Evening star., 1941-03-06
British Device Makes
Nazis Alter Tactics
In Submarine War
U-Bouts Now Shooting
Into Blue to Evude
English Deteetors
By Cable to The star.

By Cable to The star.
LONDON, March 6-The U-boat
campaign of l941 will be fought with
new tactics and new devices and the
outcome will depend upon which of
the two sides proves to have the
better.
A. v. Alexander, First Lord of the
Admiralty, limited as much yesterday
afternoon when he said that the sue
cess of earlier British anti-submarine
methods had given rise to a new
wariness on the part of U-boats
themselves and that the German
naval staff had, consequently,
changed its tactics.
The first lord was referring to the
fact that Great Britain's famous
anti-submarine device, or "ASdic,"
which enables British destroyers to
spot the presence and approximate
location of submerged U-boatS, has
forced a change in the U-boatS'
method of attack. At the beginning
of the war U-boats came in close to
launch their torpedoes in order to
be sure of scoring hits. Due to the
"Asdic" destroyers eScorting conveys
generally located them and succeed
ed either in sinking them or shaking
them badly with depth charges.
Discover Limited Range.
Since the early days of the war
the Germans have acquired a num-
Der of these British devices on cap
tured French ships. Consequently,
they have learned that the "Asdic"
has a limited range of operation
and that submarine which re-
mains at respectable distance may
not be located. AS result, U-boatS
have stopped coming in for sure hits
and have depended upon launching
large numbers of torpedoes into
the blue" for great distances.
Twelve to IA torpedoeS, aimed in
the general direction OF a large and
closely formed convoy, are bound to
score some hits even from extreme
range.
This, as Alexander indicated yes
terday, has led to new tactics on
the British side.
Two of the most interesting facts
provided by Alexander were that
the British had replaced two thirds
of their losses by new construction,
purchase and capture, and that the
enemy had lost more than 100000
tons by sinking, capture or scuttling.
The latest Lloyds' list helps both
to complete and modify this gen.
eral picture.
2,973,759 Tons Lost.
According to this authoritative
source, 2,973, ,759 tons of purely Brit
ish shipping were sunk between the
wars outbreak and February Is.
The total British, Allied and neu-
tral losses are given as 1,193 ships
of 4,7086l8 tons Two thirds of the
British loses would be about 2,0OO.00O
tons. Since Lloyds' list also states
that the British have captured 500,-
900 tons, this means that the British
have built or bought 100000 tons
since the wars beginning
In stating the Germans and Ital-
ians had lost more than 100000
tons of shipping, the first lord
counted a number of ships whose
names and tonnage have not been
ascertained. Lloyds' list states that
the Germans have lost 1877 ships of
$50 $50 tons and Italy SO ships of
317551 tons-a total of 1876 ships of
1907, ,140 tons.
These figures include only ships
whose names and tonnage are
known.
In addition, it is estimated that
the Germans have lost 129 ships of
645,000 tons and the Italians SO ships
of $4,000 tons, an additional total
of 1872 ships of 100000 tons. Includ-
ing the latter, the total enemy loss
is 338 ships of 1857, ,140 tons.
Copyright, 1941, Chicago Daily News, Inc.)