Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-10-13
RUTHLESS U-BOAT WAR
BY HUNS IMPENDING
Sir Eric Geddes Discloses Gern,any's Desperate
Scheme to Procure Peace by Negotiation.
Says Allies Are Ready.

signal of welcome to them on that &C.
casion.
"As regards your cruisers, they are
North sea, Atlantic and Mediterra-
mean. and I have seen them and adj
mfred their efficiency in all these
places. It is to them. as well as to the
gallant little destroyers, working with
the corresponding forces of all the al
lies, that the success Of the convoy sys-
tenn Is due.
ut is the convoy system which
baked Germany when she adopted
avowedly the inhNman and ruthless
and
all the noble traditions of the sea be-
fore the war, but which we now ac-
cept as one of the outward signs Of
the devil which has to be exercised be-
fore Germany is fit to take her place
as an honorable member of the league
Of nations. in whatever form that oft
discussed organization may finally
shape itself.
Reckoned to End War.
Germany reckoned to end the war
last year by cutting the sea communica-
tons of the alliance and by the reduce
ton In tonnage; the dissatisfaction Of
the German nation with the result Of
their criminal effort is due in very great
IA0d6uIo u IH0 VOHPOy 6ySlClkAs UUI IL 10
due also to the allied efforts to trap
and hunt the submarine on passage and
to harrass 1t on station, and these two
functions in submarine warfare must
not be confused: Tho ocean convoy Is
primarily a defensive organization. and
secondarily only an offensive organiza-
ton. Its complement in this new form
of naval warfare is the hunting hotilla
and the mine field.
These two measures must be care
fully balanced and the relative urgency
Of the demands Of one or the other must
ent consideration and ceaseless caro- and
adjustment Of the great naval officers
who are charged with that responsible
ity. At the present moment the United
States and Great Britain have become
the main bases OF supply for the armies
in Europe, and in order to insure these
lines Of communication being safeguard
ed and kept open very efficient naval
protection is required.
"The large proportion Of merchant
must necessarily be American and Brit
ish. and consequently the Anglo Ameri-
can zone Of naval operations-which
may be considered to include the At
lantic. North sea and British coastal
waters-is, therefore. the area with
| the present moment, though. Of course.
| the American and British forces are
| helping to police the trade routes of the
Mediterranean also. in conjunction with
our French. Italian, Japanese and Greek
i allies. whose work and cooperation is
altogether admirable. In that service a
Brazilian naval contingent Is on the
; point Of taking part.
As to Destroyers.
Turning now to your destroyers. l
J knnw that all oNnpeNia a What IA
mands the present conditions Of sea
\ warfare impose upon this type of
! craft, Day and night, winter and
summer. they scour the seas, either
hunting the submarine or keeping a
careful watch over the valuable
ports intrusted to their care to es-
| cort. have both travelled in and
been escorted by American destroyers
and I know their high standard. They
are an essential part Of the fighting
strength Of the neet. and. together
dogs Of the allied trade and the ter
| ror Of the U-boat. It will convey
some idea Of the strain imposed upon
the vessels and their crews when I
tell you that each American destroyer
| In European waters steams between
1000 and; 5000 miles q month. For
almost perpetual discomfort this
record is hard to beat, even in this
great war Of universal strain and
hardship. In the friendly rivalry
which exists the British destroyers
try to beat It. and yours again try
to top the reoord.
what have said Of the destroyers
applies In no less degree to your sub
| marines and your chasers. Their I'M
firing and constant harassing Of the
enemy has helped to bring the enemy
submarine to its present position. in
which We can confidently say that 1t
| ID now held, though not yet mastered.
lay great stress on these words. A
great renewed effort on -Germany's
part 10 impending. We know it and
of its extent. We face 1t with that
knowledge. and with the steadfast
courage Of our seamen 1t will be
met.
Airmen Making Good.
what your ships q all classes are
doing on and under the surface your
aircraft In no less degree are 20.
oomplidhia9 In their own 0l0mont and