Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1917-10-17
DEMAND PROOF"
CONCERNING RUNORS
Says Secretary Of National Society
OF Patriotic Societies
MANY FALSE REPORTS
Encouraging Report On Bond Sale, But
Citizens Must Purchase To Make
IL A Success.

Through William Mather Lewis. its
Executive Secretary, the National
Committee of Patriotic Societies has
issued an appeal to loyal citizens
everywhere to demand proof Of
doubtful assertions concerning war
matters in an effort to trace all inju
rious statements to their source. The
committees appeal grows out of the
fact that there has been widespread
circulation of stories for long time
to the effect that American transports
have been sunk
No transports have been sunk, and,
despite the fact that more than 100,-
600 American officers and soldiers
have now been safely conveyed to
France by naval vessels. the official
record shows so far that not one sold
ier has been lost in this work of over
sea transportation of great army.
The false reports being cried
throughout the country, to which the
National Committee of Patriotic So
cieties calls attention, are believed by
government officials to be fore the
most part the result of the work of
German agents, although in some in
stances they may be set down to ma
licious mischief. An effort is being
made to trace these reports, and it
was to aid this that the committee is
sued it's appeal as follows.
"The National Committee of Patri-
otic Societies, which is now carrying
on a campaign TO combat seditious
propaganda, particularly that which
finds circulation through CONVERSE
ton, is getting interesting reports
from its local chairmen throughout
the country.
"In numerous towns in the Middle
West tn story is being quietly pass
ed around that several transports fill
ed with troops have been sunk. Ac-
cording to this highly colored tale, a
distressed parent who had not heard
from his son for several weeks finally
appealed to Secretary Daniels and
was told Your son and thousand
other soldiers are at the bottom of the
ocean
"The National Committee showed
these reports to Mr.. Daniels, who
promptly settled the whole matter by
saying: 4 could not have made any
such statement because there are no
American soldiers at the bottom of the
ocean
The National Committee, realizing
that these stories are a great detri-
ment to the American cause. are call
ing upon loyal citizens everywhere to
demand proof of doubtful assertions
concerning the war matters wherever
they hear them, and to trace all. in
furious statements to their source"
Must Hustle On Bond Sale.
With fourteen working days gone
and only ten more to come, Liberty
Bond sales were believed by Treasury
officials today to have just touched
the 81 900 GOO, 900 mark, a result which
has led them to wonder if the $5.000,-
10000 hoped for can be attained in
the final days of the campaign.
Certainly there is little about the
sales thus far 10 warrant great con-
hdence that the $4,000 100000 mark
will be reached"
U-Boats May Blockade Our Coast.
According TO news from Berlin in
an undated dispatch received by the
Admiralty through The Wireless
Press. Germany is expected soon to
I declare the coasts of the United
States. Canada. and Cuba war zones
The greatest importance is attach
ed in Washington 10 the brief wire
less message from Berlin asserting
that German is expected soon to de
clare the coasts of the United States
Canada. and Cuba to be naval wal
zones.
Past experience convinces officials
in Washington that Wireless Press
messages Of this character previously
picked up have usually been follow
/ ed by formed announcement from the
Berlin Government of important hos
tile action. Assuming that the news
from Berlin is authentic. officials here
would not be surprised to hear soor
of the appearance of German sub.
marines operating off the Atlantic
Coast.
Full confirmation of the Berlin
warning will be interpreted as noticf
that Grand Admiral Won Tirpitz. who
retired from the head of the German
Navy Department on March IA, 1916
to be succeeded by Vice Admiral voI
| Capelle. whose resignation was an
nounced a few days ago, has again
gained ascendancy in German admi
ralty matters 1t is considered ex
tremely significant here that imme
diately after the announcement of voI
Capelle's retirement Won Tirpitz broke
into print with a prediction OF tn,
final triumph of the subraine and ;
statement that Germany was now a
the fateful hour of her existence"
Close upon the heels of the Won Tir
pitz interview word trickles through
that German can be counted upoI
soon TO declare the American. Cana
dian and Cuban coasts blockaded- I
is felt that there can be no discount
ing the Importance of these outcrop
1