The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-06
SUBMERSIBLES FOR CARGO
CARRIERS.
An Authority on Submarines Advo.
Gates Their Immediate Construction.

Gates Their Immediate Construction.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sr: I
am sending you herewith a few ex-
| tracts from papers I have read before
various scientific societies and from
articles which have appeared In vari-
| Gus magazines and newspapers con-
corning submarines. thinking these
might interest you In forming an
| opinion as to the proper means to
counteract the growing submarine
| menace of the Germans.
AS builder and a student of the
possibilities OF the submarine for over
twenty-five years l feel that 1 know
their possibilities better than men who
have not specialized.
have contended that submarines,
properly designed and equipped. in
sufficient numbers have the capacity
to drive surface craft from the seas,
and that there has been no means yet
| discovered for combating them on any
thing like equal terms.
I claim further that means are not
likely to be found to meet them on
equal terms, and that the only way
we can hope to continue to supply
our own boys and allies on the other
side with foodstuffs and ammunition
Is to be able to evade the German
military submarine by sending COM
merce in ships that have the capacity.
as has the military submarine, to be-
come invisible at will.
AS near as can figure 1t out the
Germans are not losing over l per
cent. in submarine tonnage and dol
lars in comparison with our losses,
even giving full credit to the claims
made by some OF the newspapers, who
seem to think they can win the war
by discrediting the work Of the sub
marine rather than by recognizing
the danger and trying to assist in
finding an antidote for 1t.
| hope l am wrong. but feel that
I am not 1t Is my duty, therefore.
to put these views before every one
who might assist in bringing about
the construction OF types OF ships
which will enable us to continue our
commerce and to prevent the POSSIBLE
ity Of cutting off the delivery of sup
plies and ammunition TO our soldiers
and allies. without which supplies we
cannot win the war.
Instead OF building ships that can
be seen for long distances above the
horizon, and. when seen, sunk by an
invisible destroyer, let us build ships
that cannot be seen and therefore
cannot be sunk.
The Government Is now rapidly
getting into shape several large ship
yards where ships OF this kind could
be turned out rapidly. and | would
be glad to cooperate with any of the
large Government financed shipyards,
such as the Hog Island yards, the
Merchant Shipbuilding Companys
yards at Bristol. Pa. the Federal
Shipbuilding Company or the Sub
marine Boat Companys yards at
Newark, y. j.. in the construction OF
my design OF invisible cargo carrying
ships.
am also willing to give my SER
vices free without profit to myself,
as long as these vessels are engaged
in doing Government work without
profit to the builder and operators. as
feel It is every American citizens
duty to help win this war for de-
mocracy, and the cost OF winning it
can he at least materially reduced If
we can succeed in evading the Ger
man submarine.
II we do not succeed we may lose.
and as a nation We cannot a1ord to
take that chance.
1t IL up to" every citizen and OFF,
cial with influence to study this prob
lem carefully. SIMON LAKE
MILFORD, Conn. June 81.