The Meeker herald., 1918-10-26

by Sea, waged BY the enemy with -
great determination and presisten-
cy ~ he has fought with on the west
srn front. =. Only those who
have access 70 ofiIcial records can
appreciate the character OF the en-
smy's efforts to arrest these varied
transport movements, and particular
ly Of tho American forces, destined
for Europe.
I'VE make mistake II We reward
the enemy's sea Offensive ~ lass I'M
portant than the military movement
on land. The whole German people
were led to believe that piracy. prac.
ticed with the utmost ruthlessness,
would ruin this ambitious transport
scheme. What has happened? More
than 1000, 600 troops have been car
ried across the Atlantic and the lives
OF less than 300 soldiers have been
lost"
And yet, gliding from the express
sion Of this eminent authority to one
Of our own military journals, We read:
1.-The blow which will crush the Ger
man forces must be struck by the
Army. In this war, the Navy 10 On
auxiliary force, just - the shipbuild-
ing industries and all Of the other
war activities." This from the Amer
lean Army Gazette.
Routine, keeping sea lanes open,
laying traps and mines, unspectacu-
lar patroliing Of the coast, sinking >
U.boot here aud there after months
Of watchful vigils, xigsagging . con-
voy through dangerous waters,
Watching every minute Of every one
Of the three hundred and sixty flne
days In . yerr-these naturally do
not command the headlines accorded
. five-mils advance for the Allies
near Chateau hierry, or the death
Of . prominent soldier, or the iuven-
ton Of some new implement Of war,
or the capture Of st. Quentin by the
Allies. Yet the failure OF ono North
Sea which would be &C.
corded scarcely newspaper line. II
successful-might lose the war. Had
the Navy been unable to transport
men TO Europe - quickly aud In such
numbers - 1t did transport them,
who can say what tho result would
have been In those dark days follow
ing the big German drive last spring?
The Navy cannot afford TO j-apOr-
die the safety Of the Thousands Of
men upon trsnsports-the safety Of
the country-by premature publics-
ton Of news. II the how's and when's
Of certain sumarine disasters 1t Sea
were related the German admiralty
doubtless would b pleased inmeas-
urabiy. Therefore the men Of tho
Navy, much ~ they want the Navy
70 receive its just dues In the hearts
Of the people, Obey the unwritten In
junction Of "Do-and- Say. Nothing"
Admiral Won Holtsendorn, Chief Of
the German Admiralty stan, tells
why U.boats were not sinking Am
srican transports In recent inter-
view In the Cologne Gazette, reprint-
ed by the New York Times, and tn-
cidsntally pays . compliment to AM
erican genius. He said:
"Ths Americans have ut their dis
posal for debarkation the coastal re-
gion from the northern point Of Scot
land to the French Mediterranean
ports, with dozens Of dSbArkAtion
places. Must We put our bOsts TO
lurk Oh these harbors On the chance
Of getting shot 1t by the strongly
guarded conveys Of fast American
transports1 The conveys do not come
with the regularity and frequency Of
railroad trains at . big railroad Sta
tion. but irregularIy, with long In
tsrruptions, and often by night and
In fog. When one remembers all
that, one realizes what little pros
psct Of success II offers to set the u
boats especially At American trans
ports. We must Away remember
that It IL the task Of our U-boats 70
reduce the entire cargo space In the
enemy's service, for on this depends
his existence and ability to carry on
the war" Admiral Won HOltxen-
dorfi's retirement was announced q
few days later.
When the war 10 over, We shall
check up on what every one has
done toward Victory. Then, when
the need for silence 10 over, 10 II moi
reasonable to presume the Navy will
come into It's own, that some Of the
profoundly heroic tales Of silent bat.
ties through storm and wave will bs
related and that the modest COB will
be placed where he belongs, beside
the heroes Of the Manner
III Il were all ~ good ~ the Navy