New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-09
U-BOat Gordon to Guard
u. S. Ports, Navy Men Say
Watch on New York. Boston, Philadelphia and Norfolk
Would Make Munition and Supply Ships Easy
Prey for Germans. Specialists Say.

know where supplies for the next three
months can be obtained.
The necessity for some such action
on Germany's part, II is pointed OUT
was never so urgent as at this moment.
Some spectacular move on the part OF
the German government is imperative
to allay growing discomfort and appre-
hension as TO the outcome OF the war.
The Zeppelin raids upon England,
through the meagre results achleVed,
and through the loss, besides, of some
of the dirigibles involved, have not
had the reassuring effect on the public
imagination which had been hoped. 1t
is suggested the Germans are far too
hard-headed a people to place the
slightest reliance on "frightfulness" as
q policy to make the English eager for
peace. The Zeppelin raids were planned
10 appeal TO the German Imagination,
TO make tangible the popular cry,
"Gott strafe England" And these
raids, accordingly, have in nowise dis
tracted the widespread resentment
throughout all Germany at the aban-
donment Of the submarine campaign.
How may such a campaign be re-
sumed? It Is we'll known that since
the beginning of the war there has
been no cessation in the activity Of
the German shipyards. Within few
days it was officially announced that a
huge fleet of German passenger and
freight ships had been building for the
last two years, for the use of Ger
many's commerce after peace was de-
clared. Similarly, within a month the
German Emperor has publicly congrat-
ulated German naval constructors on
having entirely repaired all losses and
damage to the German High Seas
Fleet incurred in the battle of Jutland.
II is the belief of United States ma
val officers that, In the same interval,
Germany has been building the largest
known type of submarines for some
such purpose as an effectual and legal
espionage of the English coast.
To Keen Watch on United States.
Could not an effective system OF
espionage, however. be far more Ell
fectively maintained against the ports
of the United States by submarines
living Just outside the three-mile
limit? Naval officers suggest that New
York, Boston, Philadelphia and Norfolk
would be the only ports needing watch
ing. On the other hand. an effective
blockade of the entire English coast
might require so many submarines rs
to be nearly impracticable, whereas,
too. such a blockade would be IN Eng
lish home waters, where 1t could most
effectively be met.
The German people have never for
en instant wavered in their determi-
ration that shipment of munitions to
the Allies by neutral powers-and par
ticularly by the United States
stop. This determination underlay their
whole submarine campaign. IL occa-
stoned the international tragedy OF the
Iusitanin, for which no repsration has
ever been made, and for which medal
Of honor was conferred by the Kaiser
on the submarine captain who sank the
ship.
famed into almost open flame by re-
verses to the German arms during the
last few months. 1t but remains for the
German government to act with the APP
rroval Of substantially the entire ma
ton. This, in the opinion of the Amer
lean naval officer quoted, and who Is IN
close touch with the trend OF AFFAIRS
in Washington and with confidential
information current there, the German
government has resolved upon to do.