Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-10-15
AMERICA WARNED
OF U-b0AT MENACE
Must Prepare for Big German
c. Offensive, Sir Eric
I,s!i Geddes Says.

: NEW YORK. October 15.--An ap-
u, peal from the British government to
: America to expedite the construction
= Of ,destroyers and anti-submarine
. craft and appliances was made here
: last night by Sir Eric Geddes. first
lord of the British admiralty, after
he had asserted that the U-boat men,
! ace today is greater than it ever
. WIS.,"
F.. Speaking at a dinner given by the
i. Pilgrim Society, Sir Eric said that
within the past few days he and Vice
81. Admiral Sir Ludovic Duff of the Brit
. ish navy had discussed the naval sit
uatfon in all its bearings with Secre-
. tary Daniels and Admiral Benson and
: that complete unity of view" had
: been reached.
' Greater Need Than Ever.
=. 1T is with Mr.. Daniels full con-
4, curTence that 1 now make this state
, lnent, that there is no greater service
: that can be rendered by the civilians
of the United States today charged
p: with that privilege and duty. than to
; expedite the output of deStroyers and
: anti-submarine craft and appliances
OF every description" Sir Eric said
There il no greater need today than
: the need for the utmost naval effort
against tho great offensive of the
submarine which is now materializ-
ing and which the allied navies win
defeat as they have defeated every
; other effort Of the enemy. But that
defeat can be assured only If this
need IL recognized and the wants of
the two navies supplied. as I am sure
The United States and Great Britain
! intend they shall be-
Menace 'SComes and Goes"
- Discussing Germany's submarine
menace. Sir Eric declared that while
most men say today that it is a
thing OF the past" it is the British
admtralty's opinion that the menace
ono that comes and goes" and that
IN fact IT is today not dead.
indeed. II is greater today than It
ever was" he warned. That is to
say. tho effort is greater than It ever
va3 ! think now we are approach
ing . point where submarine warfare
70 again the weakest front of the al
.liance"
, He continued:
OF ono thing I am clear. We must
not relax the muscles of our lighting
arm nor our war effort in any anttci-
patton OF an early peace. To do SO
would be the surest way to render
ANY discussions which may take
tory"
British Naval Losses.
:. s'r Eric reviewed British naval
.1ossea. declaring his country's losses
in lighting ships of all classes have
been approximately 23O-"more than
twice the total losses of war vessels
.of tho whole OF our allies" and that
400 auxiliary craft, such as mine
Gwespers and trawlers, also have been
destroyed. British merchant ships to
the number Of 2,4OO with a gros,
Tonnage of nearly 1850, 600, have been
sunk, he said, or NEARLY three times
tho aggregate losses of our allies and
80 per cent more than the total losses
tries"
While British and American sea
forces In all theaters of naval fight
jng arc homogeneous navy, Sir Eric
added, tho safety of lines of COM
,Inunication should not be taken for
granted
Germany Not Nearly Beaten.
Germany ID not beaten. is not
d stronger than ever she was" he
warned, regarding the enemy's naval
1Stuation. Should the German naval
policy BE- changed by force Of cir
Sdmgtances, or by spirit Of adven-
furO which It has SO far failed to
SHOW, II win be met, and II it means
o flght, that fight will be a naval
Armageddon. in which your magnih-
os0f battleships with the grand feet
VIII I am sure, take a worthy and
dAsdnSuished part"