Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-12-24

Italian, french ana
British Delegates
Talk Over Subs
Washington, Dec 2S.-(By A. PD-
A three hour triangular debate on
submarines occurred today in the ma =
val committee of the Washington
conference. Admiral De Bon of
France. Arthur J. Balfour, head of
the British group, and Sen. SchanZer
of Italy being the only participants.
The official communicate issued by
was taken. although Admiral De Bon
declared the conference could not
reasonably" limit submarine con-
struction at all; but that if it did
that 10000 tons is the absolute min
imum for all the navies who may
want to have a submarine force"
For the British, Mr.. Balfour reiter-
ated and extended arguments already
advanced by Lord Lee for total abol-
ition of submarines. He admitted,
however, that the British empire
has no hope of getting any important
support in the course of this confer
ence," adding:
II do earnestly trust that our de-
bates may go beyond the limits of
sion"
Senator SchanZer insisted that the
conference was confronted by sub
stantially technical difference of
opinion" as to the defensive value of
submarines. The Italian delegation
felt that the problem should be "cX-
amined subsequently in a wider con-
ference" he said, before any action
toward adjustment of underwater
craft could he undertaken.
For the present" Senator Schan-
zer added. zone point is clear in our
minds and that is that the best
course would be to follow even in
this case, the spirit of the American
proposal and consequently to Initiate
submarines to the measure strictly
necessary for the ends of a purely
defensive naval policy"
Admiral De Bon took exception to
a portion of Mr.. Balfour's remarks
which the French officer regarded as
imputed to him a desire to support
the theory that submarines had n
right to destroy merchant vessels af-
ter saving the crews. Neither he, nor
the French government held that
view, he said.
Mr.. Balfour replied that he had not
intended to "misrepresent Admiral
De Bon" but had attempted to show
that if the submarine was to play
"the great role in future wars which
Admiral De Bon had suggested in his
speech, it would only do so by resort
to extreme methods, for it was futile
to suppose that submarines would
make a practice Of stopping; merchant
ships and placing prize crew on
board to take them into port"
Admiral De Bon opened the debate
with lengthy address to the COM
mittee calling attention to the oppos-
ing views as to submarines express
ed yesterday by Lord Lee and the re-
port of the American advisory COM
mittee. But for certain differences
Of opinion" in the naval committee.
he said, these two presentations
might be regarded as having almost
exhausted" debate.
AS to the usefulness Of submar-
Dimes against war craft. Admiral De
Bon recalled that France lost three
battleships, five cruisers and had sew
eral other shipt torpedoed during the
war. losing 10000 tons in fighting
craft in all from submarine attack.
He said that italy and Great Britain
also had lost battlecraft in the same
way and that in addition all the three
nations were compelled to erect de-
fensive system against U-boats.
which certainly had an influence
toward weakening the general forces
of the nations engaged.
The Admiral argued that Germany
had maintained her entire coast in
tact" because her submarine force
had made approach to the mine field
projections really dangerous" while
in the Adriatic submarines also
formed one of the most powerful
means Of action for the enemy.
Bombardment OF the Turkish forti-
fications at the Dardenelles. he added.
had been hammered" by enemy sub
marines and paid Tor their efforts
with the loss OF several ships."
I'm word" Admiral De Bon said,
"the submarine has proven its worth
as a means of attack against war
ships as in the protection OF coasts.
"U-boats had shown themselves es-
pecially efficient" the admiral said.
against the merchant marine. What
had "struck terror to all peoples" he
added, had been the German attack
on neutra1s and -belligerents. not
the attack on merchant vessels of
their enemies.
I'm fact" he said. III has always
been one of the most effective means
Of seriously crifpliny ones adver-
sary." to attack enemy merchant