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Show SUBMARINE WAR NOT EFFECTIVE Comparatively Few British Ships Have Been Sent to Bottom of Sea. LONDON. March 14. 8:20 p. m. The Associated Press has been placed in possession of a review of the first six weeks of German unrestricted submarine sub-marine campaign. The figures given aro from the board of trade reports, and the conclusions are those of a highly competent authority. "The German submarine campaign, reported to have assumed enhanced vigor on February 1. must be singularly singu-larly disappointing to the Germans themselves," says the review. "At the beginning of January, 1C17. Great Britain possessed approximately 3731 vessels of 1600 tons and over. Many others of lesser tonnage are not taken Into consideration, owing to the importance im-portance of restricting the question of overseas traffic and cargo. Judging the results carefully and looking to possible future developments. "From February 1 until March 14 the losses of British ships of over 1600 tons were approximately 78, which number deducted from the total leaves the British mercantile marine with 3653 ships of over 1600 tons after six weeks' German submarine warfare. "During the period from February 1 to March 10 no British ships have been in any way blockaded in harbor. Every opportunity of carrying out their plans has been at the disposition of the Germans after their declaration; of unrestricted submarine warfare. It i Is extremely improbable that the German Ger-man authorities will ever have the same opportunity, for the following! reasons : "First a Inrrp nnniher r.f nlil trnmn steamers slow of speed, have been sunk, as they afforded easy prey. "Second, their efforts would be directed di-rected for the first six weeks or two months towards producinc the most considerable results by careful organi-j zaiion and administration, with a view to affecting tho morale of neutral na-1 tions. A careful study of the German methods has been made by the Brit-1 ish naval authorities and anti-subma-' rine measures have been adopted I which, as the outcome of experience, have attained a large measure of success. suc-cess. ' Third, the arming of merchant vessels ves-sels is rapidly taking place and it is capable of proof that a submarine takes particular care in attacking; armed vessels, a large percentage of which always escape "Fourth, anti-submarine devices are being daily perfected, but a little time! must necessarily elapse In order that they should receive proper trial. "Fifth, the German naval authorities are bound to find some difficulty in replacing the trained personnel, of which they have lost a considerable! portion. It must he remembered that there is considerable difference between be-tween the efficiency of individual commanders, com-manders, and the greatest losses have1 been incurred through the action of a few German submarine commanders,! who, by their skill and training, stand far above the average I'-boat officers who leave Germany on missions of destruction. Losses Being Reduced. "The losses of the British mercantile mercan-tile marine are being steadily reduced. During the past two weeks only 29 have been sunk, as opposed to 4S sunk In the first two weeks. The vessels engaged in the coastal trade are continually con-tinually exposed to German submarines subma-rines and are naturally included In a German commander's reports. "The most serious aspect of the German Ger-man submarine warfare Is that reflected reflect-ed by consideration of post-bellum conditions with regard to shortage of world tonnage Besides affecting the whole world, it is likely to affect most seriously the smaller nations who have no mercantile marine of their o u u i ei upon, unu are uepenueni upon that of other nations for their sea traffic. "As regards (he general situation of the submarine warfare, it may be thus summed up: It is having a more serious se-rious effect upon European neutrals than upon belligerent mercantile marine. ma-rine. The continual loss of ships will seriously effect post-bellum trade. The losses of British mercantile ships in the first six weeks represent a percentage per-centage of 2 3, while the average daily movement of vessels In United Kingdom King-dom ports is 710. These figures except fishing and local craft. "If the same rate of destruction were to continue at this average it would take at least a year to reduce the British mercantile marine by one-half, one-half, without taking into consideration additional tonnage procured from building or purchase " |
