El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-07-02

IT MUST been remarked by almost every reader OF
1 the daily newspapers that in the past few months
news Of the sinking Of ships submarines has been rare
Much attention given the raid IN western Atlantic
waters by one or U-boats possibly accompanied by
mother ship IN which raid about Of ships were
sunk It has already been noted that most Of these ships
were Of small tonnage, and engaged IN eoaslse raIo
the West Indian trade Sinking them had no bearing
on starving out England, France, Italy ana Greece o. OF
preventing American troops and supplies from Teach
Europe Practically the only setback given US by the
destruction Of these ships was the loss or NUMBER OF
lives when West Indian passenger liner was sunk and
the loss Of many thousands Of tons Of sugar In course or
being transported from Cuba TO the United States Inc
frightened sugar restrictions are result Of that loss OF
Other than this raid little submarine activity has been
noted Ships have been sunk and have been mentioned
from time to time but U-boat warfare creating
the anxiety which formerly attended its operations We
the submarine achieve the purposes
which given free to murder and destroy
It announced IN the senate the other day that the
month Of May was about $4,000 gross tons Then came
British official announcement that the Nay sinkings
about 366 900 tons Here apparent disparity
OF some $4,000 tons which senator Cunls CONSISTENT
but not always accurate critic Of the administration, did
not overlook He pointed TO 1t IN the Of senate
debate Friday the army appropriation bill and referred
Il in such way TO make 1t appear that someone
had falsed, and that probably the falsifier the
person bureau or department which had furnished his
colleague with the $4,000 ton figure
But senator Cummins evidently did not note when
reading the British figures that they covered all marine
losses only those caused by submarines and mines but
also those due TO natural agencies, including collisions
storms high tides rocks The sinngs from natural
causes unCommOnly large these days. That be
cargo ships being sent to which peace
times would venture than 20 miles from coast
for the reason that they old and be made
really seaworthy and because avoid much OF the
submarine peril possible, ships making extraOrdi
nsy long voyages IN crossing the Atlantic, and every
added mile at sea means an added mile Of danger.
So that the disparity between the British and American
figures may considered accounted for under the heading
Of sinbings by natural causes.
Even the British figures though higher suffi-
ent TO any feeling other than satisfaction because
they not still greater ago ships being
suhmarined-the word is not be found dictionary
but enjoys certain currency nevertheless-at the rate Of
10000 to 10000 tons month. Fortunate the month
when the snngs dropped to 100000 tons At the same
time the output Of merchant ships from the shpyards
very much below 10000 tons a month
It Is apparent therefore, that the rate Of snngs has
half Also the shiphuildng Ess increased
that ships being constructed than
being sunk British official figures for Nay show that
about 100000 tons Of ships 500 navgated IN
Of British ports The between the total
ship movement and the number Of tons sunk is most
striking.
Moreover we have the word Of no less competent an
authority than Archibald S. Hurd, the British writer
naval subjects that the allied naves have had
good month May IN the bagging Of submarines He
agrees with other British writers that the U-bOats
being captured destroyed faster than they being
built It Is to be remembered too, that large number
OF submarines nave been put out Of action temporarily
because Of the British blocking operations Ostend and
ZeebrUgge The submersibss penned up and cannot
get out until German engineers find way to clear the
channels
The thought suggests itself that those fewer U-boas
which stH engaged in sinking ships must be making
proporouately high record for destruction as the
submarines have done But fortunately for Us, the
effect grows less serious every month
In the Ihstag debate Of last week deputy Hugo Haase
calling attention to the promises Of vice admiral Won Ca
7ee IN charge Of the Uboat war that American troops