Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-08-27
TIGHTEN GRIP ON U-BoATs
Last Year Saw Daring Feats to Win
Notable Victory.

The British fleet, whfch lor lour
years has kept the island empire free
from the German invaders. frightened
It's grip on the unrepcntant Ger
man terrorism during the past
year The U-boat terror. by which
Germany had promised her people
she would end the war by severing
the sca-supply veins of the British
empire. was checked SO that II became
a fact, realized even in Berlin. that
submarine assassins could not win the
war.
Holding In .chcck this inhuman sea
menace, which was responsible for
food rationing In England and for n
time threatened even worse results,
has been the chief accomplishment OF
the British navy and vessels of the
Allies cooperating with II during the
past twelve months. This victory
for it's victory more important,
though less sensational. than the bat
tle OF sJutland-was due to several
s.sna sncluding improveasSasstees for
dealing with U-boats. a greater num-
bcr of dcstroycrs TO help In convoy
work. and the establishment Of care
fully guarded conveys OF merchant
and troop ships. This system helped
make possible the bringing OF more
than a million American troops to
Europe before July l.
For daring, initiative and bravery.
the British proudly upheld the tradi-
tions of Trafalgar. Wherever British
and German ships have met in nearly
equal strength the British have main
tanned q mastery of the situation.
German warships. obeying the kaiser's
command to take few risks and to re-
main chiefly AZ a threat against Eng
land and not as n fighting force. have
kept close to Kiel. except for n few
trips of terrorism against merchant
men or unguardcd scaports. SO there
have been no important naval battles.
But the British did not remain at
their bases any time except when re-
pairs were needed. The ships, silent
and sclf-reliant. slipped through the
seas. ever ready for action.
As evidence Of initiative and daring
the bottling up Of Zeebruggc and Os-
tend. the German bases for subma-
rincs and dcstroyers. stands as one of
the most glorious chapters IN Eng
lands long naval accomplishments. A
somewhat similar operation was COM
plcted at Ostend May 9. although there
was no landing party. The British
casualties In killed and wounded were
less than 500.
Another great accomplishment Of
the British navy was the laying OF n
triangular minefield from Scotland to
Jutland and running along the Ger
man coast for some distance. The
minefield covers 10000 square miles
and blocks Germany from using the
North sea as a highway to the Allan
tic. just as the minefield across the
English channel prevents use Of that
waterway to any great extent. The
enormity of this task may be realized
when it is known that thousands Of
mines must be replaced periodically.
While Britain's chief losses at sea
have been merchant ships which have
encountered mines or U-boats. she al
so has lost some war vessels. includ-
ing one cruiser. two armed cruisers.
five destroyers, three monitors, and
eight trawlers in the past year by
enemy action. according to official an
nouncements. In addition. two de-
stroyers were sunk In collision. while
seven submarines. trapped in the Bal
tic with part Of the Russian fleet,
were sunk by their crews to keep them
from Germany. And, besides. the
transports Moldavia and Tuscania
were torpedoed,