New-York tribune., 1918-03-07
Japanese Captain Says Sub
marines Are Being De-
stroyed Rapidly
u. S. Navy Praised
1t Is Doing Much Of the De-
stroying-How La Guardia
Is Greeted in Italy

AN ATLANTIC PORT, March g.
Proof of the statement of Sir Eric
Geddcs, First Lord Of the British Ad-
mralty, that U-boats are being sunk
in great numbers was brought here to-
day by Captain sato Yamamoto, Japan
csc Naval Attache at Rome, who ar
rived on an American liner.
Captain Yamamoto declared that tif-
teen Teuton submarines were de-
stroycd in the Mediterranean in the
month before he left Rome by Ameri-
can and Japanese warships, cooperat-
ing with those Of the British, French
and Italian fleets.
"We're hunting them into their lars
like rats!" exclaimed the Japanese Of
iicer. enthusiastically intimating that
even the Uboat bases would not be
safe from Allied attacks for very much
longer.
Although the U-boat is being coun-
tered to q large degree, according to
Captain Iamamoto, the menace Is st'l|
extensive. Thirty-thrcc members OF
the crew Of tho former German steam
ship Armenia, who returned to tins
port to-day after thcir vessel had been
torpcdopd twice, and finally beachcd
bore evidence Of the continued activity
of the German raiders.
Captain Namamoto, who wore d naval
uniform, had been stationed at Rome
for three years. From the ship he
went on to Washington. and will con-
tinuc, after "a short visit. 20 Tokio, by
way Of the Pacific.
Hard to CAPTURE
"You must take the stories Of actual
captures Of U-boats with a grain of
salt he said. ct is hard job to
capture a U-boat, 80 they've been de-
stroyed. They give merchantmen no
quarter. sc the Allies are giving them
no quarter.
"The American dcstroyers arc doing
wonderful work in hunting down the
submarines. There arc practically no
moro Austrian submarines left in the
Mcditcrranean-thcy have I'll been
wiped out. The German boats, how
ever, keep up appearances by some
times flying the Austrian flag.
Germany keeps up the u-boat war
fare by shipping submarines in parts
overland TO Trieste and Pola, where
they arc assembled and sent out on
their business. Although we are sink
ing them faster, l do not think they
arc being destroyed as fast as Germany
is building them.
"Submarines are like bees-if you
can smoke them out, you can get them.
That may be the Allied plan--1 am not
allowed to discuss that phase"
The steamship Armenia, whose sur
vivors arrived to-day, was converted
into en- American liner, with the same
name, after this country's declaration
Of war. Put into the transatlantic ser
vice, the ship was torpedoed the first
time in the English Channel, on De-
cember 8, beached and temporarily re-
paired by means of a wooden patch
placed over the cash.
Captain Anderson Of the Armenia
succeeded in beaching the vessel, and
after two months work had it ready
for service once more. On February
8 he set out for drydock, and thr-
teen hours later the vessel was again
torpcdoed. Bleaching was again re-
sorted to, but this time the vessel was
left on the shore near Dartmouth, the
crew being sent home.
Previous to the double torpedoing
( the Armenia had still another en-
/ counter with Uboat, from which she
emerged practically unscathed. On this
voyage the German submarine came
alongside and, without warning, began
to shell the steamer. Eleven shots
were fired through the ships tunnels
and rigging, but the freighter escaped
after the brush. The Armenia is {, ,.64
tons gross, and Secretary Daniels on
January 20 made public a report COM
mending the gun crew, wireless oper-
ator and crew fov bravery and GOODNESS
displayed throughout this first attack