Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-07-21

Slowly past. NO nights were SHOWN.
We hailed. No response was made
The report then continues with 9TH
er instances Of evidences Of the pres
ence of submarines noted by other wit
nesses.
The report quotes the commander
of a yacht as giving his opinion that
these signs indicated the presence of
submarines. There are no American
submarines operating Whereabouts. 1t
possibly may be, say the naval au-
thorities here, that what was observed
was an American destroyer or a reve-
nue. cutter on patrol duty.
Credited in Washington.
Nevertheless the report has caused
uneasiness here. The feasibility Of
German submarines crossing the At
lantic and using some secluded spot
on the Maine coast as base for
operations against British munition
ships out of New York is admitted
without question by naval experts
here.
Reports of the intention Of the Ger
mans to carry out such scheme
have been reported to the Navy de-
partment before. and certain of the
officials have taken these reports SO
seriously that they have pressed for
the establishment of regular patrol
off the Maine coast to guard Ameri-
can neutrality.
The present report. however, is the
most definite information yet received.
Moreover, it comes from a source that
establishes the sincerity and good
faith Of the report.
1t tells Of precisely how the shapes
Of the ships at night were observed
and of the surprise occasipned the
following day by the presence of large
Oil islands, which are only seenAin the
bay when some large ship calls there.
There was and had been no large
ship there at the time these islands
were observed. The report states
emphatically that this is no vain
ina ginning" The navy department
says there are no destroyers off the
Maine coast today, unless Admiral
Fletcher has ordered one there, and
the report Of the order has not yet
been received here. 1t is not thought
likely that the outline of revenue
cutter could have been mistaken for
the long, low, black shape" de-
scribed in the report.
At the time the report was received
here all Of the government depart
half holiday. The matter was con-
sidered of sufficient seriousness, how
ever. to be brought Immediately to
the attention of Robert Lansing, Sec
rotary Of state, at his home. 1t
then was referred to an officer on duty
in the navy department.
Mysterious German At Castine.
The navy department has never ad-
mitted sending out American war
ships to learn the truth Of such re-
ports. and nothing regarding the ac-
ton taken on the report received
Saturday could be learned.
Curiously enough, in connection
with the Penobscot bay. it is learned
that interest is being displayed in the
movements Of a German known as
Prof. Won Mart, who owns point OF
land on the bay just opposite Castine.
Prof. Won Mart, it is said, is con-
spicuously inhospitable, keeping very
much to himself and not permitting
the residents Of the vicinity any
knowledge of hts movements.
1t is said that he has two brothers
in the German army. one Of whom has
the rank Of, general. His presence
there In connection with the reports
Of the presence Of submarines has led
to the suspicion that he is acting as
an agent of the German government
in assisting the submarine command
ers in the establishment Of base.