AMERICA AND THE SUBMARINES

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 270, 27 April 1917, Page 4 (Supplement)

AMERICA AND THE SUBMARINES

Tho decision of the United States to co-operate to the utmost with the -Allies will doubtless include all possible efforts on her part to assist in controlling and suppressing the operations of the enemy's submarines. Apart from active measures in which she may engago against the German under-watcr craft, she will be able to make no sm.ill addition to the fleet of new vessels which are required to make good tao drain on. the world's tonnage caused by the submarine campaign. The United States has not been a great shipbuilding nation, but sh? has latterly added largely to her yards, and is devoting more attention to the construction of larger vessels than heretolore. In an article appearing in the March number of tho "Worlds Work," entitled "How we can best help tho Allies," statistics are quoted showing the shipbuilding output of Allied and neutral countries and the losses sustained during last year. It is stated that the total Allied and neutral tonnage in 1916 amounted to 42,(XX),C00 tons. During that year 2199 new vessels were built, representing new tonnage to the extent of 1,720,930 tons. During the samo period 1037 vessels of 1,999,2 <4 tons were destroyed. The new vessels included a number of small craft, which accounts for the fact tnat although the number of vessels destroyed is less than half the number built the amount of world's tonnage sunk during the year exceeded the output by 278,301. The United States has turned out a great number of small vessels in the past, and in 1916 her total of 1213 new boats represented an aggregate tonnage of only 560,239 tons. Half ct this number, comprising one-fifth ct the tonnage, were vessels unavailable for tie merchant service. The rapid advance which the United States is making in shipbuilding should result in more than double the 1916 output being reached this year. There are under construction in the United States, and ready to be commissioned in 1917, 357 vessels of a total tonnage of 1,250,722. When we add to this close en 600,000 tons of German shipping in United States ports, all of which has now been seized, it will be seen that America's contribution to the world's tonnage during 1917 will materially assist the Allied efforts to make good tho loss's caused by the enemy's unrestricted campaign. But according to the naval correspondent of the "Daily Express," America has an unpleasant surprise in store for the Germans in the plans she has prepared to light the U boats. In a bill passed some montns ago authorising the construction of a number of battle cruisers there was a clauso dealing with the institution of a new Naval Reserve Force. Incidentally the clause provided that the Secretary of the Navy "may enrol in a branch to be called the Naval Coast Defence Reserve all owners of suitablo yachts and motor-boats, and may contract with the owners of such boats to take them over in time of war on payment of a reasonable subjidy.'" That is to say, an anti-submarine corps was brought into being. It began in a very modest way in the summer or 1915, when live motor boats were experimentally attached to one of the fleets for manoeuvres. They worked against the submarines on the stretch o; coast between Boston and Newport, or approximately the area in which U53 was active last autumn —and were very successful. Tho Navy Department thereupon Issued a schedule of the classes of motor-boats which it would lie prepared to utilise in the Coast Defence Reserve. Some of these—the largest—were for work on the high seas. The scheme was brought to fruition in the course of last summer, when a great assembly of motor-boats formed part of the civilian naval cruise tnat the Naval Department arranged in connection with tho preparedness campaign. It is obvious that the addition of large numbers of these submarine hunters to the effective forces of the Allies would be of th" utmost value r.t Ihe present juncture. They are small enough to be hoisted on board big ships and taken to any spot on the high seas where they could be usefully employed. They are sufficiently seaworthy to work in moderate weather and to remain afloat for 4S hours if necessary, and the writer is of opinion that although the tile of the corps is the Naval Coast Defence Reserve, every man in the corps would bo willing to go wherever ho was needed if by so doing he could put a stop to the activities of a pirate submarine. The main fleets of the Allies are already so strong that the addition of the baker's dozen of Dreadnoughts that form tho American first line at sea could hardly have any noticeable effect on the position. But the calling up for service of the newly-instituted Volunteer Patrol, cn the other hand, may result in the worst surprise the pirates have yet had at sea.