The sun., 1917-04-14
President Lays Down Rules
for Approach of Ships to
United States.
BARS ENTRY AT NIGHT
Liability for Damage III
flicted by Force of Arms
Is Removed.
FISHING CRAFT INCLUDED
Senior Officer of UarbOr En-
trance Patrol Will Fix
Regulations.
FISHING CRAFT INCLUDED

WAsHIvcToN, April i3.--presiient
Wilson has issued 2 sweeping executive
order designed to Increase the protection
! of the American coast line against Ger
man raiders or submarines. The order
creates defensive sea areas" about
, every important American harbor. and
any vessel entering them without per-
mission o. the authorities may be fred
upon. Entrance at night Is specifically
forbidden. The areas vii! be mined and
otherwise protected by submarine nets
and will be under tic constant super
vision of suiomarine chasers and patrol
boats. No suspicious craft is to be per-
mitted in ary CIRCUMSTANCES to enter
within their confines.
II Is understood arrangements Will be
rna,ie 20 permit fishermen to come and go
under supervision so managed as not to
interfere with them in securing their
necessary contribution to the food supply.
Details have 10: been worked out.
The areas specified are: Mouth OF
the Keunebec River. Portland, Maine
Portsmouth Boston. New Bedford. New
port, Long Island east. New YORK east,
New York main entrance. Delaware
River. Chesapeake entrance. baltimore,
Potomac, Hampton Roads. Wilmington.
Cape Fear. Charleston. Savannah, Key
West. Tampa. Pensscoia Mob'lo. Mis-
ssslppi, Galveston. San Diego. San
Francisco. Columbia River. Po'-t Or
chard. Honolulu and Manila.
Areas as Denned.
The defensive sea areas established
for the protection Of New York are
Long Island east. Outer limit. Line
joining Watch Hill and Montauk Point
lights. Inner limit. line north ftruc)
through WhitestoUe Point Light
New York main entrance. outer
limit. Arc nf circle centre Ro'ner Shoal
Light, radius six t6) nautical miles
Inner limit. Line west ttrue) from
faspole on wharf at Fort Hamilton.
New York east. Onter Limit. Line
Joining Execution Rocks Lignt and cast
tangent OF Huckleberry Island Inner
limit. A line north (true) through
Whitestone Point Light.
Any vessel seeking ~ traverse these
forbidden points must get in touch with
tre propc- Authorities and follow strictly
prescribed I. gulatious The President
announces that this Governments re-
eponsib!iity "for any damage inflicted
by force OF arms with the object OF de-
tanning any person or yessel proceeding
in contrn vcution to regulations duly pro-
mulgat.d In accordance with this execn-
tive order shall cease from this date
In other words, ignorance Of the dan
ger will not excuse masters of vessels
should they attempt to take their ships
into the so-called barred zones. Carte
blanche is given the authorities in carry
ing out the Instructions and they will
take no chances with any craft which
does not follow the prescribed rules.
The only speedy means OF eliminating
such craft from the possibility OF
doing damage will be to use military
measures, it is explained.
Wide Publicity sought.
Because no information Of value to the
enemy may he disclosed il Is not per-
rissihle to describe the special means
of protection which the Navy Depart
ment has taken to see that no German
raider or suspicious craft enters the
zones. II is requested, however. that
the widest possible publicity be given
the danger which might confront mas
ters of ships In ignorance of the Presi-
dents proclamation.
The regulations for carrying into ef-
feet the order are rs follows:
"In the neiehborhood OF each defensive
sea area entrances have been designated
for incoming and outgoing vessels, In
Guiding In the case Of areas across which
more than one channel exists an en-
trance for each channel These entrances
in conjunction with the
areas in which they respectively per.
tain.
"A vessel desiring to cross a defensive
area shall proceed to the vicinity Of the
entrance to the proper channel flying
her national colors, with international
code number and pilot signal. and there |
await communication with the harbor
entrance patrol. 1t Is expressly prohib-
q defensive sea area otherwise than at !
q designated entrance and after authors |
cation by the harbor entrance patrol.
Boats and other craft employed in
the harbor entrance patrol will lie dis !
tinguished by the Union Jack. which !
Will he shown from a position forward
they will also hy the usual naval PEN |
nant. At night they will show a vertical
hoist OF three lights-white. red and !
white--in the order named.
Night Entrance Haired.
"On receiving permission from the
harbor entrance patrol to enter n de-
fensive sea area vessel must com-
ply with all instructions as to pilotage
and other matters that she may receive
from proper authority, either before or
during the passage across the area II
Is understood that only upon condition
of such compliance is the said permis-
sion granted,
mo permission will be granted TO
other than a public vessel OF tho United
states to cross a defensive sea area
between sunset and sunrise. nor during
he prevalence of weather conditions that
render navigation difficult or dangerous
A vessel arriving of defensive sea
area after sunset shall anchor or lie to
1t a distance Of at least a mile outside
Is limits until the following sunrise
,essels discovered near the limits of the
areas at night may be fired upon.
mo Yeaeel ahall hA nermitted IN nro- |