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Show U-BOAT MENACE IS INCREASING British Government Appeals to America to Speed Up Anti-submarine Craft. URGES CIVILIANS No Greater Work for Country Can Possibly Be Done Says Sir Eric Geddes. WASHINGTON, Oct. I I An appeal from the British government to America Amer-ica to. expedite, the construction of destroyers de-stroyers and anti-submarine craft and appliances, was mado here tonight by Sir Eric Geddes, first lord of the British Brit-ish admiralty, after he had asserted that the U-boat menace today Is "greater thanjt ever was." Speaking at'dinner given by the Pilgrim Pil-grim society. Sir Eric said that within with-in tho past few days Vice-Admiral Sir Ludovlc Duff of the British navy had discussed tho naval situation in all its bearings with Secretary Daniels and Admiral Benson and that "complete unuy oi view iiau ueen reaciieu. "It is with Mr. Daniels' full concurrence concur-rence that 1 now make this statement, that there is no greater service that can be rendered by the civilians of tho United States today charged with that privilego and duty, than to expedlatc the output of destroyers and antisubmarine anti-submarine and appliances of every description," de-scription," Sir Eric said. No Country Responds Like America. "No country within my knowledge responds like America to an appeal and there is no greater need today than the need for the utmost naval effort ef-fort against the great offensive of tho submarine which Is now materializing and which the allied navies will defeat de-feat as they have defeated every other effort of tho enemy. But that" defeat can be assured only If this need Is recognized rec-ognized and the wants of the two navies na-vies supplied, as I am sure the United States and Great Britain intend thoy shall be." Discussing Germany's submarine menace, Sir Eric said: "Indeed it Is greater today1 than it ever was. That is to say, the offort is grcated than it ever was. I think now we are approaching a point where submarine warfare Is again the weakest weak-est front of the alliance." In opening his speech, Sir Eric said that while he must resist . the temptation tempta-tion to allude to the present political situation, there were two things which he was convinced had not changed. Absolute Loyalty of Nations. "One is our absolute loyalty to those nations who are associated with us," he said, "and tho other is our determination deter-mination to continue the war and not 1. .IS... r uivuiiuu irom our purpose until wo have secured the only peace 'which could justify all this terrible suffering and destruction which had and Is being brought about by the Iniquity of our common enemy. "On one thing I am clear We must not relax the muscles of our fighting arm nor our war effort in any anticipation antici-pation of an early peace. To do so VQuldrbG-thsuretrrAyaynorewdeTaTiJ'' discussions which may take place prolonged pro-longed and less satisfactory." Reviews British Losses. Sir Eric reviewed British naval losses, loss-es, declaring his country's losses in fighting ships of all classes have been approximately 230 "more than twice the total losses of war vessels of the whole of our allies," and that 450 auxiliary aux-iliary craft, such as mine sweepers and trawlers, also have been destroyed. destroy-ed. British merchant ships to the number num-ber of 2400, with a gross tonnage of nearly 7.750,000 have been sunk, ho said, or "nearly three times the aggregate aggre-gate losses of our allies and 50 per cent more than the total losses of all other allied and neutral countries." Germany Is Not Beaten. While British and American sea forces in all theaters of naval fighting aro a homogeneous navy, Sir Eric added, ad-ded, the safety of lines of communica-Hon communica-Hon should not be taken for granted. "Germany is not beaten, is not near'v beaten, and in some respects is stronger strong-er than ever she' was," he warned, regarding re-garding tho enemy's naval situation "Should the German naval policy be changed by force of circumstances, or by a spirit of adventure which it has so far failed to show, it will be met. and if it means to fight that fight will be a naval Armncrprlrlnn In whlnii -i..i,. magnificent battleships with the grand fleet will, I am sure, take a worthy and distinguished parL" Tons of Explosives Dropped. Four tons of explosives are dropped each day on Bruges nnd Zeebrugge Sir Eric asserted, so that these ports are of no value to tho Germans, who, according ac-cording to his latest information, are removing the bases and the machinery they had installed there. In surface he added, the allies have the mastery in the North sea, in the Adriatic and in the Mediterranean. Sir Eric added that "dangerous mine fields have been laid by our submarines and fast offensive mine layers right into the mouth of the Ems behind Helgoland," the operation ope-ration being performed "night after1 night" oo "Does your wife show an interest in tho war?" "7es, indeed. She talks about It." "What does she say?" "Why, she says tha't sho wishes I could go." Pearson's oo Wife (at the play) Is it possible. John Henry, that such amateurish acting has moved you to tears? Husband You wrong me, woman! I was thinglng of the four dollars tho seats cost me Buffalo Express. I ' |
