Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-03-12
SUBMARINES SUNK
RAPIDLY AS BUILT
Sir Eric Geddes Praises United
States Navy.
ALLIES MUST MAKE SHIPS
British First Lord of the Admiralty
Takes Bright View of Shipbuild-
ing Situation-Losses Less
Than Year Ago.

London, March 6.-"For some
months" Sir Eric Geddes, first lord of
the admiralty, said, I'VE believe that
we and the Americans have been sink
ing submarines as fast as they are
built"
The trend of the figures of loss of
shipping by enemy action was stead
lily improving, Sir Eric stated. The
loss to the worlds tonnage during
February was little more than half
the loss during February of last year.
he said.
Submarines We're being destroyed in
increasing numbers, he continued, and
as the methods employed against them
were developed the numbers would be
enlarged still further. There was a
growing reluctance on the part of
| German crews to put to sea. The
chances that a submarine would re-
turn from voyage in the waters
around England were one in four or
one in five
In the waters around the British
| isles, which had been the enemy'S
chief field for submarine operations,
| the greatest successes against the T.
boats had been obtained so far, lat
| terly with the help of American naval
forces, said Sir Eric.
On the other hand, conditions in the
Mediterranean had been more difficult.
Losses there accounted for some 80
per cent of merchant ships sunk. The
resources for combating the subma-
rineS in those water were less ade-
quate and the successes obtained less
satisfactory
"Our allies are making every effort
to increase their production of ships. -
Sir Eric said, but, despite glowing
reports in the American press and
great as the effort of that country
doubtless is, there is no doubt con-
siderable time must elapse before the
desired output is obtained"
Sir Eric. whose address was deliv.
cred in the house of commons, said
the naval forces of the allies in Euro.
pean waters would be augmented
shortly by force of Brazilian war.
ships.
German Exaggeration Increases.
Sir Eric said the rate of exaggera
ton in the German reports of tonnage
alleged to have been sunk was in
creasing steadily.
The first lord said he was seriously
concerned at the increasing number Of
vessels lost at night 1t appeared the
enemy was assisted in this matter by
negligence on the part of shipOwner:
who displayed lights instead of dark
ening their vessels.
1t became increasingly evident thu
first lord went on, that as the re
sources for combating the subma
rines improved it would be possible
to turn attention more to the Medi
terranean.
''It was perhaps natural" Sir Erie
continued, that cooperation between
| Great Britain and the United States
should be extremely close"
i On behalf of himself and his col
leagues he wished publicly to pay
tribute to the whole-hearted and gen
erOus devotion to prosecution CT the
war which governed the action Of
every representative Of the United
States navy with which they came
into contact. The personnel of al
ranks, he said, had the respect anC
esteem of the officers of thu British
navy.
| Concerning shipbuilding, he sale
there was no lack of materials at thu
present time and that there were
more men in the yards. but the out
put reached only $4,000 tons in Janu
airy, although it should have beer
much larger