The Wanganui Herald (Published Daily.) SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 1917. AMERICAN HELP.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15194, 14 April 1917, Page 4

The Wanganui Herald (Published Daily.) SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 1917. AMERICAN HELP.

HiKDENBURG, in an interview with a German correspondent of a Spanish newspaper, professed to treat very lightly the entry of America into the war on the side of the Allien, asd declared that as the British had not been able, with the aid of the Allied fleets, to overcome the U-boats, the American fleet would not succeed. The wish, of course, is father to the thought, but no German bluff will disguise the patent fact that the American navy can be of very considerable help to the Allies, and at once. The American Navy will be able to undertake the patrol of the North and South Atlantic, keeping the waters on that side free from raiders and submarines, safeguarding vessels sailing from American and Canadian porta, and releasing for active service British and French cruisers that, are engaged in patrol duty off the American coast. The American naval authorities believe, it is said, that they have vessels enough at their disposal to protect their ports as well as American and Allied commerce, and that, by a strategic disposition of their navy, merchantmen can be given adequate protection until they are well out to sea, when responsibility can be taken over by the Allied fleet. It is said also that the American naval authorities have arranged to take over as many merchant vessels as may be necessary, and equip them as auxiliary cruisers, and they are also going to press into service a swarm of fast armed motor-boats and other small craft to supplement the work of the cruisers, destroyers and other patrol vessels. There is also the possibility that with hoe help of American warships the Allied naval authorities, which would mean to a great extent, Admiral Jellicoe, may think it advisable by and by to undertake operations which have been too risky hitherto. But this is not likely to be a matter for the immediate future.

NEW INVENTIONS. Whatever Hindenburg may say, the fact remains that U-boat commanders are likely to find their harrassed lives plagued by additional means of capture and destruction as soon as America starts business. Invention of devices for such a purpose would be, one imagines, right in the American line, and even the blindest pacifist could hardly find anything inhuman in the street of the deliberate destroyers of innocent lives—and big cargoes, too. The point is important, because popular feeling may have a considerable influence upon the

direction of invention. Edison is already, it is said, busy upon a new submarine detector, and American naval officers, and shipping men generally, should be able to work out new means of trapping and new pursuing craft. Indeed, some of these have been evolved already. There has been lately built, for instance, a new kind of motor-boat, the "sea sled" (invented, however, by a Nova Scotian), which is to used as a fast patrol and picket boat for the American navy. Armed with a couple of lis'ht guns, it is said that this could easily run down the most powerful submarine, and its great speed should enable it to avoid any shells fired at it. The, sea sled is a squat and uglv craft, with flat vertical sides, and square bow and stern. Under the bow half there is a keel, but the bottom of the boa?, near the stern is flat, and the bow is built with a hollow which collects air beneath it as the boat gathers speed. The result is that considerable quantities of air are forced right under the boat so that it rides on a cushion of mixed air and water, upon which it slides like a hydroplane. Another curious feature of these boats is that they are driven by several propellers, revolving half in and half out of tue ..water. The steering is done by rudders on both sides, and owing to the beam the boat runs very steadily, which shou'd improve the shooting of its light guns.

' USEFUL SMALL TYPES. Alehough in the matter of big ships America has hardly had time to profit much from the lessons of the war, as regards smaller ones, which can be more quickly built, she has had time. And the American navy contains , vessels which wi 1 be of considerable vise in the war against U-boats, quite apart from the mosquito fleet of torpedo-boats. For instance, the United States Navy Department is understood to have lately designed a new type of warship, a combination of cruiser and destroyer. The vessels of this type have a speed of 30 knots, and are of 1125 tons each. They carry four 4in guns, as many triple torpedo tubes, and also two one-pounder anti-aircraft guns. Then there are the naval scouts that are being built as the result of efforts to establish co-operation between boat clubs and owners of small motor-boats, and the Government, in order to build up an efficient reserve of vessels which, though privately owned in peace time, would be of use to the navy in time of war. Official plans for such boats were adopted some time ago, as a result of which types of 45ft and 66ft scout cruisers were adopted and construction begun. Since these boats will be used by their owners in peace time as pleasure yachts, they have to embody a combination of the desirable features of these as well as of motor scouts. They are to be capable of a sustained speed of 30 miles an hour for four hours, and 26 miles an hour for six hours, in a moderate sea. They are to have space for a full .supply of fuel, stores and ammunition, and be capable of mounting a quick-firer. This, in the smaller type of boat, is a one-pound-er. Both types are exceedingly strongly built, with watertight compartments, divided by steel bulkheads, and the larger type carries wireless. The larger type, at any rate, is to have a 500-mile radius of action at 25 miles an hour.

AN ADMISSION. It is interesting to note that even a year ago the well-known German publicist, Herr Naumann, who has thrown a great deal of light upon German opinion on various subjects, wrote an article which took American intervention extremely seriously. "Our desire that the United States should maintain neutrality," he wrote, "is perfectly intelligible by reason of our military situation alone. We have already quite enough enemies, and regard it as a great mistake when people occasionally behave as if an increase in their number could not make much difference. It is a fallacy to .say that the Americans could do us no more harm in future than they have done us already." Herr Naumann went on to outline a set of developments which, he pointed out, must occur if America entered the war against Germany. It is noteworthy that he admitted that, with the intervenion of the American navy, "the possibility of a complete blockade increases." It must be assumed, he added, that "in the event of a declaration of war a recruiting' system will be set up in the United States which will be capable of the same expansion as the English system. The so-called organised militia would prove a foundation. The American army might in the course of six months reach a very considerable size." And, finally, "we do not hide from ourselves the endless sacrifices which would be demanded from us all in a world-war prolonged (sic) by North America." But it may be asked, why, at this rate, has Germany forced, America into war with her? Well, peace with America would have meant weakening the U-boat campaign, and that is Germany's last hope. In addition to the American Navy co-operating with the British Navy, and taking control of the Atlantic routes the United States can give material, financial, economic, aud transport help. In connection with the latter, President Wilson believes America can do the greatest service to the Allies by providing an armada of merchantmen to invalidate the under-sea campaign. America's entire shipping facilities, including 100 new plants, will construct a fleet of wooden ships of 2000 tons and upwards, and the first year's production will average three ships daily. The vessels will be armed. Colonel Goethals, the builder of the Panama Canal, is to be in charge of the scheme. The new ships, together with the interned German vessels which have been recently seised, should help materially in breaking the U-boat blockade.