The Dominion TUESDAY, JULY 11, 1916. SPECTACULAR WARFARE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2820, 11 July 1916, Page 4

The Dominion TUESDAY, JULY 11, 1916. SPECTACULAR WARFARE

The American newspapers have manufactured a big "sensation" out of the arrival of a German submarine in an American port. Tho Deutschland is probably the first German submarine to cross the Atlantic, which is no doubt a long voyage for _ this class of vessel to make; but it is by no means such a prodigious achievement as the New York cablegrams would lead one to believe. In the United States the demand for tho miraculous is insatiable, and the newspapers do their best to satisfy it. If it is possible to create a miracle out of an unusual occurrence they will do so —and the American public generally speaking know what value to attach to this miracleTmaking. They revolin wonders when depicted in sufficiently picturesque style, even though they may have their own private opinion of the facts narrated, and tho interpretation to be placed ori them. In tho American newspaper accounts of tho Deutschland s yoyage, fact and fiction, news and views,, are mixed together in hopeless confusion. Comhandek Kaibio is reported to have told Pilot Cook that the trip was uneventful; that no trouble was experienced. While, according to another story, tho. vessel was attacked by foreign warships and forced back on her course 200 miles. The fact that Captain Hans Hinch met tho Deutschland seems to hayo made him a leading authority on submarines and naval warfare generally. He assured tho journalists who interviewed him that the English blockade amounted to nothing, and declared that in a few weeks submarines would bo coming from Germany like liners from. After striking 'out |tho exaggerations, impossibilities, and contradictions, what is left makes a rather tamo story. ■ That a German submarine should liavo succeeded in getting through the British blockade is neither a new nor an extraordinary feat.' Wo know that they have mado thoir way into the Mediterranean, and have attacked our commerce in various parts of the Atlantic. But British submarines were able to travel from England to the Mediterranean, and despite every precaution of the enemy pass through the narrow waters of tho Dardanelles into tho Sea of Marmora. British submarines also, despite minefields and enemy vessels, crossed tho North Sea through tho narrow waters of the Skagcrack and G'attegat, right under tho noses of the German patrols specially stationed there to detect them. We merely mention these facts to show that a skilfully handled submarine should experience no difficulty in running through a blockado in the open ocean as was dono by tho Deutschland. _ As to crossing the ocean, submarines built in Canada for the Motherland have sailed to England under their own power since the war started as an everyday incident, and the two Australian submarines made tho long voyago from Britain to tho Commonwealth. Ono of them afterwards since the war started made its way to tho Mediterranean, where it was eventually lost at tho Dardanelles. So much for crossing tho ocean in submarines. But if Germany were to convert all her submarines into cargo-carriors it would not appreciably improve her position in tho ; matter of tho blockado of her ports.

Tho amount of merchandise that could bo accommodated in the space usually dovoted to torpedoes and tubes would bo comparatively insignificant. Tho voyage of the Doutschlancl is not an event of firstrate importance from tho point of view of eithor war or commerce.. Arid yet the Germans do not- as a rule waste their energies on purposoless undertakings.

The German war authorities bcliovo that it is sometimes worth while to arrange a spectacular display in order to create an impression upon neutrals or upon their own people. For this purpose they often do extraordinary things which have no- direct military value. Tho mere fact that one of their submarines can cross tho Atlantic does not open a new chapter in tho naval conflict, nor does it prove that Germany can do any more than sho has already done as regards tho destruction of British commerce. In tho wide ocean a submarine's opportunities of doing damage are not very great. They generally hunt for their prey at points which merchantmen have to pass when getting near to their destination. Their chances of getting into touch with a trader in mid-Atlantic are not good enough to induco them to go so far afiold. Tho spectacular interpretation of tho voyage of the Doutschland is tho most reasonable ono.' It is easy to see that German agents aro endeavouring to mako the incident as sensational as possible. They are taking full advantage of that craving for tho extraordinary, which is ono of tho characteristics of American journalism. Tho presenco of tho Deutschland in American waters is no doubt intended also to be a reminder to the people of the United States that Germany has a long arm, and that she could mako things unpleasant for American shipping if America should decido to take sides with her enemies. Germany also likes to give an occasional demonstration of her powor and resourcefulness for tho benefit of neutrals iu general. Her object is to surround herself with an atmosphere of awo and wonder, and to foster the belief that she is invincible. Tho true story of the Jutland Battle l has dissipated her claims to a naval victory, but she probably hopes that tho Doutschland's feat will m'alce tho world see that the German Navy is still very much alive. The moral effect of tho voyage on the German people has also to bo considered. It is no cloubt intended to encourage tho hopo that the British blockade may yet be broken down. It may thus help to revive tho droopinjr spirits of the Kaiser's subjects. Tho hopes thus raised are, of coursc, doomed to be disappointed, but something may be gained if the day of reckoning and disillusionment can bo postponed. ■ Who knows what may happon in tho meantime? It is tho gambler's wrestle with fortune. The Gentians realise the value of creating impressions at home, but tlioy usually overdo the thing. They ■understand the psychology of war, and know ■ the effectiveness of a dramatic act at tho psychological moirfcrit. Thoy r-em .ihlo to fool their allies and t-heir "'sn people with these methods, but tho outside world is not quite so denso as theso over-clever Huns seem t.o think.