Jack and Frank discussed these matters frequently.
"It would be a great time for the Germans to strike," said Jack one evening, as the lads sat in their rooms at the hotel. "The American people don't seem to realize the possibilities of the submarine."
"That's true," said Frank, "but at the same time such an attack might prove a boomerang to the Germans."
"What do you mean?"
"Why," said Frank, "you haven't forgotten, have you, that it took a number of air raids on England to fully arouse the British people to the fact that the Germans must be licked?"
"That's true enough," agreed Jack. "The Germans, of course, figured that they would frighten England and scare her out of the war."
"Exactly, and the result was altogether different from what they had anticipated. That's why I say submarine activities off the American coast will prove a boomerang to the foe."
"I see," commented Jack. "You mean it would arouse the American people to the necessity of prompt action."
"Exactly."
"Well," said Jack, "it begins to look as though Lord Hastings were wrong. We've been here three weeks now and nothing has transpired to indicate that the Germans are meditating a submarine raid in American waters."