Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-08-04
FIVE CRUISERS
OFF HOOK MAY
START BATTLE

NEW YORK, Aug. 4.-Men-
of-war, menacing in their at |
titude of silence as they rode peace
fully on the waves, were sighted by |
several incoming steamships yesteu |
day within thirty miles Of Sandy |
Hook. No attempt was made to stop |
the steamships and no reply was to
be obtained to wireless inquiries.
From the description given, two of
the vessels, which were seen directly
in the path of transatlantic traffic,
were the Dresden and the Karlsruhe,
German cruisers. These have been re-
ported off Sandy Hook for the last
three days, and have been in constant
communication by wireless with land
stations.
Within an hours steaming distance
from the Dresden and Karlsruhe two
other men-of-w war were seen. They
flew no flags, but from their general
build they are believed to have been
the British cruisers Essex and Suf-
folk, both of which have been re-
ported along the Atlantic coast. In
the distance another vessel was made
out, distinctively a man-of- war by
her liens, and thought to be the third
vessel of the British fleet.
While no incoming steamships re-
port having sighted the French
cruiser Conde cruising along the At
lantic coast, the wireless stations at
Sayville, Cape Cod, Siasconsett and
Sea Gate have heard her working and
know that she is in close proximity
to Sandy Hook.
The purpose of the maneuvers of
the French, English and German
men -of-War is conjectured by naval
authorities to mean that they are
awaiting the word which means gem
eral war in Europe and the signal
which will cause them to open UP a
rain of shot and shell at the hostile
| fleet. Wireless operators on the mer-
chant steamships endeavored to en-
gage the cruisers in conversation, but
their questions went unanswered.
The decision on the part of the Ger
man steamship lines to send out some
of their vessels loaded with coal and,
as rumored, with military and hos
pital supplies, is taken to mean that
assurance has been given that they
will receive the protection of the Ger
man cruisers outside. It is possible
that the cruisers are waiting to con-
voy the merchantmen safely across
the Atlantic.
| Ihe distinctive wireless signals OF
the English and French men-of-war
are known to the operators at the
land stations, who have heard the
two fleets in almost hourly commune
cation. A declaration of war on the
part of England, it is believed, will
cause the two fleets to join forces and
attempt to vanquish the German
fleet.
In this event 1t is possible that a
naval battle may be fought within
sighting distance of Sandy Hook, as
the fleets could approach with i'm
punity to within three miles of the
shore. 1t Is believed that they have
been coming in close after dark, as
frequent reports have been made by
incoming steamships of having sight
ed vessels which were showing nc
lights, not even the port and star.
board lights prescribed by the laws
Of navigation
Persons along the south shore O
Long Island saw a constant line Of
steamships passing in either direc
ton all day yesterday as a result d
the effort to keep within neutra
waters. In every instance. particu
larly the large-sized vessels. a speeS
of not more than five or six knott
was maintained because Of the dan
ger of running aground