Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 62, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 November 1917 — HALF OF KAISER’S SUBMARINES SUNK [ARTICLE]

HALF OF KAISER’S SUBMARINES SUNK

First Lord of Admiralty Praises Work Being Done by American Navy. ALLIES GRATEFUL TO U. S. i Declares British Shipping Is Increasing Despite U-Boat Warfare — Entente Nations Overcoming Sea Menace. London, Nov. 2.—Sir Eric Geddes, who recently succeeded Sir Edward Carson as first lord of the admiralty, made his first address in parliament and gave some interesting and anxiously awaited figures on the work of the navy and shipping in general. His declaration that between 40 and 50 per cent of the German submarines operating in the North sea, the Atlantic and the Arctic oceans had been sunk was not the least interesting of his announcements, and there was an Indication of the unceasing war the British and American patrols are making on the submarine in his statement that during the last quarter the ienemy had lost as many submarines as during the whole of 1916. Grateful to America. "I wish to acknowledge fully the valuable contribution made by the United States navy in convoy work since their destroyers joined us under command of Vice Admiral Sims, from whom we have received the heartiest co-operation and whose counsel has been of great value to us. The contribution of the United States navy was given promptly and freely upon their entry into the war and is gradually being extended in this and other ways. “As is knoxFn, we have had most valuable consultation with Admiral Mayo, and on the occasion of his visit took counsel with him as to the role the American navy was to play. We also took advantage of his visit to have an international naval conference, from which we hope much good may result.” Overcoming the Menace. Sir Eric, supplementing the recent statement by Premier Lloyd-George in Albert hall, said that he could give ce*»ain information which would show that “we are making reasonably satisfactory progress in overcoming the menace of the enemy’s submarine activities.”

“As regards the sinking of British merchant tonnage by submarines,” said Sir Eric, “the German official figures for August are 808,000 tons of all nationalities. They sank a little more than one-third of that amount of British tonnage and a little more than half of all nationalities. “Let me give you facts: In April last, the heaviest month of British losses by enemy .submarines since the war began, our trade flowed presumably in satisfactory volume for the enemy submarine. Sinkings Are Decreasing. -r “Since April, the highest month for British losses, they have steadily decreased, and latterly to a marked degree. - “Now that the submarine is for the 'present doing less damage and the resources of the country are again being devoted to a far greater and an increasing extent to the upbuilding of the mercantile marine, I look for net results still more formidable. - “Summarized, the submarine warfare amounts to this: Our defensive .measures have during the last seven months proved so efficacious that in spite of the increased number of ships through the danger zone there has been steady reduction in the damage done by the enemy submarines, la the meantime we are sinking enemy submarines to an increasing extent. Our offensive measures are improving, and will still more improve and multiply.”