The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-10-05
Continued on page two J
Allies to Wipe Out
Nests Of the U-Boat
with Durrnxo Ease Gone Ncxt Comes
These On The North Sna----
Effectiveness is Shattered

Washington. Oct 1.-THE subnaa-
rine aspect OF the war. alrt adv waned
TO com parative unirnport became
uppermost in the discussion among
naval men this afternoon in consider
ing two great blows al tho U-boat
that promise Ia drive tbs German
undersess spawn 20 their last lair
The naval raid on Barazxo hs fsai-
ian, British and American forces de-
stroyins the base that has been used
by German submarines operating in
the Mediterranean has removed the
las, hampering OF the lines OF COM
n,anseatien from Italy. England and
Greece to the base at Corfu for the
allied drive in Albania, according to
high naval official.
The hombardment OF the Belgian
coast by allied naval forces, IN which
Anne rican craft are said 10 be par
tcfpating, acting as the seaside OF
the pincers, with Field Marshal
Haig's advance on the Landslide, TO
squeeze the Germans from Belgium
and their submarine bases at ostend
ZecbrugEe and other Belgian ports,
Will force the I-hoats to German
ports. said this official. This also will
restrict their operations very consid-
erably. he said. and clear the North
will be opened up TO the Belgian
ports for allied troops and supplies
Immediately tehD1d the advance on
that end OF the NE, without long rail-
transportation.
In both operations the submarines
are certain to he routed from their
positions that heretofore have enabled
them. in the instance OF the North
sea base. TO force the lines OF COM
munication far 10 the southwark with
the hazard of freer E-hoat opera
tions. and In the instance of the Ad-
riatic base at Duraxzo. TO harass trans
port In the Nc dHerranean by creep
ing out through the straits of Otran-
to-
Now, forced from Belgian bases, as
they will he by the combined land
and sea operations there, they will
have no place from which to operate
except their own norts, far remov-
ed from transport lines. And in the
Adriatic the Durazzo victory, which
il said here TO have been apparently
a much larger operation than the
0stend and 2ebrusge raids. will give
to the allies complete control OF the
Straits of Otranto, hitherto commended
for with the Germans and Austrians.
and clear the transport routes of sub
across the Balkans toward Austria and
marine menace for the new thrust
Turkey.
According TO the high naval Official
who discussed these two operations
and their effect on Germany's sub
marine warfare as the most import
ant phases OF the war development
today. the project of major opera
ton now against the great Austro-
German naval base at Pola. at the
head OF the Adratic. not only is feas-
able but imminent and likely to sue
coed. with Durazzo availa BILE for al
lied concentration.
No official confirmation OF the press
reports that American war craft par
ticipated in the Durazzo raid have
been received ny the navy department
up to late hour fought. Official dis
cussion was based solely on unofficial
advices. Concerning the naval coop
Grafton with the British drive in Bel
GUM to hasten the German evacuation
there. the navy department. both Of
ficially and unoffacially. declined Ia
discuss the question of the units en-
gagged. on the grounds that no infor-
nation of the location and character
OF naval forces could be given. es-
pecialiy with the operation still go
1nE on