The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-19
American destroyer strength combined numbered only few hundred
 WHAT DEFEATED SUBMARINES

numbered only a few hundred
 WHAT DEFEATED SUBMARINES
 If the fighting of the submarine menace had been left to patrol by the surface craft of the allied and asso- ciated powers there might have been another finish to the war than that which gave democracy its victory. The magnificent heroism of British and French and American sailors might not have overcome the handicap of surface exposure Just two things de- feated the submarine-the convoy sys- tenn and the mine barrage. The Ameri- can navy made convoy possible and it put through the mine offensive.
 It was Admiral Joseph Strauss. head of the bureau of ordnance, who, a few months after l had become secretary of the navy sought an appointment with me to discuss the question of mines.
 He said;
 we have not in our navy, given enough attention to mines. If we were to be engaged in war, one of the matters of first importance would be the mining of the approaches to our rivers and harbors tc prevent entrance by enemy ships. And if we should be engaged in war away from our shores, we might find that mining for the destruction of enemy craft or the pro- tection of our own ships would be the chief need to secure victory
 WERE EXPERTS IN MINING
 Joseph Strauss and George R. Marvel undertook the study of im- proving mines and devfsing better methods for laying them. The Balti- more was fitted up as a mine ship. Many new wrinkles of great value were developed in experiment. So when we tAtered the war we knew something about mining.
 We were qualified as experts in this department of naval warfare. It was great satisfaction to me then to reflect that long before there had been fleck of war-Gloud as big as a mans hand in the sky, I had approved this particular work of research and taken intense interest in it's develop ments.
 So immediately upon our entrance into the war--in April, 1917--the navy department of the United States, through it's bureau of ordnance, made the suggestion that a mine barrage be laid across the North sea from the Orkneys to Norway. We believed this would end the U-boat menace We be- lieved Germany would have to keep her undersea navy at home if we ~oN%N tAS1S ftA"t 1oV-ItlllS QOOf to the Atlantic. And we 1T. Washington be- lieved we could close it.
 There were Goubters among our home strategists, but there were more who believed 1t possible and who were Wiling to make the effort. But in Great Britain naval leaders regarded the proposal as impracticable.
 LLOYD GEORGE WITH WILSON
 TWO great civilian ieaders-Wood- row Wilson and Lloyd George-were convinced that only by some bold, un- nrecedented offensive could civiliza- ton be saved from the u-boat. Either the protected nests oH the submarines must be raided and destroyed. or the avenue through which they reached the high seas must be blocked. Lloyd George expressed his belief that some form of barrage would prove the most etrective offensive against the U- boat, but he did Lot direct the British admiralty to adopt the proposal. If if had taken his advice, the North sea parrage would have been laid in 1917 and hundreds of thousands of tons of snlpplng and weary months of anxiety would have beei saved the allies rropapiy the war would have ended at a considerably earlier date.
 While we argutd and persuaded pre- cious time tyGs rassing. The experts across the seas said, No; it is im- practicable"
 Aomiral Earle, convinced by his experiments that the thing could be done, overcame any doubts his col- leagues might have entertained. and tne general board, the chief of ouera- = tions and the commander in chief of tne tleet all joined with him |, urging ana pleading that. an effort be made hAp nxre TD-- .s
 can civilians employed such influence as they would exert to the same and
 GREAT WORK ACCOMPLISHED
 And so at last in the fall of 1917 opposition and prejudice gave way Admiral Earle and his associates h.d convinced the dolbters in our ovn navy and the British navy and reioiced shat their plan was to be put into ef- rect. Admiral Strauss was put Z in cnarge or this, the outstanding naval oifensive of the World war. He had a picked personnel of 1000 officers and men of stuff and skill. Our force laii oo:s11 mines; their British coworkerx Iaao 1A652 Most ofFour mines were of new type perfected In tho sumrner el lsl7. The British laid the old type ei mine' However, both proved ef- ieetive. Our navy made >100. 900 fnines and transported so,000. It reouire3 o4 ship loads from the United States ana involved dangers and hardships nttie realised by those who were not engaged in the perilous task. The en- tire cost of the American part of this operation was approximately sso. 0oo. i. ocv. The mines cost s35. 1,15o.
 Ihe nrst mines were placed on Jupe 2. ana the first victim was recordea on June g, whAn q U-boat val dis- sD.ea ana compsllsd to return te its
 The British admiralty oniei.,ly or.d ITS the harrase with the destruction or csippnng of 2s u-boats. According 70 Admiral Earle, chief of the bureau oI oronanees Vt has been established that SIX submarines were lost in the. barraee and three more so badly da,,, aSea that they never again put to sea lAss E the conservative American es innate. which the British admirsJtv supplements from further informatios;, in its possession.
 WHAT THE RARRAGE DID
 IaRn< and onerhalf per cent of the tosAi numbep Of submarines lost 6urin~ tne var Weee bFoa9ht into the list of mtsetnG,r qAys AANniTaf NaSia ~hv the DasFegA which eGfated for only { Der cent of the period ef tho wM. Stich results mase tsAn tustlded the eftort and time and funds expended,
 Admiral Strauss is responsible for ife fo''cwing opinion. which, ] think has never been published
 lt the war had continued and fh, barraee had been completed to the orl, neys and the barrier across the strait , of Deser had been promptly completed. # would have ended the submarine monaco 90 far n guhAarfnAc sroinr