South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-04-17

which ever assailed civilization was
plan wholly of American conception and. in greatest
part of American execution.
DESTROYER HOLY TERROR
We had been lighting the U-boas with destroyers-
so had the British and so had the French The destroy
er was holy terror to the submarine but the subma
rine was quite as hard problem for the destroyer
And the submarine had advantage which makes it
the most difficult foe the seasts facility
ishing from sight by submergence To escape the at
tack of a U-boat a destroyer had rely upon
navigation, zgzagging speed and no ships which
sailed the gave quite good account OF
themselves. only score capable direction
also because of the pluck and daring of their crews
The who charge o. the Light brigade
and the who held the pass at Thermopyae were
brothers in courage to the the desroyers
other naval craft which hunted outdisanced the
elusive submarines
But the was that to patrol effectively the
transatlantic trade routes according Sims
would have taken about $4,000 destroyers. spite
Of speeding production the limit human capac-
ity, when the war ended the British and American
destroyer strength combined umbered only a few
WHAT DEFEATED THE SUBMARINES
II the fighting of the submarine menace had been
left patrol by the surface allied as
ISOLATED powers there might have been another finish
the than that which gave democracy its victory.
The magnificent heroism of British
American sailors might not have overcome the handi-
of surface exposure Just things defeated the
submarine-the convoy system and the mine barrage.
The American navy made convoy possible and il put
1t Admiral Joseph Strauss, head OF the bureau
ordnance who a few months after had become sec
Of the sought appointment with m
discuss the question OF mines. He said:
eve have not in given enough attention
to mines If TO be engaged a one Of
the of FIRST Importance mining of
the approaches rivers and harbors
trance by enemy ships. And if should engaged
away from shores might find that mining
the destruction enemy craft protection OF
ships would be the chief need to secure vic
tory"
WE'RE EXPERTS MINING
Joseph Strauss and George r Marvel undertook the
STUDY improving mines devising better methods
laying them The fitted up as a mine
ship. Many wrinkles of great value devel-
oped in experiment SO when war We
knew something about mining
We were qualified as experts in this department Of
naval warfare. II great satisfaction then
10 reflect that long before there had fleck OF
approved this particular work Of research taken
intense interest in its developments
So Immediately upon entrance into the warm
April 1917-the navy department Of the United States
through its bureau of ordnance made the suggestion
that mine barraEe be laid the North sea from
the Orkneys 10 Norway We believed this would end
20 keep her undersea navy home We could close
that 230-mile door the Atlantic. VIC in Wash
ngton believed it could be done
There doubters among home strategists but
there more who believed il possible
willing TO make the effort But in Great Britain
leaders regarded the proposal as impractcable.
LLOYD GEORGE WITH WILSON.
Two great civilian leaders Wilson and
Lloyd George-were convinced that only By some bold
unprecedented offensive could civilization be saved
from the U-boat Either the protected nests Of the
submarines be raided and destroyed or the ave
through which they reached high seas must be
locked. Lloyd George expressed his
form Of barrage would prove the most effective Of
fensive against the U-boat but he did
British admiralty adopt the proposal II il had taken
his advice the North barrage have been laid
1917 and hundreds OF thousands OF OF shipping
weary months ~ anxiety would ended at
a considerably earlier date.
While We argued and persuaded precious time