The sun., 1918-08-20
ATLANTIC CABLE CUT
BY U-BOAT CREW


been operating recently are described In
official circles as of the cruiser type, sim
lar to the modern submarines OF other
navies. They have a cruising radius OF
1900 miles and carry two guns OF
about So inch calibre. They are nc
more REPRESENTATIVES, than the latest
American submarines are supersubma-
rines.
American naval officers estimate the
number Of German submarines now in
operation in all parts Of the world at be-
tween $50 and $50. More than 200 have
already been destroyed since the begin
ming of the war, according to the same
source, and they say that the work being
done by our navy would make enjoyable
reading IL all the details could be made
public.
Coast Patrol Work.
First we are patrolling the coast from
Newfoundland down past the Gulf OF
Mexico and guarding every area where
military necessity dictates. U-boats
must not be allowed along the trans
port lanes These areas are therefore
swept clear of the undersea pirates by
the navy. and there Is not a case in
which a transport outward bound has
been successfully attacked.
Scores and scores of vessels leave for
Europe almost daily and German U-boats
are unable to modest them or even retard
their progress. This Is not because the
Germans do not know they are going or
because the U-boat commanders would
not like to strike at them. but It is be-
cause the navy guards this flow off
vitality important shipping so effectively
that the submarines are not a factor.
though they OF course continue to consti-
tutf a menace.
The navy's line of patrol vessels
stretches virtually from Newfoundland
TO the Gulf of Mexico, and even when
u-boats slip by the navy somehow gen.
orally <knows OF II in time to warn ship
ping and guard all important lanes.
The protection OF the important lanes
leading from the Gulf of Mexico is of
course very important because Of the
oil supplies which come through there,
and Germany is well aware of this. But
here it's Of military Importance not. to
permit the U-boats" to lurk, and there
fore they are not heard from in these
waters. .......
--. Guarding Coast with Planes.
The establishment OF aviation stations
at points along the coast with continue
equipment of these stations with air
craft, the arIning of strategic points
with guns and a hundred and one other
protective measures taken along the
coast all form part OF the gigantic task
which the navy Is doing on this side
alone
On the other side, where the real war
Is being fought. the work being done by
our navy Is growing steadily In impor-
lance. We have naval craft OF practi-
cally every description operating In Eu-
ropean waters now, including a number
of battleships. mine layers and other
vessels There was much said at the
time the navy sent six swift destroyers
to cooperate against the U-boats In the
war zone. We have sent more than ten
times that number now.
A year or so ago there were heard
promises OF several scores OF subma-
riDe chasers from the United States.
Now It is safe guess that there are
more than. hundred In actual opera ton
and incidentally we have turned over a
considerable number OF additional sub
marine chasers of France.
The American navy Is also participant
Ing In mining operations In the war zone
on scale Of stupendous magnitude. II
is estimated that there will be one mod =
ern destroyer produced by the United
States every two or three days by the
end of this month. The naval building
harvest is beginning to develop quantity
bulk.