Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-03-08
u. S. AND BRITISH
NAVIES SINKING
MANY SUBMARINES
Sir Eric Goddess British First
Lord of the Admiralty Says
That Brazil Will Send Fleet
to Europe

LONDON. March Great Britain
and America are sinking enemy sub
marines as fast as they are, built"
First Lord of the Admiralty Geddes,
addressing the house of commons. de-
clared today.
Germany is greatly exaggerating
her successeS-in one month as much
as 20 per cent
There is no reasont . alter my opin-
ion that the menace is held. but not
mastered
The chance of a submarine return
ing from the mort hAtlantic, Jne chan
mel or the North sea are one In -FOUR or
five"
Corporation between the British
and American navies is as near per-
pect as possible" Sir Eric declared.
American officers are working in ev-
cry section of the admiralty personnel.
"AI ranks have earned the graft
tude and the respect of all"
Naval warfare is increasingly in
our favor" he said. I'VE have placed
a trans-channeI surface barrage to OBJ
struct submarines. More than 100 pa
trolls are employed in this.
In the Mediterranean conditions are
more difficult, and the submarine con-
dition is less satisfactory.
Despite glowing newspaper &C
counts from America il will be consid-
cradle time before the pecessary output
Of tonnage is secured
'Courtsmartial have been ordered to
elucidate the Dover patrol raid
Sir Eric said the rate of exaggera-
ton in the German reports of tonnage
alleged to have been sunk was increas-
ing steadily. The eXaggeration in the
second quarter of the period of I'M
restricted submarine warfare was
twice that of the first quarter. The
rates in the third and fourth quarters
were three and four times that fthe
first quarter. and in January four and
one-half times the first quarter.
The first lord said he was seriously
concerned at the increasing number of
vessels lost at night. 1t appeared the
enemy was assisted in this matter by
negligence on the part of ship owners
who displayed lights instead of darken-
ing their vessels.
In the waters around the British
Isles, which had been the enemy's chief
field for submarine operations, the
greatest successes against the U-boats
had been obtained so far, latterly with
the help of American naval forces said
Sir Eric.
Sir Eric said the naval forces of the
allies in European waters would be
augmented shortly by force of Bra
lillian warships.
Sir Eric said, in reply to a question,
that the allies were consulted regard
ing the publication of tonnage losses
and reasserted that the curve" of
allied losses from the German sub
marine warfare was downward.
The trend of the figures of loss Of
shipping by enemy action was steadily
improving Sir Eric stated. The loss
to the worlds tonnage during February
was little more than half the loss dur
ing February of last year, he said.
It became increasingly evident, the
first lord went on. that as the re-
sources for combating the submarines
improved it would be possible to turn
attention more to the Mediterranean,
he continued.
IT recently went to Rome for a meet
ing of the allies naval committee and
also inspected naval establishments in
the Mediterranean. including those of
the Greek navy. British naval off.
GERS are assisting the Greeks in reor-
ganization of their navy, which already
is cooperating in the Mediterranean
and rendering valuable service"
Concerning shipbuilding, he said there
was no lack of materials at the pres
emit time and there were more men in
the yards. but the output reached only
$4,000 tons in January, although IL
should have been much larger. 1t was
true the weather was exceptional and
also January, owing TO the holidays,
always was a bad month for the out
put of ships. One week or one month
could not be taken by itself. He ex-
pressed the opinion that February would
be shown to have made nearly twice
as good a record as January, although
only about two-thirds of what the same
yards had done previously with fewer
men.
Submarines were being destroyed in
increasing numbers, he continued, and
as the methods employed against them
were developed the numbers would be
enlarged still further. There was
growing reluctance on the part of Ger
man crews to put to sea The chances
that a submarine would return from
voyage in the waters around Eng
land were one in four or one in five.