U BOATS ONCE MORE

Since the U53 and the Deutschland paid us their respects early in the war, we have taken it for granted that the submarines would restrict their activities to the Irish Sea, the Mediterranean, and the waters around the coasts of England and France. At least, we soon believed this to be the German policy when, after the Naval Reserve had taken to sea in their motley array of ships, no enemy was found willing to do battle. Our vigil little by little relaxed, the crews ceased to open fire on every inoffensive porpoise, and the Navy Department began to build 110-footers to go abroad and do our fighting there. Just when all was serene and quiet the Teuton struck and as usual he did a thorough job. About ten United States ships have gone to the bottom and still the U boats are at large.

The first impulse in such a misfortune is to blame someone, and in this case we are wont to ask why the Navy had not put guns on these ships and why our patrol boats were not on the job. Such questioning is ridiculous and unnecessary. There has been no reason to mount guns on coastwise ships and the Atlantic ocean is too large to be completely covered by patrols. When the submarines succeed in such a surprise attack we must be philosophical and not get panicky. In the Spanish War people gave up their homes on the seashore and trooped inland for fear of Cevera's fleet. This is just what the Kaiser wishes to reoccur. He has shelled Paris for the moral effect and he is sending over submarines for the same reason.

There is but one thing for the civilian population to do: keep calm. We must continue our daily work as before and let the Navy worry about the U boats. If we object too strongly to submarines we had best enlist and fight them with guns, not loiter around and fight with words. The Germans considered the Scarborough vandalism a victory and they soon found out that it was merely acting as a stimulus for British recruiting. If the same takes place here, the U boats' journey will have been well worth while.