ht ships faster than freight ships are being built by
the whole world. In this way, too, then, the Germans are
succeeding. Now if this goes on long enough, the Allies' game is
up. For instance, they have lately sunk so many fuel oil ships,
that this country may very soon be in a perilous condition--even
the Grand Fleet may not have enough fuel. Of course the chance is
that oil ships will not continue to fall victims to the U-boats and
we shall get enough through to replenish the stock. But this
illustrates the danger, and it is a very grave danger.

The best remedy so far worked out is the destroyer. The submarines
avoid destroyers and they sink very, very few ships that are
convoyed. If we had destroyers enough to patrol the whole approach
(for, say, 250 miles) to England, the safety of the sea would be
very greatly increased; and if we had enough to patrol and to
convoy every ship going and coming, the damage would be reduced to
a minimum. The Admiral and I are trying our best to get our
Government to send over 500 improvised destroyers--yachts,
ocean-going tugs--any kind of swift craft that can be armed. Five
hundred such little boats might end the war in a few months; for
the Germans are keeping the spirit of their people and of their
army up by their submarine success. If that success were stopped
they'd have no other cry half so effective. If they could see this
in Washington as we see it, they'd do it and do it not halfway but
with a vengeance. If they don't do it, the war may be indefinitely
prolonged and a wholly satisfactory peace may never be made. The
submarine is the most formidable thing the war has produced--by
far--and it gives the German the only earthly chance he has to win.
And he _may_ substantially win by it yet. That's what the British
conceal. In fact, half of them do not see it or believe it. But
nothing is truer, or plainer. One hundred thousand submarine
chasers next year may be worth far less than 500 would be worth
now, for next year see how few ships may be left! The mere arming
of ships is not enough. Nearly all that are sunk are armed. The
submarine now carries a little periscope and a big one, each
painted the colour of the sea. You can't see a little periscope
except in an ocean as smooth as glass. It isn't bigger th