New-York tribune., 1918-02-03
Factories Unable to Meet
Demands of the
Submarines
Average of 8 Carried
Commanders Are Cautioned
Against Waste by
Chance Shots
Correspondence Of Tho Associated Pressl

Correspondence Of The Associated Pressl
BASE OF AMERICAN f'LOTILLA IN
BRITISH WATERS, Jan. 2.-Shortage
ct torpedoes is one Of the most serious
facts with which the directors Of the
German u-boat war are now faced. It
is we'll known and admitted fact that
German factories are at present abso-
lutely unable to turn out first class tor
pedoes in anywhere near sufficient
quantities for the needs of the sub
marines. In fact. the underwater
craft are being turned out faster than
the torpedoes, with the result that re-
course has been had to various expe-
dents to keep the submarines sup
piled with their chief weapon.
Germany's fleet of U-boats must
carry thousands of torpedoes. Thou
sands more must always be ready in
reserve. In fact, the reserve supply
should be larger to-day than a year
ago to allow for the more frequent
calls made upon it. The augmented
destroyer patrol is responsible for
this. They have made the submarines
use up more torpedoes and have
caused them to return to their base
more frequently for reloading.
Eight may be said to be the average
number of torpedoes carried in one
submarine. The number ranges from
tour to twelve, according to the type
of submarine. The U-53. which raid
ed shipping off the Atlantic Coast of
the United States, carried ten. More
recent types load as many as twelve
Mine layers can accommodate two,
four and six, dependent on their size
In connection with this shortage is
the interesting fact that all U-boat
commanders now are strictly Era
toned" as far as their supply of tor
pedoes is concerned, and are not per-
mitted to waste torpedoes on long
''chance shots" except under circum-
detail as justifying the expenditure of
the precious underwater missiles.
Recently the German factories have
been turning out smaller torpedo
which is less accurately tested, but
which may be used with fair degree
of certainty at close range. Of late
very few German torpedoes have proved
effective unless at fairly close range
and it has become unusual for U.
boat commander to make any attempt
at merchant ship unless he can get
within 500 to 600 yards.
The Germans are now using two
types Of torpedoes. They may be de-
scribed as short-charge and full charge
torpedoes. The short-charge is the one
used mostly against merchant shipping
and is fired at 500 to 600 wards The
ull-charge, which probably has twice
the destructive force and is bette,
made, is reserved for men-of-war. 1t is
fired at greater distance and is used
less frequently than the cheaper tor
pedo.
But the comparative immunity of the
American destroyers from torpedo at
tack, despite the loss of the Jacob
Jones and the slight disablement OF
the Cassin, is noteworthy in this con-
nection. The Germans hate the Ameri-
can destroyers as one of their worst
enemies in their most fertile field of
action, and there is scarcely an Ameri-
can destroyer but has had one or more
German torpedoes fired at her, yet only
twice have the torpedoes found their
mark
The Americans and the British, with
whom they are cooperating SO success
July in this game of hunting "tin-
mobility of the destroyer. The alert
ness of the American naval men,
coupled with their we'll known keen
ness for offensive tactics against the
submarine, have been responsible for
their slight losses. Sharp lookouts and
skllful manmuvring enable them to
cheat the Germans so often.