Evening journal., 1918-05-14
GERMANY Sees doom
OF THE SUBMARINE
Plans New and Larger u
Boats TO Withstand
DestrOyerS
READY FOR EN-, SAYS
FRENCH MINISTER

WASHINGTON. May i4--Realizine
that America and the Allies have gained
the mastery over the present type Of
submarine, Germany now is said to be
planning new series Of big U-boat
cruisers. with which she hopes again
TO assume the advantage in underwater
warfare
Announcement Of the new German
scheme is made by George Leygues,
the French Minister Of Marine, in an
interview received here yesterday In an
oflcial dispatch from France. No de-
tails regarding the new U-boats were
given by NJ. Leygues but from infor-
nation from other sources n appears
that the cruiser submarines will be
| heavily armed and armored and will
be designed especially TO meet the tor
pedoboat destroyers. which have
proved so effective in hunting down
the smaller submarines now IN opera
tion
NJ. Leygues declared that the ALLIES
are ready to meet Germany's new ef-
forts, and that they Will not rest upon
the "nne results obtained in the past.
I'VE shall not stop" he said until
we have cleaned up the sea as one
cleans up a trench"
Just how effective has been the war
against the U-boats is shown by figures
on destruction Of Allied shipping given
10 the naval committee Of the French
Chamber Of Deputies Saturday. by Min
lister Leagues They reveal that sink
ings Of merchantmen have fallen off
20 the point where new construction
is exceeding the destruction even now
before American yards are in full
swing on the great building program
mapped out by the shipping board
The monthly average Of destruction
this year as given by NJ Leygues. is
$4,000. compared with more than
100000 tons monthly IN 1917 In April
Of last year, the nrst month Of Ger
many's unrestricted submarine war
fare. the tonnage sunk was s7i, ,000 In
April Of this year II had dwindled so
about 265 600 tons
On the other hand the destruction
Of submarines is exceeding their con-
/ struction by the enemy. and the mar
| gin Is expected 10 increase as additional
destroyers which now are being turned
out RAPIDLY. take their place with the
warcraft operating IN the war zone.
The total of Allied shipping de-
stroyed in the frst four months Of
1918 was placed by Minister Leygues
at i2623i5 tons. and even il the sub
marines are able to maintain this rate
which officials doubt. the years tota
: would be something like 100000 tons
or less than the estimated amount o
! tonnage which the shipping board be
Z lieves America viii produce during IN
year
d Adding 20 American production III
!. output in Great Britain. France an
L Japan the Allie. would gain for th
year something like 100000 tons nc
u counting the 100000 or more tons q
3. chartered Japanese and Norwegia
] ships and requisitioned Dutch yesseh
While encouraging. officials emphs
II size tho fact that these figures do nc
I furnish the margin Of safety that
s necessary, and there will be no relax
ing Of building efforts m any Of IN
Z Allied countries or IN America Ems
lands output thus far this year ha
n not come up TO expectations and th
American yards have not turned on
e the tonnage anticipated because q
freight congestion and other causes
and renewed efforts are being made {
I make M these deficiencies.