The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-10-05

On several occasions attempted
70 impress Lloyd-George with the
ravtty of the situation; he always
refused to see 1t that way.
ooh. yes, things are bad" he would
say with a smile and sweep OF his
hand. but we shall get the best OF
the submarines-never fear!"
But the cheerfulness of the prime
minister was exceptional; all his assoc
ciates hardly concealed their appre-
benslon. On the other hand, a wave OF
enthusiasm was sweeping over Ger
many. Americans still have an idea
that the German government adopted
the submarine campaign as the last
Departing gamblers charges, only had
Believing IN its success themselves.
There is an impression here that the
Germans never would have staked
their empire on this desperate final
throw had they forseen that the
United States would have modified
all its men and resources against them
This conviction is entirely wrong, The
Germans did not think that they were
taking any chances at all: the ultimate
They calculated the available ship
ping of the allies ana the neutral
nations; they knew just how much
their submarines could sink each
month, and from these statistics they
automatically deduced the time when
the war would end. They did not like
adding the United States to their
enemies, but this was because they.
were thinking OF conditions after the
war; for they would have liked to
have had American friendship in the
period of readjustment- But they did
not fear that we could do them much
injury in the course OF the war itself.
This again was not because they really
despised our fighting power; they knew
that we would prove a formidable
enemy on the battlefield: but the
obvious fact, to their eyes was that our
armies could never get to the front
In time. The submarine campaign,
they said, would finish the thing In
three or four months; certainly In that
period the unprepared United States
could never summon any military
power that could affect the result.
Thus from a purely military standpoint
the entrance of 100.o00.00o Americans
affected them about as much as would
Il a declaration of war from the planet
Mars.
U-Boat Commanders Confident.
We confirmed this point of view
rom the commanders of the occasion
ally captured submarines. These men
would be brought to London and ques-
toned: they showed the utmost con-
ndance in the result.
Yes, you've got U.S." they would say,
but what difference does that make?
There are plenty more submarines
coming out. You will get a few, but
We can build a dozen for every one
that you can capture or sink. Anyway,
the war will be over in two or three
months and we will be sent back
home"
All these captives laughed at the
suggestion of German defeat; their
attitude was not that OF prisoners put
OF conquerors They also regarded
themselves as heroes and gloried In
the achievements of their submarine
service For the most part they exas-
gerated the sinkings. and placed the
end OF the war at about the first OF
July or August. The Berlin govern
ment similarly exaggerated the extent
OF their success. This was not sur
prising. for one popularity of the sub
marine Is that only the commander,
Stationed at the periscope. knows what
going on. II he reports sinking a
S0O0-ton ship no one can contradict
his statement, for the crew and other
officers do not see the surface of the
water. Not unnaturally the commander
does not depreciate his own achieve
4 nents, and thus the amount of sunken
tonnage reported IN Berlin consider
ably exceeded the actual losses.
The speeches of German dignitaries
sssounded with the same confidence.
In the impending decisive battle
aid the kaiser, the task falls upon
ny navy OF turning the English war
1ethod of starvation, with which our
most hated and most obstinate enemy
Intends TO overthrow the German peo-
~ against him and his allies by COM
1~t1lng their sea traffic with all the
scans in our power. In this work the
-onarine will stand in the first rank.
expect that this weapon, technically
-sseioped with wise forethought at our
:, lirable yards, IN cooperation with
other naval fighting weapons and
exported by the spirit which, during
whole course of the war, has en-
go US 10 perform brilliant deeds,
break our enemy's war will"
An this life and death struggle by
h.ager." said Helfferich. England
SeVed herself to be far beyond the
OF any anxiety about food. A