Warren sheaf., 1917-04-11
SECOND REPORT OF MYSTERIOUS
CRAFT IN STEAMSHIP LANE
OFF NANTUCKET LIGHT
SHIP COMES.
RUMOR DECLARES RAIDER
WAS SUNK BY DESTROYER
Naval Men Refuse to Discuss Report.
Captains Of Vessels Ordered to
Keep Sharp Lookout and Re-
port Promptly Sighting of
Suspicious Vessels.

Boston, April "a suspicious yes
Sci off Nantucket lightship was re-
ported to the Boston navy yard by {,
British vessel. The radio message
said:
Secret, suspicious vessel or object
As miles south, six degrees west true,
from Nantucket light vessel at 3:lS
a. m. today.
(Signed) British Vessel"
Later the position of the mysterious
vessel was given as latitude 4O.15
north, longitude 1928 west, almost due
south from the shoals
Is Second Report.
The report of mysterious craft III
the steamship lane to Europe was the
second to be announced officially with.
in "a hours. The lightship had previ.
ously sent word of "a commerce raid.
or" of 10000 tons burden passing
west. Whether the craft sighted later
was the same one naval officials de.
clined to state
The air was clear and shipping men
expressed the opinion that any enemy
ship playing game of hide and seek
with the coast patrol fleet would be
on the losing end.
The Nantucket shoals are only IS
miles east of the naval base of New.
port and commerce raiding could
hardly be carried on with the boldness
that characterized the operations OF
the German submarine U-53 last Octo.
Der 8, when she did not have swarm
of enemy destroyers to reckon with.
Naval Men Silent.
Whether because all the chances
were against an enemy ship playing a
lone hand at the war game now OF
whether there exists foundation OF
truth, there were reports from widely
separated sources that raider had
been sunk off Nantucket. One rumo1
had it that the raider had been sunk
by destroyer. Another had it that
she had been sent to the bottom by
one of the American submarines. Ma
val men refused to discuss the reports
Action Is Prompt.
Prompt action by the navy at the
first report in getting all shipping un.
der cover the instant a suspicious
looking ship was sighted, effectively
cleared the coast of prey for an enemy
warship. Under the more favorable
conditions later with patrol boats hay.
Ing wide range Of visibility, ship
ping moved more freely.
Naval officials last night were inter
ested in comparing the position given
as that Of the mysterious vessel OF
object" with reports made first Fri
day, and again later, Of the presence
of derelict schooner in the same wa
ters.
To Keep Lookout.
Orders to captains and masters o1
merchant vessels to report promptly
all details regarding the sighting o1
submarines or other suspicious YES
sells were issued at the navy yard
Captains were urged to keep bright
lookout for German submarines and
report Immediately to the command
ant of the First Naval district.
Bombs Found In Seized German Ship
Havana, April 81 Two bombs were
found in the engine room of the steam.
ship Bavoria, one of the four German
self-interned merchantmen seized by
the Cuban authorities. It is said the
Bavaria's captain notified the officers
the bombs we're in the vessel, saying
he did not wish to see anyone injured
- he had received such excellent
treatment here. The supposition is
that it was the intention Of the crew
to destroy the Bavaria by exploding
the bombs.