The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-04-18
MAY BLOCKADE CHARLESTON.
GERMANS EXPECTED TO AN
NOUNCE U-BOAT BLOCKADE
OF ATLANTIC PORTS.
american and European Navics to
Cooperate TO Prevent Submarines
Interfering with Traffic of America
on This Side Atlantic-FTcet Doing
Patrol Duty.

washington, April 12.-With high
British and French naval officars IN
conference here with American naval
officials. definite steps have been
taken toward participation of the
American navy in the war against
Germany.
Patrol of the entire Atlantic sea-
board reaching southwark to the
Panama canal zone and possibly to
include Canada, will be the first duty
Of American warships. With that
goes the necessity Of guarding against
the probable extension of the Ger
man submarine campaign to include
approaches to major American ports.
British and French ships now on
this patrol duty will be withdrawn
as soon as the American forces have
their lines established. The Ameri-
can squadrons will operate from
British and French bases in the
south Atlantic wherever necessary.
This was learned today in connec-
ton with the announcement that Vice
Admiral NJ. E. Browning of the
British navy and Rear Admiral r.
A. Grasse of the French navy are in
Washington comforting with Secretary
Daniels, Admiral Benson, chief Of
naval operations, and other officers
Of the American navy. The confer
ences have to do with the part the
American fleet will play in the war
either Immediately or later, when its
strength in light patrol craft and
trained men has been increased.
Commanders of the British and
French forces off the American
coasts, it is known, have expected
that Germany would extend her SUBJ
marine operations to these waters
Arrangements to patrol the ap-
proaches to the chief American har-
bors have been made and will be car
ried out by American ships.
1t has been expected that Ger
many would formally announce a
submarine blockade Of Boston, New
York, the mouth of the Delaware, the
mouth Of the Chesapeake, Charleston
and Savannah. These are the arte-
ries through which flows the main
traffic in foodstuffs and war supplies
for Europe.
Unless a blockade is declared in
line with her previous action, Ger
many would be under the necessity of
giving warning before attacking mer-
chant craft under neutral flags.
Many navy officers doubt that any
considerable number Of German sub
marines can he spared from the task
of blockading the British Isles for
work on this side of the Atlantic.
Sporadic operations within such pre-
scribed areas are looked for, how
ever, and no precaution to guard
against them will be overlooked.
The navy department has a consid-
cradle supply of submarine trapnets
already availa. ard more will be
delivered within a few days. It is
assumed that the approaches to
American harbors will be fully pro-
tected in this way and the fleet of
submarine chasers now being assem-
bled, equipped and manned distrib-
uted to comb the seas.
The conferences with the visiting
officers have dealt with many sub
jects. 1t is understood that when.
ever need arises ports on the French
md British coasts will be at the dis
posal Of American naval forces. An
American naval port probably will
be established on the Irish coast when
the measures Of cooperation have
been extended.