The New York herald., 1920-01-04
tBy the HernIrs Naval Correspondent, !,

(By the HernId's Naval Correspondcnt.) J
LONDON, December 5.-The facts and
Figures which have been officially dis
closed recently tend to clear up much OF
the uncertainty which has enveloped the
work of the submarines. 1t is now mani
fest that the prejudices aroused against
them by the Illegal uses to which the Ger
mans put their U-boats has been dissipated
by the revelations concerning the rightful
employment of underwater craft in the
war. and by the facts which show the
submarine war upon commerce in its right
proportions.
The suggestion that the use OF sub.
marines should be forbidden by interna-
tional law finds very little support in any
quarter. particularly as an impression pre-.
walls that there may come time when
all war ships except, perhaps, the very
largest, should be given powers OF sub.
mersion. Total abolition is altogether diff.
ferent from controlling the use of sub
marines by international regulations. II
has even been proposed that the League
lof Nations should adopt the principle that
the illegal use OF Submarines shall deprive
Iofficers and men serving In them of the
status OF lawful combatans. thus render
ing them liable TO be treated as pirates.
Tho lesson OF the war ~ this point Is
clearly that not only mt commerce de-
Istruction without regard or tho life OF
lnon-combatants be made illegal, but un-
,safe for nation adopting II.
Among other false ideas which have
gone overheard is that the submarine was
winning the war. Information now avail
BILE concerning the growing success OF
the anti-submarine measures toward the
end of hostilities proves conclusively the
naccuracy of such a belief Out of the
total losses sustained by the U-boats in
their campaigns, for example. nearly ten
per cent we're inflicted during the last
three months Of war. There were periods
during 1918 when the Allies were Destroy
ing twice as many German submarines
as in the previous year. although the enc
my had fewer effective boats at work.
This was in addition to the numbers which
came 10 grief in the huge American and
British mine barrages or by other passive
agencies, the figures for which also showed
progressive increases.
It also Is now disclosed that several OF
the appliances which had come into use
late in tho war were only just beginning
Ito attain their full efficiency. Naturally.
liz took time for Inventions to be made
practicable. to be manufactured In the re.
quired numbers, and for the personnel TO
be trained in their use. incidentally, Ad-
miral Sir Percy Scott thinks that too
imuch time was spent in endeavorinE TO at
adopted for use. and ne alleges that one of
the most successful weapons against the
Submarines. the depth charge, could have
been ready with its eiecting howitzer at
the end of 1914 instead OF in 1916 had the
Admiralty not been so keen to improve
on the original suggestion.
Another matter Of Importance is the re-
Iation of the losses 20 the number OF boats
in use on either side The loss Of British
slbn1a rines in the war, which was fifty
four from all causes. may seem high until
il is remembered that well over two hum
dred boats were at one time in service.
There were seventv-six already built be-
fore the war began. and 1f5 moro were
constructed during hostilities. Besides the
fifty-four lost on service. there were sew.
erai scrapped or otherwise dsposesd OF
and the number remaining on the effec-
tive list at tho armistice was 1877. The
proportion OF war losses TO tho total boats
lin service was, therefore, about twenty.
five por cont Considered in relation 70
other war ship types this was heavy.
more so than In any other class.
But consider the much heavier ratio OF
loss among the German U-boats Their.
we're twenty-eight OF these complete when
war was declared, and during hostili,ias
bout $50 we're built. giving a total Of Ses.
When the Germans were required to ma ke
"a full surrender Of ell submarines at the
srmistice they we're able to muster only
i59 so that, allowing for o. score or more
having been scrspped during ls1l.1eis. their
Losses during hostllitlcs would amount Ia