Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-09-18
CONQUERED,
| SENATOR DECLARES
Mr.. Thompson, Home From
! Europe, Praises Work OF
Allied kaWes.
GRAND FLEET A MARVEL

Declaring that the feoo1t0 pub
lished statement Of Admiral Won
Scheer, chief Of tho German admiralty
staff, that Germany would bring Eng
land to her knees by the use Of the
submarine was an idle boast, Senator
Thompson Of Kansas who has pe-
Gently returned to the United States
from the war zone, today In the Sem
ate gave praise to the allied naviss
for their accomplishments against
the U-boats.
"I think it can safely be said that
the submarine Is no longer . menace
to transportation across the seas. The
truth is that Germany never had more
than $50 submarines. including all
construction before and since the war
Half Of Submarines Destroyed
1--WE have positive knowledge Of the
destruction of more than one-haEf or
these submarines. and we also KNOW
Germany to keep In operation more
than 10 per cent of the remaining
submarines. 1t is, therefore. reduced
to a negligible quantity. SO Tar ~ It's
ultimate effect upon the war.
the destruction Of this outlaw seagoing
craft is due. The Navy il and has been
the backbone Of this war, tho same as II
has been Of almost every great war IN
history. Without the alisd navy the
rlished its purpose In starving the
European allies and In preventing them
from securing the necessary munuons
of war to defend themselves. II has
utterly failed in this respect The al
lies are amply supplied with food. and
there are provisions enough on hand
now, il every ship should DO sunk. to
last the armies and allies Tor montns
The destroyer il the ship wntch mas
brought Germany to her knees In sub
marine warfare and will keep her there.
We have not enough destroyers, and IT
is for this reason that we arc ooiigeo
In this great transportation problem TO
run risks which would would. not 1e saken . hhr
was escorted by q sufficient number OF
destroyers, I doubt II there would be n
single ship Of any consequence sunk, ex-
cept by the merest accident.
Would Put Huns on Ships.
1.-THE Olympic. the ship on which
returned. recently rammed suoma
rine and rescued most of it's crew.
Every possible precaution should be
taken to prevent any further destruc-
ton of ships by tho murderous sub
marine. German prisoners. Officers in
particular. placed in the empty ships
advised. might help materially to pro-
tect them In their passage. A few
hundred more submarines ana subma-
rans ef conseraetion VIII do the
business, and 1t will be Germany
brought to her knees instead Of Eng
It was my good fortune to see the
Grand Fleet, which Is generally un-
derstood to be in the vicinity Of the
North sea. This was formerly called
1 the Royal Fleet, but since the en-
trance Of the United States into the
| this fleet the name has been changed
to the Grand Fleet, and it is GER
| tainly worthy of its name. for II is
concede by all to be the greatest and
gether under one command. Sailing
in single file. without counting the
| numerous destroyers, submarines.
! submarine chasers. and other smaller
craft, it is said to be about eighty
miles in length and requires hours.
going at ordinary speed. to pass in
| review. With such a fleet no one ever
need worry about the German navy
! coming out of its hiding place and
doing any very great damage.
In Command Of Grand Fleet.
| "There is a perfect harmony between
the British and the American officers
in this command. Admiral Beatty Of the
British navy is. Of course. supreme In
command, but it frequently devolves
upon our American Admiral Rodman to
command, and whenever orders are
given by either commander they are
obeyed and respected as II OF equal au-
! thority. Admiral Rodman Is ono Of the
practical men OF the navy, 30 much ad-
mired by the people Of this country.
When l left him at the grand feet on
August 20 I asked him IL there was any
message could take for him to the
Secretary Of the Navy or n there was
anything we could do for him in Obn-
gress. and he replied: Not a thing.
Tell the Secretary we have everything
we need over here and that everything
Is running perfectly smooth, and for
Gods sake to let us alone With such
a spirit we need have no fear that our
Navy is not in safe hands. for like Ad-
miral Dewey, even with the cables cut,
,r,t,>r 6Dh AN -