The New York herald., 1921-12-24

foundries and other plants OF various
kinds.
More than 500 plants cooperate In the
output Of materials OF single capital
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ITO claim that there would have been
none.'
Admiral &c Bon insisted that the sub
marine was useful against both war and
\ commercial fleets and In the opinion Of
the French delegation "wes especially
the weapon OF nations not having large
navy" AS the conference was Occur
pied above all with economic questions.
to the point that II was willing to give
them precedence over the matter OF the
safety OF nations" he said. this seemed
at first an argument worth remem-
berng.''
The French officer pointed out that,
as in the casc OF every other new
| weapon. there was no doubt that fur
ther great progress will be made in two
directions in the power of attack OF the
submarine and in the efficiency of meth
DDS for combating its operations" He
pictured the possible development Of
huge airships capable of attack on land
or far at sea and able to spread gas
over a considerable area of sea, paral-
yzing large ships possibly squadrons."
The submarine. he said. might well be-
come defense against aircraft because
OF it's ability to submerge and 'tem-
porarily to escape the blows OF the ad-
versary in the air."
War In Three Places at once.
The last war had shown. Admiral DE-
Bon said. that thereafter naval warfare
can be carried on simultaneously under
water, on the surface and In the air
These are actual facts from which
there is no possible escape lie eaid.
None Of YOU would know how to under
AXE to stop the progress Of human in
genuty. II has taken possession of the
Submarine domain. That Is a fact which
we are unable to prevent.
The French Admiral questioned Lord
Lees etaten7ent that Germany had con-
Structed $40 submarines during the war
aud generally had only ten In service at
sea at one time. The French estimated
he said, that Germany had from 80 TO
100 completed submarines. (which are
still In existence" and OF that number
kept flfteer. or twenty at sea at once be-
cause of the necessity of resting crews
and refitting boats. He pointed out that
the American proposal Of 10000 tons In
submarines for Great Britain and the
United States meant ninety submarines
probably fifteen or twenty capable OF
simultaneous action"
This seems indeed the minimum sub
marine strength Power desirous OF
making use Of this contrivance should
have" he said.
we are convinced that the idea OF
large sized submarines could not be dis
missed. II you impose too narrow a
limit on submarine tonnage you will OBJ
struct the progress of submarine science,
ITO draw a conclusion from the fore
going. l think that We cannot reason
ably limit submarine tonnage. since we
have before US an entirely new weapon
concerning which no one of US can fore
see the possible Transformation and
growth, perhaps in the near future. II
in spite Of this idea--which Is a menace
to no one--you wish absolutely to fiS
limit TO submarine tonnage. ! believe
that 10000 tons is the absolute min
imum."
Possibilities OF Peril.
In answer Mr.. Balfour said lie wal
advised the American advisory commit
tee could have heard the speech of thu
gallant admiral who has Just sat down,
before drawing up its report.
The committee concluded that destruc
ton OF commerce by submarines wo!
not the main business of submarines
, and that regulations could prevent in
humane employment OF U-boats. h
pointed out. While Admiral de Ron ha'
condemned inhumane usc OF subma
, rines. he added: 1T was the action o
submarines upon merchant ships whicl
he regards as on the whole the mos
. important use TO which that weapon o
rtf rfnrC can he nut
"If they are once let loose 10 dea
, with merchant shlps." Mr.. Balfour said
, ''it is incredible that In the stress 0
. war their powers will not be abused II
the future as they have been grossl,
abused in the past.
5 1T do not In the least nor unduly min
I imizo the utility OF submarines for gen
, uine war purposes. but l cannot hei
, thinking that Admiral de Bon has ex
! ar1erated Il. l can assure him that h
n In error In supposing the inimunit
from attack enjoyed by the German
/. coasts was In tho least degree due Z
their submarines. I speak with knowl
edge and authority on that subject
, Neither do 7 believe that you will fin'
that submarines on the whole are an,
, defense against sudden attack by
! ship of war upon an undefenoed coas
town That IL, believe. one OF tn
: objects which the italian delegation
, think can be performed by submarines
but very greatly doubt It."
Mr. Balfour recalled German bonn
bsrdment Of British town where ther
was a submarine" II took time TO sub
merge and time TO catch swift surfac
4 vessel, he added. and although the sub
] marine did It's best the enemy got ava
, safely over the horizon before anythin
Y could be done either In the way OF pr'
/ IL. Il oil f.e
: tho British had bombarded Zeobruggc
/ (which was full OF submarines" 70
3 hours without loss or injury to a Britis
e ship, and that the British fleet lay oppo
: s,tc the Dardarelles in perilous clrcun,
Z stances for months and with subma
: rines prowline." vet what the U-boat
a accomplished was quite insignificant.
e "you talk OF the submarine as II