Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-11-02
Continued from First Page.)


Ing. and he described the close forma-
ton which the vessels would have to
maintain. 1t would be necessary for
the ships to keep together, he ex-
planned. otherwise the submarines
could pick Off the stragglers. He
asked the masters whether 1t would
be possible for eight merchant ships,
with a speed which varied perhaps
two knots to keep station in line
ahead Chat is. in single file or col
umn) 500 yards apart. and sail in two
columns down the channel.
1T would be absolutely impossible"
the ten masters replied. almost in a
chorus.
A discouraging fact, they said. was
that many Of the ablest merchant
r captains had gone into the Navy, and
that many of those who had replaced
them could not be depended on to
handle their ships in such a forma-
ton.
1--WE have SO few competent deck
officers that the captain would have
to be on the bridge the whole twenty
four hours" they said, and the DIFF
ficulty was not only with the bridge,
but with the engine room. In order
to keep the ship constantly the same
distance apart it would be necessary
accurately to regulate their speed;
the battleships could do this because
they had certain elaborate devices
for timing the revolutions of the en-
gines which the merchant vessels
lacked. The poor quality Of the coal
which they were obtaining would
also make 1t difficult to maintain a
regular speed.
Admiral Jellicoe than asked the
masters whether they could sail in
twos or threes and keep station.
1.-TWO might do 1t. but three would
be too many" was the discouraging
verdict. But the masters were posi-
tive that even two merchantmen could
not safely keep station abreast In the
night time without lights: two such
= vessels would have to sail in single
file. the leading ship showing a stern
light. The masters emphasized their
alone, each ship for herself, and to
let each one take its chances Of get
ting into port.
And there the matter rested. ] had
the opportunity Of discussing the con-
voy system with several merchant
captains. and in these discussions
they simply echoed the views which
had hoQn ut
conference. do not believe that Brit
ish naval officers came in contact
with a single merchant master who
favored the convoy at that time. They
were not doubtful about the idea;
they were openly hostile. The British
merchant captains are a magnificent
body Of seamen; their first thought
was to serve their country and the
allied cause; their attitude in this
matter was not obstinacy; 1t simply
resulted from their sincere convic-
ton that the convoy system would
entail greater shipping losses than
were then being inflicted by the Ger
man submarines.
Many naval officers at that time
ChoA ca Shio o1ih0 Wow 4uSy oppoocu
the convoy not only on these grounds:
its Introduction would mean immedi-
ately cutting down the tonnage Is
or 20 per cent. because of the time
which would be consumed in assem-
bling the ships and awaiting escorts
and in the slower average speed which
they could make; many ship owners
and directors Of steamship companies
expressed the same opinions. They
also objected to the convoy on the
ground that it would cause consider
able delay and hence loss of earning.
X X X X
Yet the attitude of the merchant
marines had not entirely eliminated
the convoy from consideration. At the
time ! arrived the proposal was still
being discussed; the rate at which the
Germans were sinking merchantmen
made this inevitable. And there SEEM
: ed to be two schools among allied
naval men-one opposed to the con-
voy, and the other insisting that it
should be given q trial. The convoy
had one irresistible attraction for the
ofacer expert which seemed to coun-
terbalance all the objections which
were urged against 1t. Its adoption
would mean taking the offensive
against the German suhmarinea The