The New York herald., 1920-01-04
ILLUSIONS ABOUT SUBMARINES
IN WAR DISPELLED BY FACTS
DISCLOSED SINCE PEACE CAME
Suggestion That Use of Underwater Craft Should Be Forbid
den by international Law Finds Little Support as the
Truth Becomes Better Known.

we'll over two hundred. They have. IN
fact, been officially computed at zoe boats,
reckoning only definite losses. The pro-
portion Of loss to the total boats employed
lis therefore somewhere between fifty and
sixty per cent, even on the increased sub
marine establishment developed and main
tanned by the Berlin authorities for the
q attack of commerce.
Statistics also show that the effect OF
the anti-submarine warfare was progress
sive in its character and value. The num-
Der of U-boa IS put down during 1875 was
surpassed by fifty per cent during 1916;
lin 1917 the record was double that OF 1916,
and for the ten months of 1918 there was
an increase of thirty per cent again. The
leverage rate of loss among the German
submarines had increased from about one
in five weeks during 1915 to one in five
days during 1918.
The fact is clearly established that the
intensive campaign launched by the Ger
mans in the spring of 1917, and which led
to America entering the war. could not be
kept up in the face OF tho continuous inn
provement in the Allied material and
methods. 1t was not due to the develop
ment of any one factor or appliance that
the U-boat menace WAS overcome. but 70
the coordination of effort all around and
tho use made of experience in this novel
form OF sea fighting.
With regard TO the relative effectiveness
Of craft and appliances useu. the con-
clusions which are now possible show
that the destroyer was the most success
fu submarine hunter. Nearly one-third
Of the U-boats destroyed by the British
navy in action were accounted for by de-
lstroyers. Toward the end OF hostilities
however, the destroyer was being run very
closely by the submarine. The Improve
lments in listening apparatus enabled them
-.
Nearly n score Of the latter were destroyed
in the war by torpedoes from British SUBJ
marines.
Naturally, as In ali sea warfare. methods
lof disguise for the put pose OF mislead-
ing and surprising the enemy played a
large part IL anti-sublharine operations.
They were seen In the mystery ships. or
Q-lboats, the first Of which were merchant
ships armed fc- attack but fitted to look
like trading vessels. these being followed
by other vess. Is specially butt to resemble
merchantmen, although they we're actual
lly war ships.
The element OF guile was also evident In
the use Of submarines towed by trawlers.
with a telephone connection between the
two. the trawler acting as decoy and
the submarine delivering I've sting at the
proper moment 4. tho s.'a..e OF torpedo.
Unfortunately this Tuse. after two bril-
lmy by a learaEe oil ~toi.iation through
German prisoners captured from the sunk
en- boats and did not succeed further.
In the same .ay. the achievements OF the
Q-boats dwinded after the Germans sus-
picions were aroused he moral is that
methods OF this kind must be constantly
changed, and also that greater precau-
tions to maintain secrecy must be exer-
oised
So far as other tiaft used in the anti
submarine warfare arc concerned, al
though some Of these played n prominent
part in the system OF convoy. none scored
as many successes as tho dcstroyers and
Submarines. Apart from the mines. the
most effective o. the appliances IN use
was the depth charge. Tho efficacy of
the mino was shown not only in the re.
striction OF tho movements Of -lbmarines,
but by the large number the fate OF which
remained uncertain. md most OF which
probably n1et their doom in this way. The
depth charge would have scored more
heavily had the boats in which n was
first employed been able 10 carry more
than two each of these appliances
Since the conviction appears 10 be wide
liv held that tho fleets Of the future will
Iba mainly conposed Of vessels with 20 ~
ers OF slbuersion. u Is just as we'll that
sorno Of tho rlaruor and mystery connected
with the underwater craft should bo dis
pelled and that tho opprobrium connected
with 40 many OF their achievements should
be fastened upon the German U-boats,
which alone deserve IL