The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-05-14
.U-bOAT MENACE
IS GROWING LESS
AS DAYS CO BY
Given Out by Brit
ish Minister of Marine
Show That Situation Is
More Favorable

| Paris, May 13.-The effectiveness of the
German submarine campaign is decln-
ing.
| The German government is aware of
this fact, declared George Leygues, min
| lister of marine before the naval commit
tee of the Chamber of Deputies today,
| but has made the greatest efforts to con-
ceal 1t. He said that the situation was
most favorable and that the sinking OF
submarines in the first three months of
| 1918 through Allied measures was greater
than the. number built by the enemy
Minister Leygues referred to the state
ment made in the Reichstag in April by
Vice Admiral Won Chapelle, German
minister OF marine, in which he said
100000 tons of allied shipping were sunk
monthly. This figure, the minister, said
was incorrect. 1t was reached and
passed in April May and June of
1917. In July it declined and in Novem-
her it fell below 100000 and since has
diminished continuously. The minister
gave the following comparative table OF
the tonnage claimed to have been de-
stroyed by Germany and the tonnage
actually lost in the past FIVE months.
RECORD BY MONTHS
Claimed by
Month Germany. Actual Losses.
December ...... 702. 600 tons 1856, IN tons
January ........ $4,000 tons 3o2, $50 tons
February ..... $4,000 tons 3s2522 tons
March .......... $4,000 tons S5S, $50 tons
April .......... 100000 tons 26S, 7o4 tons
Leagues said that in February, March
and April 1928 French steamers and 7SS
French sailing vessels passed through
the danger zone where a few month ago
losses by torpedoing had been very
heavy. Not single ship was sunk.
On the other hand, he said the num-
Der of submarines destroyed had in
creased progressively since January in |
such proportion that the effectiveness Of !
enemy squadrons cannot be maintained
at the minimum required by the rcgula- !
tons The number of Z boats destroyed I
in January February and March was far /
greater in each month than the number |
constructed in the same month. In, Feb
ruarv and April the number of subna-
rines destroyed was three less than the
total destroyed in the previous three !
months These results, the minister de- !
CARED were due to The methodical char
acter of the war against submarines; 10
close coordination of the allied navies,l
TO the intrepidity and spirit aninating !
the officers and crews of naval and
aerial squadrons and to the intensitica-
ton Of the use Of old methods and the
employment of new ones
SITUATION FAVORABLE
THE situation is most favorable. the
minister continued. but it does not au-
thorize the slackening Of effort. II Is
to redouble it, as the enemy has
put new submersibles into service and I
is trying fresh offensive in which ne
plays for his last stake.
The sea front has no communIque. |!
The country does not know the terrible
life there when great events occur. Y et
it is there that there is being played |
one Of the parts which has the greatest /
influence on the duration and issue Of i
the war. The country knows that mas
terry Of the sea is q certain gauge 70 vic /
tory. 1t should know also that the i
mastery belongs to the allies who have
won it and keep il. thanks to the heroism
Of the sailors, who are worthy Of their
soldier brothers.