Evening journal., 1918-10-16
.U-BOAT MEN TRAIN
TO HIT TRANSPORTS
Practice in Baltic Massed
Attacks Against Conveyed
Transports
FOES TO PLAY
THEIR LAST STAKE

WASHINGTON, Oct i8,-warnlnghas
reached the United States Navy De
partment as well as the British Admir-
atty that Germany is about 10 launch
the most desperate submarine campaign
OF the war.
The U-boat fleets, refitted and
strengthened by an increasing number
OF new craft, are believed 20 be waiting
the signal from Berlin to begin opera
lions IN steamship and TRANSPORT lanes
in pursuance OF policy which In some
respects will be different from that
employed by the German Admiralty In
the past.
The new German plan, IL is under
stood, will be for the submarines 30
concentrate on large ships, particularly
troop transports, instead OF continuing
TO seek out Draft OF every description. A
feature Of the new csmkpaign win be
the concentrated effort OF the German
Admiralty TO turn out new and power
full U-boats at the sacrifice OF other
war plans, which heretofore have been
prime factors In the Teutoh war cam
paign.
The Navy Department hero has
learned that U-boat crews are now
receiving courses Of intensive training
In the Baltic with the particular OBJ
ject OF planning for attacks against
transports heavily conveyed.
Dummy ships representing the trans
ports and provided by the German navy
and other craft representing destroyers,
submarine chasers, etc., are provided
theoretically TO protect the transports.
The U-boat commanders and crews are
then put through special course OF
training as 10 the best methods Of at
tacklng the conveys, singing out par
tloular trOopships for massed attack.
The prospective forced German re-
tlrement from northern France and Bel
GUM, the necessity Of abandoning the
Macedonian front and the impossibility
in the near future OF sending supplies
TO Turkey VIII combine to place at the
German Admiraltys disposal thousands
OF additional shipouilders and huge
quantities OF equipment, raw material,
etc., which otherwise would have been
absorbed for army use. The army's en-
forced retrenchment means added op-
portunity for he navy. II Is explained
and the German Admiralty Is under
stood 70 have decided TO concentrate
all efforts on the construction Of the
larger submarines.
Secretary Daniels made II clear that
he Endorsed all that Cir Eric Geddes,
First Lord Of the British Admiralty, has
said with respect 10 the accelerated
U-boat building programme and the
pending submarine situation as fast ap-
preaching q positive menace unless
prompt measures are taken to counter
act It.
To meet the Gituation Mr.. Daniels SAID
that the nayy's programme for new de-
stroyers and other anti-submarine craft
would have to be Increased. He VIII go
before Congress this week TO ask for
additional funds for destroyers. The
scope Of this programme, 81 Is ex-
planned, Will re1ecs the navys nrm be
lief that the wsr IS far from over.
The destrOyers that are now. being
turned over TO the navy for use are not
far behind schedule, but the two
months OF comparative inactivity dur
ing the Industrial and coal crises last
winter have not yet been overcome.
An appeal was issued yesterday TO ell
shipbuilders to rush work TO make up
for the delay.
The socalled Eaglets or Ford sub
marine chasers are expected 70 be get
ting into bulk production before long.
The first trial trip OF one OF these craft
was eminently satisfactory, Il Is ex-
planned.