But they are required now and in as great numbers as possible.

There is no time for delay.

The present method of submarine attack is almost entirely by torpedo with the submarine submerged.

The gun defense of merchant ships keeps the submarine below the surface but does no more; offensively against a submerged submarine it is useless, and the large majority of the ships torpedoed never see the attacking submarine until the torpedo has hit the ship[62].
The present remedy is, therefore, to prevent the submarine from using its periscope for fear of attack by bomb or ram from small craft, and this method of defense for the shipping and offense against the submarine requires small craft in very large numbers.
The introduction of the convoy system, provided there are sufficient destroyers to form an adequate screen to the convoy, will, it is hoped, minimize losses when it is working, and the provision of new offensive measures is progressing; but for the next few months there is only one safeguard, viz., the immediate addition to patrols of every small vessel that can possibly be sent to European waters.
Page, moreover, kept up his own appeal: _To the President_ July 5th.
_Strictly confidential to the President and the Secretary_ The British Cabinet is engaging in a threatening controversy about the attitude which they should take toward the submarine peril.
There is a faction in the Admiralty which possesses the indisputable facts and which takes a very disheartening view of the situation.

This group insists that the Cabinet should make a confession at least to us of the full extent of the danger and that it should give more information to the public.