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

tempt to discover effective for combating
submarines
hve-year building program for the navy, est
mate of $10OOOO.OOO each for construction.
About the time Admiral Blue. with my approval.
made plans TO increase the number of enlisted men
from $4,000 practically 100000.
For two years before the did come we worked 70
get the whole navy ready when the mysterious s
w. Davidson sailed London March 1917, knew
from Admiral Mayo commander-in-chief that the fleet
in such good condition that only word would be
required to mobilize it for
The German U-boat almost got the worlds nerve
This hidden foe civilization gliding swiftly beneath
the surface Of the and sending missile
and destruction without warning into the vitals OF
great ships, the biggest terror in the
war. the heaviest tax upon morale, until
Suddenly the tables turned.
News flashed through naval and military organ-
cations of the allied powers that there
was virtual mutiny in the German fleet German sailors
refusing obey the orders their commanders
Submarines lying in harbor because declined
take them to the hunting grounds the ocean
lanes and channels of transport.
Somehow had got the of Germany
Then we tina end near.
The break the morale of the great navy imperial
Germany has no precedent in military DISCREPANCIES
it be found in the collapse Of Russia.
horde, when the crash came. undisciplined
compared with the organized. highly trained superbly
disciplined naval forces of William Hohenzollern.
naval personnel was of high type This was espe-
ciay true of the service only
some extraordinary pressure. some psychologicaIlv
SCATTERING phenomenon. could produce
panic the such sailors.
What had happened?
U-BOATS NEVER RETURN.
For weeks U-boas had putting out to sea from
nesting places the German coast. vanish
ing utterly the bubble which bursts while the
child watches OF them. no record
Of what fate befel them. The German admiralty
only that wireless reports from them. that
they returned to their base. Their comrades
the dangerous game Of undersea missed
them and there spread through the ranks the men
who went down into the deeps wait their prey
Of terror, mysterious Nemesis which
tortured mind and nerve and shook the morale Of the
strongest.
Now and again there limped back to port a l. boat
which had suffered damage from contact with this
cealed peril but which had escaped complete destruc
These survivors told story which only
fed the dread.
They spoke Of coIIidng with mines hidden below the
surface Of the implements OF destruction whose
presence could be guessed. The U-boat ran into
them as a man might into-a low-stretched wire
stretched his path dark night. BY putting
together the evidence Of those who back and the
unuttered testimony those who become forever
silent. the German admiralty understood. More the
point that the sailors the U-boats under
stood and when they they go 10
sea- and spirit their refusal spread
rades in branches OF the German naval service
The whole agnihcent lighting organization began 10
disntegrate!
NINE BARRAGE OF 2SO MILES.
Across North Sea. from Norway almost the
Orkneys there had been stretched mine tarrage $50
full innovation in naval warfare the world had Up
10 that Il consisted OF more than 10000 mines
It this barrage the U-boats running
whenever they attempted 10 get around the north OF
the British isles into the open sea.
1t was a new factor in the war. surprise for Won
Tirptz. Moloch OF the with big jaws, powerful
enough to the biggest submarine. had become
the unseen and unknowabe terror. and the U-boat
menace dvindled and disappeared before IT.
But the fact that makes me proud American
proud 10 have secretary OF the navy proud
beyond OF the fleet and the under dircc-
ton that the laying Of this unparalleled
this extraordinary death-trap for the most dan