ITS LESSONS AND ITS WARNINGS 5 



1915, the total number of sailings to and from 

 the ports of the United Kingdom was 10,194. 

 Of this number only 37 British merchant vessels 

 and 6 British fishing ships were destroyed, and 

 of these only 33 were sunk by submarines. The 

 remainder were sunk by mines. From these 

 figures it will be seen that the German submarine 

 " blockade " has been a decided failure. 1 



On the other hand, the action of the few 

 German cruisers at large has been of quite a 

 different character. 



The experiences of the present, like that of 

 the great American war (in the case of the 

 Alabama and the Rear sage), prove the elusive 

 career of the enemy's ships when once on the 

 high seas. It is true that they are captured 

 at last, but in the meantime they do their 



1 Since the above date the German submarines have 

 continued their exploits, chiefly in sinking fishing-boats 

 and other smaller craft. Their one notable act was in the 

 case of the Lusitania an unarmed passenger liner. She 

 was torpedoed without warning on May 7th, 1915, off the 

 coast of Ireland, 25 miles from Queenstown. She had 

 some 2000 souls on board, the majority of whom were 

 Americans. The loss of life was heavy, no less than 1100 

 men, women and children perishing with the vessel. Even 

 this, however, has no influence on the war. It is not 

 recognized warfare, but is deliberate, cold-blooded murder. 



