New-York tribune., 1918-03-06
U-Boats Sunk
AS Fast as Foe
Builds Them
Sir Eric Geddes Tells Com
mons Menace Is Being
Conquered

LONDON, March 5-"Our allies are
making every effort to increase their
production Of ships,' Sir Eric Geddes,
First Lord of the Admiralty, said in
the House of Commons to-day, "but
despite glowing reports in the Amer
lean press, and great as the effort of
that country doubtless is, there is no
doubt a considerable time must elapse
before the desired output is obtained
For some months" said Sir Eric,
Eve believe that we and the Americans
have been sinking submarines as fast
as they are built"
Submarines are being DESTROYED in
increasing numbers, he continued, and
as the methods employed against them
are developed the toll will be enlarged
still further. There is growing re-
luctancc on the part Of German crews
to put to sea. The chances that g sub
marine will return from a voyage in
the waters around England are one in
four or one in five.
The trend Of the figures Of loss of
shipping by enemy action is steadily
improving, Sir Eric stated. The loss
to the worlds tonnage during Febru-
ary was little more than half the loss
during February of last year, he said.
German Exaggeration Grows
Sir Eric said the rate Of cxaggera-
ton in the German reports Of tonnage
alleged to nave been sunk was increas-
ing steadily. The exaggeration in the
second quarter Of the period of un-
restricted submarine warfare was twice
that of the first quarter. The rates in
the third and fourth quarters were
three and four times tina: Of the first
quarter and in January four and one
half times the first quarter.
The Admiralty Lord said the naval
forces of the Allies in European waters
would be augmented soon by fleet Of
Brazilian warships.
lie said he was seriously concerned
at the increasing number of vessels
lost at night. 1t appeared the enemy
was assisted in this matter by negli-
gence on the part of ship masters, who
displayed lights instead of darkening
their vessels.
In the waters around the British
Isles, which had been the enemy's chief
field for submarine operations, great
success against the U-boats has been
achieved recently with the help of
American naval forces, said Sir Eric.
On the other hand. conditions in the
have been more difficult
to combat. Losses there accounted for
about 80 per cent of merchant ships
sunk. The resources for combating
adequate and the successes obtained
loss satisfactory.
Greek Navy's Aid Valuable
1t has become increasingly evident,
the First Lord went on, that as the
resources for combating the subma-
rnes improve it will be possible to
turn attention more to the Mediter-
ranean.
81 recently went to Rome" he con-
Linued, "for a meeting of the Allied
Naval Committee and also inspected
naval establishments in the Meditcr-
navy British naval officers are assist
ng the Greeks in the reorganization of
their navy, which already is cooperat-
ng in the Mediterranean and render
ng valuable service"
1t is perhaps, natural, Sir Eric con-
inued, that cooperation between Great
Britain and the United States should
'e extremely close. On behalf Of
.imsclf and his colleagues he wished
publicly to pay tribute to the whole
lcartcd and generous devotion to the
prosecution of the war which governed
he action OF every representative Of
he United States navy with whom
hey had come in contact. The per-
onncl OF all ranks, he said, has the
esrect and esteem of the officers Of
he British navy.
The loss of the worlds tonnage for
he five months ending with February
vas 10 per cent less than the loss dur
n% the corresponding months Of the
PREVIOUS year, he said, although dur
ng four months OF the latter period
Unrestricted submarine warfare had not
cen proclaimed by the enemy.
IL have stated the First Lord con-
inucd, that the curve Of losses of
Merchant shipping continues down
'ard. That statement is as true TO dav
$ when prey iously made It is true
here have been had weeks and bud
,onths. February was, III comparison |
nth recent standards. a bad month. I
But, on the other hand, January was o