New-York tribune., 1918-06-16
British Admiral Doubts
Any Attempt VIII Be
Made at Blockading
American Warships on
Guard OFF Gibraltar
Other Vessels Are Operat-
ing in Mediterranean and
OFF Queenstown
tBy The Associated P~essl

LONDON. June l5.--German subma-
rine activity off the Atlantic coast Of
the United States should not be taken
very seriously, as the Germans prob
ably will not attempt blockade Of the
American shores. This is the opinion
of Vice-Admiral Sir Rosslyn Wemyss,
First Sea Lord of the British Admiralty
The admiral believes that there is only
one submarine operating off the Ameri-
can coast and that the purpose OF ITS
trip across the Atlantic was to frighten
the Americans.
German ruthlessness at sea, the First
Sea Lord declared must be met by cen
tralized warfare in the North Sea and
the Mediterranean.
Admiral Wemyss paid tribute to the
cooperation Of the American naval
forces in European waters. He SAID
the American ships not only were sta
toned in the north, but were also op-
Grating in the Mediterranean and Off
Gibraltar.
To Carry Public Along.
The appearance of the submarine Off
the American coast is an arrestlng de-
velopment from whatever point OF view !
it is studied and opportunity was gwen
this week to Archibald S. Hurd, the
British naval writer, to obtain from
the British First Sea Lord his opinion
upon this new departure on the part
of the Germans and its effect upon the
naval situation generally. Secrecy is
an essential element of success in all
warfare, but there are times when
chief of staff can speak with necessary
reserve without giving information to
the enemy. In democratic countries
the leaders of the fighting forces must
carry public opinion with them. That
has been the policy adopted in increas-
ing measure by the present Lord of the
Admiralty.
The First Sea Lord was bending over
a table at work when the interviewer
entered the room. He had cast aside
his coat and waistcoat, owing to the
heat of the afternoon; the windows
were open, and there was about the
admiral fresh-air atmosphere.
taken very seriously,' he said in reply
TO a general inquiry as to what i'm
portance he attached to the German
sinking of shipping off the American
coast.
Might Bet on It,
"If l were inclined to bet, should
say there has not been more than one
submarine off the American coast
may be wrong, but that is the impress
sion ! have formed That conclusion
fits in with my Interpretation of the
enemy's object.
''The Germans cannot hope to main
tain anything in the character of a
blockade. The distance is too great
from their bases.
1.-THE enemy has merely made
demonstration with the hope of caus-
ing us to decentralize our efforts to
put down the submarine. His object
is to frighten the American people. in
the hope that they may exert their
influence on their naval authorities.
"You will remember that Napoleon
declared that 'exclusiveness Of pur-
pose is the secret of great successes
and Of great operations Now, if the
Germans could cause dispersal of
naval forces this demonstration off the
American coast would achieve its pur-
pose.
~ hold firmly to two principles. AS
chief of the staff believe firmly in
decentralization in administration hut
as chief of staff also believe as firmly
IN the centraization Of effort against
the enemy. | thlna it was Admiral Ma
han who said that the great end of a
war fleet is not to chase, nor to fly, but
to control the seas
Now, with that statement in mind.
glance at an ordinary school atlas if
you have not got what the Germans
would call war map handy. You
will observe that the Central Powers
have formed block in Europe running
down from the North Sea to the Adri-
attic and to the point where the Darda-
nelles debouches into the Mediterra-
mean Any submarine to reach the
American coast has to pass either to
the north or south of the British Ts,es
or along the Mediterranean. where Cih.
raitar stands sentinel over the narrow
exit.
"rhat atlas is Illuminating. It in.
dicates sound strategic methods of
dealing with the submarine campaign.
We must fight the U-boat in the nar-
row seas. In other words WE y"e rus, mar,
centralize, concentrating all our forces
In what IS really the decisive area.
The Germans, you NAV be sure
have been studying the chart and in
sending one of their so-called subma
rine cruisers to the American coast
they thought to raise an outcry in the
United States against the policy which
Is now being pursued Of fighting the
submarine in the narrow seas,
We'll. Judge both from official in
formation and cable dispatches in the
newspapers that they have already
failed in their purpose. 1t looks as
though they had merely brought the
war home to the American people
reminding them in this dramtic wav
] that the seas are all one and that they
have common interest with us and
the other allies in conuuering the
power which invented this modern
form of piracy. That represents an
other defeat for the Germans,
No Serious Effect
eve shall have to wait ON events
before final judgment can be formed
as to whether the enemy will persist
in this new policy. am not inclined
to take the business seriously. II can
not be serious in relation to the i'm
mense volume Of sea traffic between
the United States and Europe. But
must enter one caveat. The proper
policy is. az I have eaid rantra1s,. .; -