Evening star., 1916-10-13
PATROL
BY us. OFF COAST
Destroyers Are There to En-
force Neutrality and to
Save Lives.
FOREIGN FLEET is SIGHTED

NEWPORT, X. l.. october IA far
flung patrol by torpedo boat destroyers.
charged with the double duty of enforc-
ing neutality observance and saving
lives in event Of further submarine raids
on shipping of these shores. was put
into effect from Bar Harbor. Me-. to
New York today. Official authority for
the statement that such a patrol had
been ordered by the Navy Department
was obtained here this morning.
Tho limits Of the line of coast surveil-
lance at present effective were shown
today with the arrival of the destroyer
Paulding off Bar Harbor. Maine. and the
activity of the destroyer Sterrett in New
York harbor. Between these two out
posts nine other destroyers were weav-
ing net of observation that extended a
considerable distance out to sea. well
beyond the lanes of coastwise vessels.
Admiral Gleaves Directs Patrol.
In Narragansett bay several other de-
stroyers were kept at routine target
practice with steam constantly up, avail
able for an emergency call. The fuel
ship Jason. which left here recently with
full supply Of oil. came in during the
night for more. All vessels, it was said.
were well provisioned.
The operations Of the patrol are being
directed from the flagship Birmingham.
| headquarters Of Rear Admiral Albert
Gleaves. The Birmingham is at this
port also, in readiness to move at any
moment.
Except in war-game maneuvers the
coast has not been covered by naval
forces in such manner for years.
watt ut
| ton harbor in compliance with the new
| orders, by which the neutrality service
Of recent months has been increased.
| They are the Warrington and Reid, with
the Davis, a new destroyer, almost ready
/ for commission.
Foreign Fleet Off Coast.
BOSTON, October ia feet of for
eign cruisers and destroyers is off the
American coast. according to Capt. Lin
deroos Of the Russian steamship Hes
perus, which arrived here today from
Huelva. Spain. To the pilot who board
ed his vessel Capt. Linderoos reported
| that "a lot of cruisers and destroyers'
passed his vessel off Cape Sable Wed
nesday, heading southwest. At the rate
of speed, he said, they must be or the
coast by now.
The Hesperus' captain had not heard
as there is no wireless equipment on his
ship.
His report was coupled today with
that Of pilots who were In Massachu-
setts bay yesterday, that three torpedo
boat destroyers cruised OF the coast all
day. One pilot said he thought they
were British vessels. Another said they
were American. Ashore 1t was believ-
| ed they were American destroyers on
patrol duty.
Believed British Destroyers.
Belief that they were British destroy
ers was held by many waterfront au-
thorities, who connected their appear
ance with the fact that it was only yes
| terday that British vessels at this port
moved out, after being held here since
the submarine raid off Nantucket Sun
day. The British destroyers, they con-
| tended, came to act as conveys for ships
! of that nationality.
Three British Steamers went out last
night and today the Lord Cromer and
| the Marengo prepared to sail. The
kansan of the Hawaiian line
| under charter to the France and Ca
madam Steamship Company, and laden
| with war munitions and horses for the
| allies, was expected also to sail today
| for st. Nazaire. France, and Genoa.
The Kansan was the first steamship
| to encounter the U-boat last Sunday.
but was allowed to proceed after ex-
| animation of her papers.
Destroyer at Bar Harbor.
BAR HARBoR. Me-, October 1s.-
| The torpedoboat destroyer Paulding,
| which left Newport, r. l.. yesterday on
what was described a neutrality
| patrol mission, arrived in Frenchmans
| bay early today. She proceeded up the
bay toward Mount Desert ferry and
| later returned to an anchorage off this
port. It was supposed that the Paul
| ding had been hurriedly ordered to Bar
| Harbor because of an erroneous report
| last night that a passenger liner had
| sought refuge here.