The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-06-10
NO MORE U-B0ATS.
British Admiralty Head Not
Alarmed by Recent Raid.
Discusses Recent Sinkings In
American Waters.

yet to forecast what~th presence OF a
German submarine off the American
coast may portend," said Sir Eric
Geddes, first lord Of the admiralty. in
an interview with the United Press to-
day.
ION the one hand 1t may be merely
a sporadic raid similar to that carried
out by the U-5S earlier in the war or
1t may mean the beginning of seri-
Gus submarine campaign Off the
American coast.
THE vigorous and successful Brit
ish anti-submarine campaign in our
waters has made submarine opera
tons very costly to the Germans and
perhaps they calculate on. getting bet
ter results along the American coast.
In this, however. they will undoubted-
ly be disappointed. since all our ex-
perience over here has been placed
without reservation at the service of
the American administration, which
will thus be able to base its anti-sub-
marine measures on practical results.
There is no indication that there
has been a sudden increase in the
number OF enemy submarines. On
the contrary. there Is no doubt we are
sinking submarines faster than the
Germans are building them"
In response to questions Sir Eric
then outlined the course Of German
submarine strategy since the outbreak
of the war.
'At first the submarines operated
fifty miles OF so from the British
fenses in that vicinity became too
good for them to combat and they
were forced to within ten miles of
the coast. where, for some time, they
managed to sink a number OF coast
wise and unattached and unconvoyed
merchantmen. Again our defenses
overcame them and forced them to
operate far out at sea. Whereupon
We introduced the convoy system and
foiled them once more. Now they
are trying the same thing off the
American coast, where they will be
defeated by the same tactics as over
here"
Sir Eric pointed out that there is
some advantage in forcing the SUBJ
marines to operate farther from the
German bases. THE longer they have
to travel to reach the operating zone.
have and consequently the less time
they will have to spend in the operat-
ing zone"
In reply to a question regarding the
| type OF submarine operating in Ameri-
can waters, the first lord declared:
Possibly a submarine of the con-
verted Deutschland type is being used.
do not believe she is of the much
talked Of giant submarine type, but IS
probably OF type with long cruis-
| ing and operating radius"
Sir Eric said it is possible the Ger
mans might have been able to estab-
| lish q fuel depot on the Aperfcan
coast at some isolated point, but he
does not believe a submarine base has
been este blished.
"a submarine base means more
than a fdel depot" he said. THAT in
cludes q repair dock. After subma-
rine has been out for three weeks 1t
usually reeds overhauling. 1t Is pretty
difficult to establish such a base on a
hostile coast. There would be much
more chance Of establishing it on a
| less carefully guarded neutral coast"
Geddes thought it was difficult to
say what classes of ships submarines
would attack in future but believed
any attacks on American troops trans
ports would inevitably rebound against
| Germany by increasing Americas de-
| termination and adding to the severity
of her fighting. He plainly indicated
| his belief that this is the last desperate
phase of German submarine piracy
| 1t should not cause any additional anx-
| iety regarding the submarine situa-
| ton. he said, but, should only cause a
| searching of their hearts by the Ger.
man people who have, been trfcked
into believing the submarines will win
| the war for them.
Another Ship Sunk.
Norfolk. Va, June 10.-Sixteen sur.
| freighter. Pinar del Rio. which was
sunk by an enemy submarine off the
| Maryland coast Saturday, said on their
arrival at Elizabeth City, n. c., today
en- route to Norfolk. that shortly after
the submarine sent their ship to the
bottom they witnessed the sinking OF
a schooner a few miles away.
|