Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-09-04
U-BOAT BASES ON SPANISH MAINLY Herbert Corey

n TADRID.-For almost two years the Ger
MI mans have had clandestine submarine
~ bases along the Spanish coast; In April
May and June, it is reported on good authority,
twenty vessels sunk in adjoining waters py
submarines which presumably were revctualled IN
Spanish waters.
Early in July it was currently reported in Bor-
deaux that fifteen submarines 1urked in the Bay
of Biscay, and it assumed they secured their
supplies through the connivance of Spanish indl-
viduals.
this hast been with the knowledge consent OF
the Spanish government. Early in the wa, Ger
man submarines were permitted to visit Spanish
ports for refttng purposes being given the status
of occupied warships in international law. Under
this law they were subjected to survey when
they entered, we're permitted to remain only the
time necessary to make repairs, and were not per-
mitted to revictual. Then the continued torpedo
ing of Spanish vessels reused the national anger
Count Romanones, then premier, protested In
note which almost had the weight OF an ultima
tum.
. The Romanones cabinet fell because of this
note, but his successor, Senor>Qato, while deter
mined to avoid with the central powers, Is
sued decree forbidding use of Spanish ports to
German U-boats. This is the practical extent or
government action up to this date, though 1t must
be said that Spain was between two very direct
fires on the submarine question When subma
rine openly visited a Spanish port some months
ago, and action by Spain was threatened, the TWO
sets of belligerents communicated with Spain.
eff you forbid the of Spanish territorial
waters to our U-boats Germany will consider 1t an
act of war;" is the essential meaning of the Ger
note.
eff you do not forbid the use of your terrific
rial waters to the German U-boats, the allies will
consider it an unfriendly act,' Is the manner In
which the entente powers protest may be digested
Under the circumstances Spain, wishing to
avoid war, favored Germany. 1t is believed this
is the extent of official favoring, however, al
though it is openly admitted that individual off,
cials of pro-German tendencies may have employed
their Offices to aid the pirates. An instance Is
now within my knowledge in which Spanish Off
cia is interfering with the shipment of goods des
tined to the allies Such things have happened
often in the past and 1t is reasonable to conclude
that the individual might have aided the subma-
rnes, just as individuals have aided Germany in
other ways here.
The chief use made of the Spanish coast by the
U-boats, however, was surreptitious one. The
coast line is more than 1900 miles long. The
ports are comparatively few and great part OF
the coast territory is sparcely populated and more
or less desolate The coast line is for hundreds of
miles deeply indented, with deep water at the
edge of the rocks. 1t offers ideal opportunities
for this sort of concealed traffic. The coast
guards are few, and recruited from the coun-
tryside Not many of them have an enlightened
idea of their duty and most may be presumed to
reflect the sentiments of their friends and rea-
tives.
There can be no doubt that this sentiment was
almost wholly in favH OF provisioning the U-ooats
The country folk are not pro-German, any
more than they are pro-ally. In these distant re-
gions they hardly know that state of war exists.
They do not stop to consider the merciess mission
of the submarines. What they do think of is that
in a community whose business is solely carried
by barter-in many Of these remote hamlets sill
yer peseta is rarely seen-a German agent has
suddenly appeared who is willing to pay the most
extravagant prices for food and service. 1t
hardly be wondered at that the German has found
ready assistance.
That the bitter has sometimes been bitten ap
pears the doubtful authority of rumor. The
story is not authenticated, but is generally be-
leved that time ago the French secret sery-
ice located U-boat base the coast of the Bay
of Biscay They got in communication with the
Spaniard who had charge of 1t. A golden key
opened his mouth.
"I have been paid 10000 pesetas," he is
ported to have said.
I'VE will pay you 10000 pesetas for each boat