The Washington herald., 1918-06-04

OF the cruiser type on tne coast OF
the United States is not regarded as
Ia serious menace by the United States
Shipping Board. 1t is believed that a
policy Of unlimited sphere Of activity
for the U-boats will not result in q
material increase Of tonnage de-
stroyed. and the Shipping Board fs
prepared to put more ships on the
sea than the submarines can sink.
Chairman Edward N. Hurley ex-
pressed his confidence IN the United
States being able to defeat the sub
marine warfare Of the Germans. He
also made the reassuring statement
that the closing OF the principal ports
on the Atlantic coast on account OF
the presence In the coast waters OF
German submarines would have no
effect upon the strength of the Amer
ican troops and the allies on the bat
tlefront, so far as that strength de-
pends upon the transportation Of mu-
nitions and supplies from the United
States.
Plenty OF Supplies.
Under the vigorous campaign of the
shipping Board that has diverted all
available shipping to transatlantic
service. a reserve Of munitions and
war supplies, and food for the civilian
population. has been built up In Eng
land and France. The extent OF this
reserve cannot be made public, but it
is sufficient to permit the Americans
and allies to carry on. even II the
Atlantic ports of the United States
are closed for q considerable period
of time.
Mr.. Hurley, who said he was mere
ly guessing, expressed the belief that
the German submarine cruisers now
OF the coast had obtained oil for
fuel and food supplies at some place
in Mexico, and that the Germans
may have been able to establish a
submarine base. Without such a
base. the activities of the submarines
on this side of the water must be
limited.
Even with a base-a secret base
they would have to have docking IA
cilities to keep them in cruising con-
dition. A submarine depends upon
delicate and finely adjusted ma
chinery for its own safety. as well as
offensive power, and must be 100 per
cent efficient when II submerges. AS
It grows older. 1t depends more and
more upon repairs and readjustment.
and spends more and more time in
dry dock. and soon wears out its
short life.
No Hun Docks Here.
1t is hardly possible that the Ger
mans have been able to establish a
base on this side Of the water with
docking facilities. and. IL 1t has, it
is sure to be found out and soon de-
stroyed.
A theory that is accepted as plaus-
ible by Mr.. Hurley and officials of
the Shipping Board Is that, with or
without a base on this side Of the
Atlantic, the German submarine
cruisers have been sent to the Ameri-
can coast as an experiment, and
mainly for political effect at home.
and in an attempt to bring frightful-
ness to the doors OF the American
people.
failed OF signal success. With every
opportunity of surprise. the U-boats.
according to official and unofficial re-
ports. have been able to attack only
one boat OF Importance. and has sunk
some slow-sailing vessels. fit only for
the coasting trade and hardly counted
in the available tonnage of the coun-
try.
U-BOat's Poor Bag.
II it is true that the submarine
cruisers. which reports to the snip
ping Board would Indicate are half a
dozen or more in number. have
cruised up the coasting steamer lanes,
they had an absolutely free field for
operations. and their bag in tonnage
destroyed is not large. Protective
measures. even to the mounting OF
guns. would probably have proved ef-
fective against the submarine attacks
on important ships. All vessels rnder
the control Of the Shipping Board are
equipped with wireless, and all i'm
portant vessels mount guns.
Further reports to the Shipping
Board were that the two submarine
cruisers which sank one Of the sailing
vessels were so sure of their security
from attack that they were cruising
about on the surface in nesurely fash
ion. and lazily overhauled and sank
the slow-moving coasting sailing
ships. The commanders OF the boats
were prompt in their orders, but Of
fered no violence to the officers or
crews Of the ships halted and sunk