Evening star., 1942-02-22

From Mother Ship
10,Wo-MiIe Rones
Credited to U-Boots;
29 Vessels Sunk
BY CLAUDE A. MAHONEY.
Submarine experts yesterday
discredited the report that Axis
submarines preying on shipping
along the Atlantic Coast must
be operating from an ocean base
or mother ship, and pointed out
that most German subme rines
have a cruising range of more
than 10000 miles.
Not fuel. but crew fatigue, would
be the factor that would limit the
operatings to two or three weeks
for each sub. they pointed out,
limiting that some Of the underseas
craft that began the series Of at
tacks on January Is probably have
been replaced by others of the same
type. This theory also is borne
out by recent reports from Ger
many of q submarine commander
who reported he had seen New
York harbor.
The series of 81 attacks has sunk
a known total of % ships of the
United States and nations friendly
to her, and has cut down daily
deliveries of oil to Eastern ports
by some $1,000 barrels. The figure
is based on 13 tankers known put
out of service, figuring 5000 barrels
of oil per day taken out Of the
supply for each tanker.
Doesn't Include Aruba.
The 81 ship attacks are only
those along the Canadian and
United States coasts, and do not
include the undetermined number
at Aruba within the last week. An
accurate recapitulation of tonnage
sunk is impossible inasmuch as
many of the ships attacked of the
Canadian coast are listed merely
as unidentified ship"
Persons familiar with submarines
also discredit the stories of sur
vivors to the effect that the sub
that sank their ship was "the big
gest I ever saw" or so small I
could have put it in my pocket"
They point out that the German
submarines are probably about TOO
tons displacement and would look
mighty big from a lifeboat. but
would look small to anybody
accustomed to the United States
submersibles Of some $500 tons"
The recklessness Of the attackers
in discharging 50 many torpedoes
into one ship also has puzzled STU
dents of submarine warfare. The
underseas craft are probably carry
ing about 16, or possibly more, 81
inch torpedoes, and their discharge
would force the craft to return for
a new load.
On the other hand, 1t was noted
that the submarine that sank the
Brazilian Olinda last week shelled
the vessel from the surface, and
actual torpedoing was not definitely
proved.
Causing Great concern.
Whether the driv was begun at
Japan's behest, as J,ome London OBJ
servers believe; shether it was de-
signed to c-',.side with the Rio de
Jar.v conference. or whether it
is merely predatory attack on
American shipping never has been
decided. The fact remains, however,
that the drive has been as steady
as 1t has been deadly. and has
caused great concern in this country.
Oficial notice already has been
given to the possibility OF an oil
shortage In the East, and Under
secretary of State Welles yesterday
suggested the formation Of convoy
system for protection of pan-Ameri-
can shipping. Two Brazilian ships
went down last week.
The raiders. termed "rattlesnakes'
by President Roosevelt last fall, ap-
@E NJ oct
in January The Frisco, Norwegian
freighter of 1882 tons, and an un-
identified British freighter were the
first victims.
On January IA the Navy an
nounced sinking Of the Panamanian
tanker Norness, and the Coimbra,
an Allied tanker was next. Out Of
the entire list known to be attacked
in quick succession. only the Ameri-
can tanker Malay was able to make
port. There were conflicting stories
about the sinking of the United
States tanker E. H. Blum, and some
survivors said it hit a mine.
List of Attacks.
A table of the attacks, in the
chronological order of their reports,
follows:
Frisco, Norwegian freighter.
Unidentified British freighter.
Norness, Panamanian tanker.
Coimbra, Allied tanker.
Allan Jackson, United States
tanker.
Unidentified Panamanian freight
er.
Malay, United States tanker (not
| sunk.
City Of Atlanta, United States