New-York tribune., 1918-06-07
British Admiralty
Expected Boats
On American Coast
Armored Submarine Cruis-
ers of Great Speed Pre-
dicted by Milfordhaven

LONDON, June 6.-British Admiralty
off1cials have been expecting for some
time that German submarine commerce
raiders would appear on the American
coast.
The discussion of so-called submarine
cruisers has occupied considerable
space during the last three days in the
british press, owing to the prominence
given them by Admiral Marquis of Mil
fordhaven, former First Sea Lord. In
speech at Cambridge Saturday he
predicted further development of the
submarine warfare IN the direction Of
larger submarines with much greater
cruising radius.
ultimately we shall see submarine
cruisers with heavy guns and torpedoes,
protected by armor and with a surface
speed equal to any existing surface
craft" said the Marquis of Milford
| haven.
To Be Attended by Air Fleet
These new cruisers will require at
tendant vessels as eyes for offence and
defence, the same as surface battle
fleets have now, but these attendant
craft will be in the air not in the
water.
"In the construction of the larger
types of submarine cruisers the prog
ress will not be confined by any means
to the enemy navy. We shall keep pace.
"Unsinkable or submersible merchant
steamers at least for certain essentials
or valuable cargoes appear to be in
evitable for the future, notwithstand-
ing the increased cost and the de-
creased cargo space"
The German U-boat campaign off the
Atlantic coast of the United States
cannot be kept up for any length of
time, in the opinion of Archibald Hurd,
| the naval writer.
The German submarines are having
very hard time, Mr.. Hurd says, and
the operations off the American coast
are intended to disarrange the Anglo
American plans for combating the
U-boats.
"There is no possibility of the enemy
maintaining long continued campaign
off the shores Of the United States,
which would require large number
of U-boats," Mr.. Hurd added. "The
Diesel engine gives a greatly increased
radius of action to big submarines.
But New York is easily $500 miles
from the nearest German base, and
1000 miles apart from the mileage in
volved in chasing merchantmen, SO
there is no reason to anticipate any
such developments as have been seen
in British waters and in the Mediter-
ranean. The U-boats crossing the At
lantic must pass twice through the
danger areas of patrols. aircraft and
mines"
In its comment on the U-boat in
vasicn of American waters "The Daily
Express" says:
"The extension of the U-boat CAM
paign will mean some loss and damage,
but will bring certain retribution and
the hardening Of American determina-
ton. The new move is intended to
lure back American patrol boats and
Happily, America can look after her
self and help as WE'LL"
"The Daily Chronicle" says it is a
challenge which the people of the
United States will not take lying down,
adding:
at will make them indignant, but
certainly not afraid. They have large
naval forces in their home waters for
dealing with such an offensive, and
there is no fear that it will in any
way intimidate the American nation.
1t is much more likely to make its
stiff war determination still stiffer."
The submarine raid may cause an
noyance, says "The Daily Mail" but it
will not radically affect the situation
at sea. "The Daily Graphic" sees in
the fact that the U-boats are taking
the hazard Of operating such a dis
tance from their bases a good omen
Of the seriousness of Germans posi-