Evening star., 1921-12-24

not only during the major actions. but
also during the long months during
which they remained holding tight to
the point of Gallipoli peninsula. The
bombardments Which the allies were
led to make against the Turkish posi-
tion We're always considerably him
dered by the means of protection of
the ships which they were compelled
to take on account of the presence or
threat of submarines in those waters
The allies had, moreover, paid for
their efforts with the loss of several
ships.
Good Observation Post.
In fighting warships the submarine
could be employed as scout or
rather as an observation post.
Every one knew the great extent
to which the submarine lends itself
In wireless communications. 1t was
obvious that this observation post, so
difficult to detect. could approach very
near to the enemy. watch his opera
tons and carry either to the fleet
whicn 1t is conveying or to it's govern
ing authority. information which
could not otherwise be obtained. espe-
clally for navies which have no power
full surface craft at their disposal.
In word, as Admiral De Bon said,
the submarine had proven it's worth
as means of attack against war
ships as in the protection of coasts.
The submarine had shown itself
especially efficient against merchant
marine.
1t was not necessary for him to re-
, call the very considerable results OBJ
tanned in the submarine warfare
wased by Germany against the com
| mercial fleets of the world. The nina
could not without horror return to
this subject which had struck terror
to all peoples.
But that which had caused this ter
ror was not the fact that the Ger
mans attacked the merchant vessels
of their enemies, but that they had
not respected either the neutral flag,
nor steamers loaded with non-bel-
ligerents. nor even the transports for
the wounded. which should have been
protected by the Red Cross flag, which
| flag, however. even on land, they had
1 often seen fit to violate. 1t had al
ways been admissible to attack the
| enemyS merchant marine, and he
thought it would always Seem legiti'
mate to do SO. In fact. it had always
been one of the most effective means
! of seriously crippling ones adVer-
sary.
Aimed to Inspire Terror.
| If taking an extreme case one might
| consider it possible to bring ones
adversary to the point of yielding. by
i this process. would it not be less
| cruel and less wasteful of human life
than military operations which would
| arrive at the same result by direct
! application of force?
| One might protest against this in
| depreciation. but such would be the
| result of a blockade, which is leglt1-
mate practice, and its effects would
not be peculiar to submarines.
He understood quite well that If
| this kind of war were allowed 1t
| would have to be confined within
| certain limits to prevent it from vio-
| lating the laws of humanity. That
was the precise point on which was
| based the charge that all had agreed
| in bringing without mercy against
| the Germans. But the accusation
! was brought against the men and
| not against the instrument that they
I! had made use Of
| In order to impart to the war which
| they had decided on, the horrible
character which they thought would
/ cause our energies to yield. the Ger
| mans had purely and simply, sunk
| the boats which they stopped. 1t
| would be recalled that at the begin
| ming of the submarine campaign, the
| Germans had aimed above all to In
spire terror and expected to obtain