The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-10-11

1t was the general belief she would
head for Halifax and the uppermost
part Of the ST. Lawrence there to in
tercept if possible. the troop ships
carrying Canadian contingents to the
front. This belief was predicated upon
operations against troop ships when
the British were trying to force their
way through the Dardanelles.
Thus 1t was with surprise and as
tonishment that naval officers learned
the tiny man-of-war had only delayed
until she was safely past the three
mile limit before she bagan her war;
fare against enemy vessels.
Late tonight naval officials admitted
the destroyers sent to sea were not
alone on mission of mercy. Their
decks were cleared for action and each
commander had strict Instructions to
determine that the utmost neutrality
had been maintained. Even late to-
gi&bt thefes WAS no fs;tsia, ,taaat
any OF the attacks were perpetrated
inside the three mile limit, but the
curious line Of the coast here gives
Use to the gravest speculation. The
ships went to the bottom, it is be-
iieved, within a radius of five miles
1t is believed this circle of activity
centered ten miles south of the Nam
.ucket lightship.
From all along the coast came word
of mysterious messages being relayed
between the French and British war
ships rushing to this vicinity. None
has given an inkling of her where
abouts, but within "a hours a Gordon
OF battle gray steel will be thrown
about the waters for miles up and
down the coast.
These patroling vessels scattered
between Trinidad and Halifax have
been converging on the waters of
Narragansett Bay since they were
apprised by wireless yesterday Of the
U-53's audacious appearance.
Late this afternoon lookout in the
tower Of the United States coast
guard station at Prices Neck saw
what he believed to be the pilot of
the approaching fleet. The vessel was
identified as the French cruiser Con-
do. .;StARg
This information was Immediately
convt 'ed by Captain Chauncey Ken
yon, commanding the station, to the
commanding admirals. They decided.
however, that the fiotilla needed no
reinforcements at the present time.
The largest United States vessel in
the harbor now is the scout cruiser
Birmingham flagship of the destroyer
fotilla. Despite the boast of Captain
Rose that the U-53 had suel and pro-
visions aboard to last for q three
months cruise, local submarine OIL
GERS believe the vessel WAS ready to
descend upon her prey and then make
quick dash for home.
These experts place her cruising
radius at 5000 miles, as far as fuel
supply is concerned. There were few
who doubted tonight but that she was
already scOOting across the Atlantic
on her way to her home port.
When the news o. the in.ercepting
of the Kansan had been conveyed to
him, Adimarl Knight went directly to
his office in the war college. He re-
T. r.sined there all forenoon.
I'VE work all the time," was his an
swer to newspaper men who suggested
it was both odd and unusual that he
should be at his desk on Sunday in
saead Of remaining at home.
Sundays and holidays are all the
same to u.s." he added
About noon the second wireless call
came from the lightship This was the
message the admirars operator reaa
from the intermittent flashes;
steamship Westpoint. nationality
in distress ten miles south