The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-03-06
U,B0ATS SUNK
FAST AS BUILT
Geddes Says Americas Aid
Has Made This Possible
Several Months.
BRAZILIAN NAVY TO HELP
South American Republic to
Send Warships to Euro
pean Waters.
BRAZILIAN NAVY TO HELP


LONDON. March 5.-"we and the
Americans are sinking German subma-
rines a. fast as they are built, and have
been doing it for several months" Sir
Eric 0eddee. First Lord o. the Ad-
miralty. told the House Of Commons to-
day.
As the methods used were developed.
he added, the number of U-boats de-
stroyed would be increased. Already
there Ia reluctance BY German submarine
crews to. put to sea. for the chance that
the vessel will return is now only one in
fou. or one in fve.
Sir Eric added that on behalf of him.
self and his colleagues he wished pub
licly to pay tribute to the whole hearted
and generous devotion to the prosecution
Of the war which governed the action Of
avery representative OF the United States
navy with which they came into contact.
The personnel of all ranks, he said. had
he Respect and esteem OF the officers Of
he British navy.
The loss Of tonnage in February was
little more than half OF that in the same
period last year
The loss for the five months ended
with February was 10 per cent. lessJ
than the loss during the corresponding
months Of the year previous, he added.
although during four months Of the lat
ter period unrestricted submarine war
had not been proclaimed by the enemy.
THE curve OF losses Of merchant ship
ping still continues downward" the First
Lord continued. '1t is true there have
been bad weeks and bad months. Feb
ruary was a bad month: on the other
hand. January was a good one"
Sir Eric said the ratio Of exaggeration
In the German reports Of tonnage alleged
to have been sunk was increasing stead
ily. The exaggeration in the second
quarter OF the period OF unrestricted
submarine warfare was twice that Of
the frst quarter. The rates In the third
and fourth quarters were three and four
times that IT the first quarter. and In
January four and one-half times that OF
the first quarter.
The First Lord eaid he was seriously
concerned at the increasing number OF
vessels lost a. night. 1t, appeared the
enemy was assisted In this matter by
negligence on the part Of mariners. who
displayed lights instead OF darkeninE
their vessels.
In the waters around the British Isles.
which had been the enemy's chief field
for submarine operations. the greatest
successes against the U-boats had been
obtained so far. latterly 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.
1t became increasingly evident. the
First Lord went on. that as the resources
for combating the submarines improved,
II would b possible to turn attention
moro to the Mediterranean. He con-
tinued:
II recently went to Rome for O meet
Ing Of the Allied Naval Committee and
also inspected naval establishments in
the Mediterranean, including those of the
Greek navy. British naval officers are
insisting the Greeks in reorganization
of their navy. which, already is cooperat-
ing in the Mediterranean and rendering
valuable service
The naval forces of the Allies in Euro
pean waters would be augmented shortly
by a force Of Brazilian warshipe he an
nounced.
e Regarding the rate OF ship production
Sir Eric said that instead OF a rise there
had been . serious drop
"why?' the First Lord asked. THE
main fact is that owing to labor unrest
and strike difficulties the men in the
yards are not working as II the life of
the country depended on their exertions.
The employers are perhaps not doing all
they could.
THE long strain of the war must have
an effect upon their nerves as upon every
one else's. The serious unrest which ex-
listed in January will have an effect on
competitions in later months. am driven
to the, conclusion that even at this late
date the situation is not fully realized.
II believe the individual piece worker
on ships works as hard now as he did
last year. when he Is actually at work."
Sir Eric continued. but he seems
reader to take holidays. and we cannot
AFFORD holidays"
There was no lack Of materials, and
there were more men In the yards. but
the output reached only $1,000 tons In
January. 1t was true the weather was
exceptionally bad and also that January.
owing to the holidays. always was a bad
month for the output OF ships.
He expressed :he opinion that Feb
ruary would be shown to have made
nearly twice as good a record as Janu-
airy, although that would be only about
two-thirds of what the same yards had
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