The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-25
SENATE IRE STIRRED
BY TRAVELLER RAIDER
McCumber Criticises Naval Of
ficials for Failure to Cap
ture the Triumph.
DEFECT IN BOMB Barred
Gerry and Lodge Defend Navy
and Praise Work in Guard
ing Sea Lanes.
Special DespdtcA to TIE suN.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 24.--Activities Of
the converted trawler Triumph. captured
bv a German U-boat crew, transformed
into q raider and now engaged in a
series Of distinctions OF American and
Canadian fishing smacks of the Grand
aBanks, furnished the subject Of an ami
mated debate In the Senate to-day. The
debate followed a sharp criticism OF the
insptitude Of the naval authorities for
not sooner running down the slow NOV
ing destroyer and putting her out OF
business offered by Senator McCumber
North Dakota).
Here a single submarine appears on
our waters, puts sixteen German sailors
aboard a trawler that II captures of the
Massachusetts coast, puts some guns
aboard 1t and now for more than a week
this converted trawler has been destroy
ing fishing smacks. Where is It all to
end? Where are the swift U-boat
chasers we've been hearing about? Who
is responsible for this converted man.
of-war travelling UP and down the At
lantic Coast without being molested?
q understand the speed of a trawler
Is from eight to twelve knots an hour.
1t cannot go under water and hide it.
self We can excuse the failure to get
the U-boat because 1t cannot be seen.
II dives under water and does its work
in the dark or under cover.
Question over Bombs.
Now we know, Of course, that the
great portion Of our navy is out at sea,
but why cannot the navy <dse some Of
Its fleet to capture this little trawler?
And there is another feature of this
affair. am told that when the SUBJ
marine was sighted by our navy off the
Massachusetts, coast hydroplanes were
sent up and two depth bombs were
dropped directly upon the spot where
the submarine was working. These
bombs failed to explode. l would like
10 know why the hydroplanes were
equipped with such bombs"
ednator Gerry Or. L.. a member Of
tie Naval Committee, at once arose
to the defence of the sea forces. 1T
was Of course deplorable." said Senator
Gerry, that the Germans had been able
to seize this trawler and convert It into
a war vessel to run amuck in the North
Atlantic.
The great work of the navy to-day.
however, is TO bottle up the submarines
at their base, to convoy our armies to
Europe and to transport food and ma
terials to our Allies. The navy Is CEN
tralizing its efforts on those things. 1t
has transported 100000 men without
the loss OF a transport, AMI Il has aided
the British and French navies in the
splendid work they are carrying on.
These three navies have turned the SUBJ
marine warfare from a defensive into an
offensive one The submarine no longer
is able to prey upon transatlantic ships
as it did earlier in the war.
U-Boats Routed.
'.The U-boat has been driven from the
coasts of England and France and has
had to go elsewhere for its victims. The
aid We have given Great Britain has re-
suited in increased submarine destruc-
ton. But there are still U-boats on the
sea,
Germany would not think of giving
up its submarine warfare 1t had to
abandon the English and French coasts
reluctantly. I believe II was largely an
idea OF German propaganda that inspired
the attack on our fishing smacks on the
Massachusetts coast
The Germans probably thought there
would be some cutlery by the American
ships and that It would result In de-
stroyers. submarine chasers and other
American war craft being diverted from
the English. French and Mediterranean
waters to hunt for the German U-boat
But the navy Is sticking to its origi-
raj and sound policy of concentrating
Its efforts in the European waters. AZ
ter that comes the hunt for U-boats that
sink fishing smacks."
Following Senator Gerrys defence of
the navy Senator Lodge (Mass), rank
ing Republican member of the Naval
Committee. said that he felt the navy
was pursuing an entirely proper policy
IN directing its principal effort to the
destruction of submarines actively pur-
sung their murderous calling in Euro
pean waters and conveying American
transports and supply ships The prob
lem OF policing the American coast he
SAID Is Infinitely greater than protect
ing restricted waters around the British
Isles The expanse OF sea here Is much
greater. But the navy. he said, Is not
neglecting the American coast.
Difficulties I'm Hunt.
II Is like finding the needle in the
haystack, without knowing at what point
ue needle may come out of the stack"
saIu me Senator. THE Grand Banks, Off
'"e Massachusetts, coast, where this
"aWier is operating, Is a region of mists
ana perpetual fog The navy Is doing
"ns' II can TO get the vagrant trawler,
anu ] have no. doubt it will soon be
found"
senator Lodge also asserted that he
.ad been informed that the two depth
~ TVHnos dropped on the spot where the