Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1918-03-07
SUBMARINES SUNK
RAPIDLY AS BUILT
Sir Eric Geddes Praises United
States Navy.
ALLIES MUST MAKE SHIPS
British First Lord of the Admiralty
lakes Bright View of Shipbuid-
ing Situation-Losses Less
Than Year Ago.

London, March 6.-"For some
MONTHS Sir Eric Geddes, first lord of
the admiralty, said, 1--WE believe that
We and the Americans have been sink
ing submarines as fast as they are
built"
The trend of the figures of loss OF
shipping by enemy action was stead
lily improving, Sir Eric stated. The
loss TO the worlds tonnage during
February was little more than half
the loss during February of last year,
he said.
Submarines were being destroyed in
increasing numbers, he continued, and
as the methods employed against them
We're developed the numbers would be
enlarged still further There was
growing reluctance on the part of
German crews to put to sea. The
chances that submarine would re-
turn from voyage in the waters
around England were one in four or
one In five.
In the waters around the British
isles, which had been the enemy's
chief field for submarine operations.
the greatest successes against the u
boats had been obtained so far, lat
terly with the help of American naval
forces, said Sir Eric.
On the other hand, conditions In the
Mediterranean had been more difficult.
Losses there accounted for some 80
per cent of merchant ships sunk. The
resources for combating the subma-
rines in those water were less ade-
quate and the successes obtained less
satisfactory
our allies are making every effort
to Increase their production of ships"
Sir Eric said but, despite glowing
reports in the American press and
doubtless is, there is no doubt con
siderable time must elapSe before the
desired output is obtained"
Sir Eric, whose address was deliv-
cred in the house of commons. said
the naval forces of the allies in Euro
pean waters would be augmented
shortly by n force of Brazilian war
ships.
German Exaggeration Increases.
Sir Erie said the rate of exaggera-
tion In the German reports of tonnage
alleged to have been sunk was in
creasing steadily.
The first lord said he was seriously
concerned at the increasing number of
vessels lost at night. 1t appeared the
enemy was assisted in this matter by
negligence on the part of shipOwners
who displayed lights instead of dark
ening their vessels.
1t became increasingly evident. the
first lord went on, that rs the re-
sources for combating the subma-
rines improved 1t would be possible
TO turn attention more to the Medi-
terranean.
1T was perhaps natural" Sir Eric
continued, that cooperation between
Great Britain and the United States
should be extremely close"
On behalf of himself and his col
leagues he wished publicly to pay
tribute to the whole-hearted and gen
erous devotion to prosecution of the
war which governed the action of
every representative of the United
States navy with which they came
into contact The personnel of all
ranks, he said, had the respect and
esteem of the officers of the British
navy.
Concerning shipbuilding. he said
there was no lack of materials at the
present time and that there were
more men in the yards, but the out
put reached only $1,000 tons in Janu-
airy, although it should have been
much larger.