Increase;
Steamers Sunk Decrease.

London Dec. t3.-When the Assoc
ciated Press inquired of high naval au-
thority today, IF the anti-submarlne
war was going well and what was the
reason for the high rate of sinkings
in the past three weeks" the answer
was:
The enemy has had more subma-
rines at. work. He has actually been
attempting a submarine offensive OF
the greatest possible magnitude in an
effort to reinforce his offensive on
land He is trying to bring off coup
which will incline US to peace.
HE has failed signally on the sea
as on land and he has had to pay a
heavy price Our counter measures
are meeting with increased success
Confident U-Boat Defeated.
SLondon, Dec. 1S.-Despite the fair
Iy large number of sinkinGs. reported
this week (21 British shipsI there is
no decrease in optimism among those
who know the submarine war sltua-
lion, who see no reason for modifying
or altering Premier Lloyd George
statement on November 20 that there
is no longer any fear of the submarine
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 No
vember was a red letter month in the
anti-U-bCat war for three reasons
First the loss of tonnage during the
month was the lowest since the unre-
stricted submarine campaign began.
! Second. the sinkings or enemy subma-
| rines were the greatest ever recorded
| in q single month Third, the launch
| ing of new merchantmen from British
| yards came within measurable dis
I - ~rwrxff L.,
| mage by submarine attack.
| The phrase within measurable dis
lance" is that used by the government
| spokesman in the house of commons
and the slender margin indicated by
that phrase is one of the chief rea-
sons for the prevailing optimism. 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 beer
more tonnage launched than sunk.
Sunk as Fast as Made.
AS to the number of submarines de-
stroyed during the same period, it is
not permitted to give the actual fig
ures, but this much may be said:
The sinkings of submarines during
! November were within measurable
distance of the largest number the
! German U-boat yards were capable OF
turning out in the same period.
InlS destruction OF submarines was
| by no means due to any SpaSmOdic rur
of luck, but to the development of g
| detailed comprehensive campaign in
volving many devices and embracing
| many phases-a campaign which viii
grow more efficient rather than less
so as time goes on. according to ex
| pert opinion. The first days of De
| cember have maintained the good rec
ords of November, as far as the u
boat sinkings are concerned. More
over, it is considered inevitable tina
the British-American success in thi.
direction will find a reflection in the
morale of the submarine crews, max
ing them less confident and less eff
cient at the same time that the Brit
ish and American naval men are be
coming more confident and more eff
cient.
Convoy System Safeguard.
The convoy system of protection fo
shipping which the allies have adopt
ed and perfected has forced the sub
marine campaignerS to alter some O
their plans 1t is no longer possible
. for the submarines to lie in wait 70
unprotected merchantmen and pc
them in leisurely fashion. The U
, boat shows it's periscope nowadays a
great peril when within torpedoin;
} distance of a merchantmen for tn
latter is only one of conSiderabl
number in the neighborhood and i
one of the scores of skilled lookout
sights that periscope the submarine
chances of escape from the convoyin
, destroyers are slim.
The German reply to the convo
. system is to send submarines out i
groups which attack the convoy 81
! multaneously in the hope that in tn
resulting confusion, considerabl
damage can be done and an easy es
1 cape then effected This system c
group attack while it occasionally ha
been effective is very costly when
fails for it spells the doom not mere
/ ly for one U-boat but of perhaps thre
or four.
When the story of the submarin
war can be written fully some of tn
/ most thrilling tales will be of tn
i wonderful accomplishments of one {
i two destroyers against whole squad
L rons of submarines.