Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-05
U-BOAT AMBUSCADE
REEVES spy RUMOR
Officials Indignant That German
Admiralty Is Able to Lay
Plan So Well.
RIGID PROBE MAY BE MADE
More Stringent Measures to
Cloak Movements of Military
Forces in Future.
RIGID PROBE MAY BE MADE
TBy Associated Press.l


WASHINGTON. July 4.-The unsuc-
cessful submarine attack on the ships
OF the American expeditionary force
has revived spy rumors in the capital.
and will result in even more stringent
measures. IL possible. to cloak the
movements Of military forces from the
enemy.
The relief and qualification of oni-
cials over the safe arrival Of the last
units Of the expedition is tempered by
a manifest feeling Of indignation that
the German Admiralty was able TO lay
It's plans so we'll as to attack the Amer
lean vessels in force before they
reached the zone which had been re-
garded most dangerous
Discussion OF possible spy activities
took many angles to-day. Some OH
cials were inclined to believe that the
Germans must have had a warning OF
the definite time agreed upon for the
crossing. but others discredited any
such theory. arguing that an attack
was TO have been expected as a natural
consequence OF the general knowledge
that was common property.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
MIGHT DE- ASKED TO ACT
There were indications that the De-
partment OF Justice might be asked to
and navy reports on the incident were
complete.
At the Navy Department II was said
tonight that all the information which
had come through was contained in
Secretary Daniels's statement of yes
terday, telling how the expedition had
encountered two attacks. one of them
before reaching the place agreed upon
as rendezvous with Admiral Sims's
American destroycrs. and had success
fully fought of the C-boats and de.
stroycd at least one OF them The sec
retary said he might receive a more
detailed report later. but II was pointed
out that there was little likelihood that
II would throw much light on the
genesis of the German attack or the
information back of II.
officials taking the view that there
Is no ground for spy scare. suggested
that 1t inevitably was a matter of pub
lie information that the crossing OF the
expedition would follow soon after
General Pershing's announced arrival
In France. 1t, therefore. would not be
unusual. these officials argued II the
German C-boats were given general
orders TO cruise In squadrons across
various ocean lanes in the hope that
one OF the sQuadrons would interccpt
the Americans.
ATTACK on THIS SIDE OF WATER
WAS REGARDED AS NATURAL
That the first attack should have oc-
CURED on this side of the usual sub
marine zone also was regarded by these
officials as natural. The Germans. they
said. must have expected Admiral Sims
to send his warships from their North
Sea stations we'll to the west to meet
the expedition.
There was little inclination any
where to attach blame for the attack
to any official act of the War or Navy
Department 1t was pointed out that
the movement overseas was conducted
with unusual secrecy. considering the
large number OF men affected. and that
the utmost precautions were taken
after the ships were at sea to make
the time OF their arrival on the other
side conjectural even to any person
knowing the hour of departure.