is
topic has convinced me that the Germans have a long task if they hope
within a reasonable number of months to reduce by submarine torpedo
practice the efficiency of the English navy to a basis that will
warrant German warships coming forth to battle.

Every battleship is protected by four destroyers. Submarines, when
detected, are the most easily destroyed craft. They have no protection
against even a well-directed rifle bullet. Their whole protection is
that of invisibility. Their plan of operation is to reach a position
during the night, whence in the early morning they can single out an
unprotected warship or cruiser not in motion, and launch against her
side a well-directed torpedo, before being discovered.

The place for England's battleships is where they are: in the harbors
with their protecting nets down until they are called for in battle.
In motion or action, submarines have little show against them.

The Japanese at Port Arthur found that protecting nets picked up many
torpedoes and submarines. Since that time, torpedoes have been made
with cutting heads to pierce steel nets encircling the warships, but
their effectiveness has not so far been practically demonstrated.

It is Kitchener's idea to keep the enemy guessing. Therefore he was
rather pleased than otherwise when the story of Russians coming through
England from Archangel was told all over the world. The War Office
winked at the story and certainly had no objection to the Germans
getting a good dose of it. I think that story might have been helpful
at the time when the Allies were at their weakest, but they do not now
need Russians, or stories of Russians, from Archangel.

The story must also go by the board that a submarine north of Ireland
meant either a new type of boat that could go so far from Germany, or
an unknown base nearer Scotland.

Submarines as now built could go from Germany around the British Isles
and then across the Atlantic--in fair weather.

The eastern boundary of France divides itself into four very nearly
equal sections. Italy and Switzerland are the lower quarters of this
boundary line; and of the upper quarters Belgium is the larger and
Germany the smaller. The southern half of the German quarter boundary
is a mountain range and on the open sections stand the great
fortifications of France and Germany, regarded by both countries as
practically impregnable. The defence of France on the Belgian frontier
was t