The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-01-03
Total Losses for December
Smallest of Any Month
Except November
GERMAN CREWS
LESS SKILLFUL
Veteran Commanders Are
Easily Distinguished By
Plan of Attack
fBv Associated Press.N

London, Jan. 3.-Eighteen British
merchantmen of 1900 tons or over,
have been sunk by mines and sub
marines during the last week, ac-
cording to the admiralty statement
last night. Three merchantmen under
1900 tons were also sunk. This is a
material increase over the previous
week. when the sinkings numbered
IL. OF which IL were more than 1900
tons.
The summary:
Arrivals, all; sailings, 2,074. &
British merchantmen ] 800 tons or
over sunk is, including two previ-
ously, under 1900 tons, 8; fishing
vessels none.
Vessels unsuccessfulIy attacked g.
Although the sinltings of ships Of
large tonnage in the past week have
been rather heavy, the total for
December is characterized as salts
factory, being only slightly larger
than for November, which establish
ed a low record. The tonnage sunk
during December was we'll below
that of any. month previous to
September. Against this, however,
the sinlIings of submarines were
greater in December than in any
previous month since the war be-
gan.
More Submarines Sunk.
Naval men declare That mole susI,
marines were sunk in December than
the German shipyards were able to
launch: so the German submarine
gun actually tostrink-a procesSwhic
the allies hope to accelerate rapidly
with the increasing effectiveness Of
naval methods.
The sinkings in the last month oc-
CURED mainly in two areas. Owing
to the severe weather, the sub
marines have been compelled to con-
centrate and work closer to shore.
This, perhaps accounts for the large
number of submarines caught. One
of these was rammed in the most
casual manner by a slow going
coastal steamer almost within gun
shot of land. An American liners
gun crew also scored a hit which
was not recognized by the admiralty
because it was not confirmed from a
second source and the crew saw only
a smashed periscope and the sub
marine might conceivably have been
able to limp home.
Reports of encounters with sub
marines in the last three months
indicate that whatever improvements
have been made in the U-boats, they
are not nearly so efficient or deadly
as they were earlier in the year.
This is due partly to the lower
standards Of their torpedoes and al
so to deterioration in the quality Of
their crews. In 'IJ- boating. as in
aviation, experienced men are
Ereplaceable and novices stand a poor
chance.
The American naval men have
learned to identify the German u
boat veteran, merely by the charac-
ter of his operation, and can tell
when the novice comes on their beat
by the amateurish manner of his at
tack. Some Of the German veterans,
like the commander whom the AM
ericans have nicknamed Kelly, are
foemen worthy OF the naval mans
best efforts, but the U-boat noyices
fall into the net easily and their
chances OF escape are small.
Mine-laying submarines continue
very active and figures made public
today show that last year more than
1900 German mines were swept up
in British waters alone.
Paris, Jan. s.-Nine French mer-
chant ships of more than 1900 tons
were sunk by submarines or mines
during the week ending Dec. 20.
There was no loss of vessels under
500 tons or of lighting ships. Two.
attacks on steamers failed.