The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-30
ESQ US. WARSHIPS
GUARD U-BOAT ZONE
Sir Eric Geddes Praises Ameri-
can Cooperation in Out
whiting Enemy.

LONDON, July zs.-"There 10 no branch
Of Anglo-American activity in which Coz
operation and comradeship are more
marked and more complete than in II e
navy" said Sir Eric Geddes, First Lord
OF the British Admiralty, speaking to-
day at the American Luncheon Club.
There arc more than $50 American
Eric said. land Mr. Roosevelt, American
Assistant Secretary Of the Navy. has as
sured us this number will increase faster
In the future than in the past.
I'VE are glad to welcome all these ad-
ditiops to the allieo naval strength, be-
cause every additional slip means a
more strenuous war against submarines.
Large numbers Of ships are being re-
CURED nowadays for the work Of escort
ing incoming American transports. II
ship 10 on escort duty It cannot be
hunting and fighting submarines, So
| the additional American forces will mean
the release of a similar number Of Brit
ish for intensive offensive work against
U-boats"
In addition to Sir Eric Geddes and
Franklin d. Roosevelt, the American
Assistant Secretary OF the Navy. the
guests included tho members Of the
Naval Committee OF the American House
Of Representatives Mr.. Roosevelt said
II came over hero with the object OF
learning. That is Why I came across the
! Atlantic In q destroyer. shall spend
| most Of my few weeks on this side In
| actually seeing things being done
Sir Eric Geddes' and myself already
have visited Queenstown and we have
found things working there Just as had
dreamed they ought to DO WORKING
keen. unified energy Of British and
American forces aiming at a common
end. It has been q great pleasure tc
meet Sir Eric, to travel with him on ar
American destroyer and to find him q
I be man, talking in our own language.
'ThssBhited States owes much to the
untiring work Of the British navy. fol
It 10 . fact that about so per cent. OF the
troopships carrying Americans to Europe
are British ships and have been escorted
by British men-of-war.
The United States has. I believe, al
last struck its stride in naval construc'
ton and we shall deliver ships very
rapidly henceforth."
Earlier in the day Mr. Roosevelt had
a long interview with King George.
AS an evidence OF the efficiency of thu
| convoy system since It was established
| Dy the admiralty ABOUT year ago IL II
pointed out that the proportion Of ship.
lost to those conveyed during that periot
has been $4,000 Of per cent In othel
| words, only ship out of nearly 200 ha.
been lost.
The Naval Affairs Committee Of tn,
United States House Of Representatives
headed by Lemuel P. Padgett. the chair
man, has arrived in London after an un
eventful voyage on an American battle
ship.
The committee was met by representa-
tives of the British Admiralty and othe
ofiicials. and before proceeding to Lon
don visited the naval bases and wit
Messed the Joint activities of the British
and American navies In those waters.
The members of the committee visitet
Vice-Admiral Sims. Ambassador Pag
and the First Lord of the Admiralty to
day and were the guests of the Amer!
can Club. The committee will remain II
England for several days and will theI
60 to Queenstown and afterward t
France and Italy.
Chairman Padgett said the committee
men were enthusiastic over what the,
had already seen and were prouder thar
ever of Americas efforts in the war ant
happy to find such cordial relations be
tween British and American naval Off
Gals.