Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-05-14
French Minister of Marine
Refutes German Claims
Regarding Extensive De-
struction of Tonnage In
1918. I
U-BOATS ARE WRECKED
IN GROWING NUMBERS

Paris, May 11-(Delayed)-The eff
fectiveness of the German submarine
campaign Is declining and the Ger
man government ia aware OF this fact,
declared Georges Leagues, minister OF
marine, before the naval committee
Of the chamber OF deputies today. But
Germany has made the greatest ef-
forts to conceal 1t. he said. The sit
uation was described as most favor.
able and the sinkings of submarines
in the first three months of 1918
through allied measures was declared
to be greater than the number built
by the enemy.
Minister Leygues referred to the
statement made in the reichstag on
April II by Vice Admiral Won Capelle.
German minister of marine, in which
he said 100000 tons of allied shipping
were sunk monthly. This figure the
minister said is incorrect.
DENIES TEUToN CLAIMS
It was reached and passed in April,
May and June of 1917. In July 1t de-
clined and in November it fell below
400, 900 and since has diminished con-
tinuously. The miIister gave the fol-
lowing comparative table of the t. a.
mage claimed to have been destroyed
by Germany and the tonnage actually
lost In the past Ave, months.
Claimed by
Month Germany Actual losses
Decembsr s.. 702. 900 ms s-3 ATT tons
JAHu9tY :. s11sQQn .fsil4 ozsS54 tons
FSbfuary s. esS. .60O tons 3s2.522 tons
March 49,. $4,000 tons $685. $50 tons
April ..s... 100000 tons 2ss.7o4 tons
Total 3,so3.ooo 1.s4s.s22
NJ. Leygues said that in February,
March and April 1923 French steamers
and 7sS French sailing vessels passed
through the danger zone where few
months ago losses by torpedoing had
been very heavy. Not single ship
was sunk.
ALLIES GAIN ON U.eoATs
\ On the other hand, he said, the num-
ber OF submarines destroyed had in
creased progressively since January
In such proportion, that the effective
ness OF the enemy squadron can not
be maintained at the minimum re-
quired by the regulations. The num-
bed Of enemy U-boats destroyed in
January, February and March was
far greater in each month than the
number constructed in the same per-
.iod. In February and April the num-
ber of submarines destroyed was
three less than the total destroyed in
the previous three months.
These results the minister de-
clared, were due to the methodical
character of the war against submar-
ines. to the close coordination of the
allied navies, to the intrepidfty and
spirit animating the officers and
crews OF naval and aerial squadrons
and to the intensifcation of the use
Of old methods and the employment
Of new ones.
y MUST REDoUBLE EFFORTS
"The situation Is most favorable
the minister continued, but it does
not authorize the slackening of ef-
fort. Rather, 1t is necessary to re-
double it as the enemy has put new
submarines into service and is trying
a fresh offensive in which he plays for
his last stake.
"The sea front has no communique.
The country does not know the terri
BILE life there when great events oc-
cur. Yet It Is there that there Is be-
ing played one Of the parts which has
the greatest influence on the duration
and issue Of the war. The country
knows that mastery of the sea Is the
certain gauge of victory. 1t should
know also that the mastery belongs
to the allies who have won 1t and who
keep it, thanks to the heroism OF the
sailors who are worthy Of their SOL