The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-12-23
Steam Yachts, Motor Boats and
Armed Trawlers Watch For the
Approach of German Yes
sels--Towns Armed
10000 TROOPS ARE
IN FELIxsTOwE
Penensey. Where Norman Con-
queror Landed, Watched With
Great Care

NEW YORK, Dec. 23.-Trenches
are being dug about London and ex-|
Ithaordinary precautions are being tax
en- throughout the English east coast
region In anticipation OF a further Ger
man raid or invasion. This informa-
tion reached the United Press today
from a reliable private source in Eng
land.
The trench digging around London
began two months ago. Ii was an
nounced at the time that this was
mere practice work for recruits. This
pretense has now been abandoned.
Any traveller by road out Of London,
especially to the north and northeast.
has ample opportunities to observe
lines OF trenches that would do credit
TO seasoned sappers In Flanders.
These extend In an almost unbroken
line, from Hendon. on the northwest.
through Potter's bard, across to Epp-
ing forest, on the northeast. and
thence southwark as far az the
Thames.
For two months the German inva-
sion has been expected next week =
The German cruisers made their raid
on Scarborough. Hartlepool and Whit
| Lby.s but thar the actual invasion IL
loverdue in causing no relaxation OF
vigilance or preparation on the part
OF Gen. Sir Ian Hamilton, comrnander-
in-chief OF the defense forces. Il n
also known in London that Lord
Kitchener recently made personal
tour OF inspection of the points on
the east coast where IL is considered
most likely the Germans may attempt
q landing
Altogether there are now modified
along the coast from Dover to Leith
approximately half million men. A
large part OF these are terrftorfals
but at important points are q num-
ber OF regiments OF seasoned regular
troops
All the east coast harbors, inlets
and waterways, have been mined. A
day and night patrol OF sea planes.
steam yachts, motor boats and armed
steam trawlers is maintained. The
navy has provided some 500 trawlers.
manned by navy gunners. Altogether
there are about 1000 small vessels.
armed and unarmed, now on this pa
trol service between Dover and Leith.
Their vigilance is chiefly directed
TO such stretches OF coast as offer on
portunity for the landing OF troops In
small boats. For the most part these
places are located remote from
fortified ports. lying low almost on .
level with the sea. Such stretch a
the Kentish coast line near Sandwich.
and In Essex. Suffolk and Norfolk.
Many OF the east coast towns have
been converted practically into mill
rary camps and from most of them
the civilian population has already
left In others, the townspeople are
under orders to be prepared to leave
AT a moments notice.
Thirty thousand troops are billeted
at Felixstowe In Suffolk. Similar con-
ditions obtain AT Cromer, In Norfolk.
Concealed trenches and barbed wire
entanglements have been constructed
near the shore wherever the military
strategists have figured there is the
slightest chance OF the Germans at.
tempting TO get a foothold. Artillery
has also been emplaced, and further
| inland succive lines OF trenches
have been dug along possible routes OF
| Continued on Pag- Twe)