The Washington times., 1916-10-09
FEDERAL AGENTS ON.
WATCH FOR GERMAN.
BASE ON US. COAST.
Investigators Suspect American
Neutrality May Be Violated
by Aiding U-Boats.

close watch will be kept by the
american Government on operations
OF Serman submarines of the ATTAIN
uc coast to determine IL the sub
mersipIes are being supplied food.
iuei oil, and ammunition from secret
bases along the American shore.
since the early days Of the war the
department of Justice has been in
vestigatine reports that German
agents have been operating secret
th WI stations and other depots in
ne dense woods along tho Maine
coast. In not a single Instance. how
ever, has the Department been al6le
NJ upon any definite proofs to this
the department. have suspected, but
nave been unable to prove. that the
British warships patroiiing the At
rom e GSssf were psrt Seins provisioned
The failure to locate evidence in
the past, however, will not cause the
department. to lessen It's search. on
OF the German submarines on this
SIDE OF the Atlantic, and their active
operations, have convinced officials
inRs were the beginning OF a general
campaign on this side OF the Atlantic,
there Is stronger reason than ever TO
TREE f tSeores se Ga
day by American naval experts as to
the methods by which the C-53 and her
companion submarines-if there be
l. At secret shore stations established
at Isolated points along the American
coast, either on the mainland or on un-
inhabited islands.
marines OF the Deutschland and Bremen
types, sent over as tenders to the sub
marine fighters.
g. From neutral merchant ships lesv-
ing regular ports or Isolated harbors
along the coast.
That there may be secret supply sta
lions along the coast, at which. despite
vigilance OF the Department OF Justice.
submarines might call and get supplies
II regarded In American naval circles
ms entirely possible. II was recalled to-
day that for months. during the prog
ress OF the sensational submarine war
fare In the British Channel and North
Sea. the Germans were operating from
secret bases In Ireland. the existence of
which was never known until the out
break Of the Sim Fein rebellion. Many
parts OF the coast OF Maine, II is point
ed out. are almost unknown to the gen.
eral public. and are protected by almost
virgin forests. owing. however. to the
difficulty which would be experienced
in getting supplies TO such a base. some
Of the naval officials are inclined to
scout this theory.
The feat performed by the. German
merchant submarine Deutschland IN
WITH a heavy cargo and without detec-
ton. shows. naval officers declare. that
such submarines could easily act as ten
ders to the U-boat fighters.
Could Carry Large Supplies.
These tenders. II Is pointed out.
could carry large supplies OF gasolene.
food, and ammunition. and. when not
transferring these supplies to the
U-boat fighters at night. could lie at
the bottom and thus escape detec-
ton.
the enormous profits that would be
offered. IL is said. might easily per-
suade neutral vessels leaving New
York and other ports. or even Amer
What. for example, II Is asked. Is
there TO prevent such a neutral ship.
with a cargo of oil bound for some
board few barrels Of fuel and iu-
bricating oil where the submarines
could salvage them? There lie even
doubt as to whether such practice
the law which prohibits supplying
belligerent warships from American
ports; Certainly. II is declared 1t
would be difficult Of detection:
At all events II Is believed the Ger
man government would not have sent
it's submarine, or submarines, to carry
on operations as far from home as
the O-oo came without MAKING ar
rangements for their provisioning.
There Is no doubt In the minds of
most American naval officers that a
fleet of submarines is engaged In
these operations. rather than a single
boat: and this conviction will grow to
a certainty. II IL declared at the Navy
Department. IL further depredations
on entente commerce are made on
this side OF the Atlantic 1t 10 thought
hardly likely that the U-53 alone
would have been so prodigal In the
use OF torpedoes.