Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-05-08
GERMAN NAVAL BASES
To Be ATTACKED BY
LAND AND BY WATER
Great Naval and Military Of
fenSiver Launched Jointly
With New Inventions, Ex-
.pected to Crush U-BOat

that the submarine problem will be
solved by one or more American inven-
tons, already tested by the naval con-
sulting board, was expressed this after
room in a statement by W. L. Saunders.
chairman Of the board
Mr.. Saunders said he did not know of
any single invention made by Thomas
A Edison. president Of the board. which
would end the submarine peril. but
clearly intimated that Mr.. Edison is
engaged in experiments that promise TO
be successful
There have nceU a large number of
inventions submitted TO the board" said
Mr.. Saunders Many have been tried
and found practicable. Ny belief is
that a combination OF these inventions
will solve the submarine problem. ]
am confident that il will be solved by
some OF the inventions now before us
AS a result OF recent discoveries. 1 am
hopeful that the undersea peril will
soon be met effectively"
Mr.. Saunders emphasized the fact
that no announcement had been author
lied by the navy department. and that
he was expressing his personal opinion.
Mr. Saunders positively denied n
statement quoting him as saying the
He also asserted that he did not ex-
press his 'hcpe for an early solution"
for the purpose OF allaying public fears.
Quite the contrary" he said. II think
the submarine peril right now is just as
serious as ever. but 7 do believe that
the inventions now in our hands will
meet IT, But you remember this is only
ny personal belief
SOLUTION IN SIGHT.
1T looks as though the submarine
problem has been solved Mr. Saunders
said. not only in theory. but on the
strength OF practical tests on the Allan
tic coast"
Mr.. Saunders added that 500 inventions
for U-boat suppression had been submit
ted for consideration OF the board and
experiments with many Of them justi-
fed the assertion that a plan had been
found by which the submarine peril
could be eliminated
Mr.. Saunders was unwilling TO go into
further details Of the boards expert
ments. as all data on the subject has
been forwarded to Washington. but he
said the public had a right TO he in
formed OF the progress made toward null
Iifying the depredations of the German
undersea craft
Mr.. Saunders in talking to a group Of
newspaper men emphasized that mas
much as ne was not disclosing details
Of the naval boards recommendations to
the government. the statements he made
were not military information and would
he OF no Informative value to the Ger
man government
II is the boards opinion that TO cope
successfully with the submarine prob
lem. Mr.. Saunders said. aggressive war
fare must be carried on "A the enemy's
territory. This included. in the boards
belief he declared. naval operations in
the North sea with destrOyers. subma
rine chasers. airplaues. nets and mines.
co-ordinated with devices TO destroy sub
marines which the board has expert
mented with and approved
Mr.. Saunders said the plan suggested
To the government involved the pOssibii-
ity Of land operations Without COM
hitting himself definitely on this point.
the scheme Included military offensive
against the EieI canal. which would call
for the transportation and landing Of an
army against this important German
waterway. German naval concentration
points generally would he objective
points I'm this suggested joint method OF
naval and land operations
NO UNTRIED THEORY.
The plan submitted 70 the government,
Mr.. Saunders asserted. was not based
upon Theory, sketches or designs" but
upon actual tests which have proved
encouraging
The use OF electricity is involved i'm
porttantly in the whole idea OF an often
sive.
The naval operations would he direct
cd toward hottIinS Up the North sea as
effectively as Great Britain has blocked
the English channel
MI saunders alluded to tho north
Of ~a Nn~#E As ny -
hornets nest. or ''rat hole for subma-
rineS. ami said this nest must he block
AIDED and penetrated and its U-bost in
mates destroyed. and German naval
= bases also dealt with effectively.
The naval consulting board believed
sufficiently in what had been discovered
and planned. he said, TO feel justified in
notifying the people that the subma-
rine fear might re alIayed. The project
now before the government could be
carried out within a reasonably short
time" ne said
Mr.. Saunders. whose age is siEty-one
years. T. one OF the most noted engi-
neers IN America
He Is president of the American In
stitute OF Engineers. a member of the
Aero club. tho Engineers society. and
the Machinery club.
HIS residence is Plsinfield. y. I.
where he was twice elected smayor. Mr..
Saunders has made speciality OF COM
pressed air work IN engineering and is
suthOr OF a book on compressed air
engineering in building the New York
SUbways- Tie invented a machine for
drilling rock under water
As the official spokesman Of the ma
val consulting board Thomas Robins
gave out this statement tonight in
reference 20 Mr. saunders announce
meut.
"Tf M Saunders is correctly quoted
as saving that some American genius
has perfected an invention which viii
clear the water of submarines. he must
have knowledge OF some invention which
IS not known 20 me nor to the other
members OF the board We are still
searching for exactly that kind OF in
veutfon.'
In later statement Mr. Saunders
reiterated the belief that the plans
formulated would prove effective in
dealing with submarines. but made i
plain that he was merely voicing his
personal opinion
"LiVeIy Russian Fire.
Is Reported by Berlin
BERLIN Nav E-Via London A