Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-14
GERMANY PLANS
BIC SUBMARINES
French Minister of Marine De-
clares Allies Are Ready
to Meet Efforts.
SlNKINGS SHOW DECREASE
Monthly Average of Destruction
315,00o Tons, Compared With
100000 in 1917.
SINKINGS SHOW DECREASE


WASHINGTON. May l2.-Realizing
that America and tho allies have gain
ed the mastery over the present type
of submarine. Germany now * said
to be planting a new series of big
U-boat cruisers. with which she hopes
to assume again the advantage of her
unrestricted underwater warfare.
Announcement of the new German
scheme is made by Georges Leygues.
the French Minister Of Marine. in an
interview received here today in an
official dispatch from France. No de-
tails regarding the new U-boats were
given by NJ. Leygues. but from infor-
nation from other sources II appears
that the cruiser submarines will be
heavily armed and armorcd. and will
be designed especially to meet the
menace of the torpedo boat destroyera
which have proved so effective in hunt
ing down the smaller submarines now
in operation.
NJ Leygucs declared that the allies
are ready 10 meet Germany's now ef-
forts. and that they will not rest upon
the "fne results obtained" in the past.
NEW CONSTRUCTION Is NOW
GREATER THAN Dr:STR UCTI0N
Just how effective has been tke war
against the U-boats is shown by figures
on destruction of allied shipping given
to the Naval Committee OF the French
Chamber Of Deputies Saturday by Min
ister Icygues. They reveal that sink
ings of merchantmen have fallen off
to tho point whcrc the new coastruc-
tior is exceeding destruction. even now
before American yards in full
swing on their great building program.
this year. as given by NJ. Leygues. Is
ala, 900. compared with more than 500
600 tons monthly in 1917 In April of
last year. the first month of Germany's
unrestricted submarine warfare. the
tonnage sunk was S7I00r In April
of this year it had dwinfle1 to about
26S. 900 tons.
DESTRUCTION OF SUBMARINES
ENCEEDS THEIR CONSTIst CTION
On the other hand, the destruction y.
submarines is exceeding their consr:uc-
t!on hy the enemy, and the margin is
expected to increase additional,
american dcstrnyers. which now are
being turned out rapidly, take their
place with the war craft operating in
tho war zone
The total of allied shipping destroy
ed in the first four months of 1918
was placed by Minister LeySues at
I.2j2,3ii tors, and even IL the subma-
rncs are able to mairtain this rate.
which officials doubt. the ycnr's total
would 3c som Athing like 3,I0e.00o tOns.
or less than the estimated amount. of
tonnage which tho Shipping Board he
lieves America viii produce during the
year.
Adding to American production the
output in Great britain, France and
Japan. the allies would gain for the
year something like 2,ooo.ho0 tors, not
counting the 100000 or more IONS of
chartered Japanese and Norwegian
ships and repuisitioncd Dutch "cs"cls.
While cncoura gnG. officials empha-
size the fact that these figures 10
not furnish the margin ot safety That
is necessary. and there Will be no re-
laXing o: building efforts In any of
:he allied countries or in America.
Erglands output thus far this year
has not come IN to expectations. and
the American yards h2ve not turi.ed
out the tonnag" anticipated because of
freight congestion and other causes
and renewed efforts arc being made to
make up these deficiencies