The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-31

Mersey. The submarine followed but gave
up the chase when the mouth OF the river
was reached. II Ia not known definitely
whether the submarine which chased the
Graphic Vas the same U-2l or not, but
Il Is believed this vessel made the three
attacks unaided. although 1t Is considered
unlikely that she Is alone In the Irish Sea.
The appearance OF TIE submarines on
the west coast OF England has caused
great surprise and some apprehension.
II Is con iidered likely that the submarines
coached these waters under convoy OF a
merchant vessel flying neutral nag
Fleetwood Is ll,ie more t1an thirty
miles north OF the mouth of the Mersey.
The bulk of the British shipping to Eng
land g now centred at Liverpool az a
result OF the closing OF other ports for
DE handling OF Lord Kitchener's volun-
tser army, which Is being transported TO
the Continent and the Germans evidently
arc planning to make Liverpool the centre
OF their attacks on shipping.
Admiral Sir John Fisher. First Sea
Lord of the Admiralty, has been In al
most constant consultation with members
OF the Admiralty staff. tonight. II Is be-
stroyer and light cruiser fleets are being
sffected to meet this new peril.
Suspect Won Tirpitz's Plan.
Coming 30 short time after the
similar destruction OF the steamer Dur
ward BY German submarine of tbs
Hook OF Holland. the destruction of the
Ben Cruachan and the Linda Blanche Is
taken here to indicate that the plan OF
Admiral Won Tirpitz to use submarines
against British commerce has been adop ed
by the German Admiralty. orders have
been Issued for ships OF the home fleet to
convoy all British steamers as soon as
they are reported In nome waters
The German action has aroused much
"a H.w q at IA
mission that the German feet has found
Itself impoteut to interfere with British
commerce by making captures and that
the sinking OF merchant vessels by sub
mariies has been adopted In an effort 10
create n reign Of terror to British ship
ping.
Recent reports said that the Germans
have been building submarines with n
steaming radius Of $500 miles. While
Ire German attacks so far have been con-
hned to freight steamships, it Is Eel. here
that similar ATTACKS may be made at any
time against the big transatlantic pas
senger vessels.
Tho distance from tho mouth OF the
Elba where II is supposed that the
German submarines have their base, to
the mouth of the Mersey. presumng that
The vessel which sank the British mer-
chant vessels clrcled the north OF Scot
and. Is roughly 1900 miles. II Is i'm
probable that the submarine would ven
ture through the heavily patroiled Eng
fish Channel to get to the west coast,
This route would be n little shorter
than the other, but Il Is 1000 miles
or moro from the German base.
The German submarine U-2i Is one OF
class OF nine boats, mum bercd from
U-19 to U.27. built ir 1912 and 1919. The
vessels OF this class have displacement
n $40 tons on the surface and 70 speed OF
II knots on the surfa 20 and - kno = sub
merged They carry three torpedo tubes
The Ben Cruachad was vessel OF
5000 tons and wa9 built at Stockton.
England. In 1902 She was last reported
In American recorcs when she sailed
from Madeira on Novenbc~ % for Barry
The Graphic Is a 1925 ton vessel built
IN 1909 and owned ~ W II. C1ckerlne
& Co Shipping T, "ords available here
make no mention OF .he Linda Blanche