The sun., 1917-02-13

win a SVp mile funnel shaped lane
Of armed patrol ships the British Ad-
miralty has taken extraordinary precau-
tions to guard the arrival and departure
from Channel ports and Liverpool of big
British passenger and freight steam
ships. This was divuiged yesterday by
officers and passengers OF the Cunarder
Andania, in from Liverpool
It is inferred that adequate protection
has not been extended yet to the German
prohibited zone to the west and north Of
Scotland. otherwise the Anchor liner Cal
iforn!a might not have been torpedoed
last week.
The AndanIa brought nine passengers.
including two Americans. Mrs. f. f. Fitz-
gerald OF Buffalo ard her young son, ?.
7. Fitzgerald, and like the other voy-
ayers they were not disturbed about their
handy. bu. no one wore them even in the
danger district. Lifeboats were swung
out ready for immediate launching
Capt. Nelson was confident that he could
bring the liner through with the protec-
ton afforded by the light cruisers. patrol
boats and armed trawlers that literally
lined the course for about 500 miles from
Fastnet.
Guard by Patrol Boats.
The patrol boats were at times 80 close
to the Andania that passengers could see
them readily and they noted that they
were separated by less than half n mile
OF sea In some places. The passengers
learned from the officers that the lane of
safety was so wide at the western, or
sea end. that the guarding craft were
invisible from the bridge of the Andanfa.
Tho Andania sailed from Liverpool on
January 81. the day the German Gov
ernmeyt, through Count Won Bernstorff.
delivered its note to President Wilson
declaring its intention to inaugurate
ruthless warfare on merchantmen OF AL
Hationalities in an area that practically
takes in one-fifth OF the Atlnntic~border-
| Ing the French and British coasts.
The British Admiralty. according 10
| Information obtained aboard the An
dania. knew weeks before the event ex-
actly what the submarine policy OF the
Germans was going to be and had been
equipping a large feet of patrol boats to
protect the liners, which now include
many big freighters.
| When the Andania went down the
| Mersey her commander. Capt. q. W.
Nelson. was aware that he would be
. protected 800 miles out to eea from
Fastnet. or within about 100 miles OF
tho limit of the danger area prescribed
! for neutral steamships bound to ports
of the Entente allies. The skipper and
his officers knew pretty well that they
could expect little mercy from German
! thAp haI tod
from Liverpool before the period set for
the beginning of U-boat barbarity. That
Is why extra lookouts were posted for
ward and aft and why the Andania
zigxaRged when she got out of the 800
mile lane. She also took southerly
course. seeing nothing Of undersea Graf,
or raiders.
| Instant Precaution.
! II was the impression OF the An.
1 dania's officers, as conveyed to pas.
sengers. that the safety lane had beer
established on the very day OF the sail
ing Of the Andan'a and that II was The
anticlpatory answer to Germany's note
| That the white star liner baltic passed
through this lane on her way To Liver
pool with an immense cargo Of war ma.
terial and fOodstuffs there can be nc
doubt, and that the Adriatic. also OF the
| White star fieet. which sailed hence or
| February 8 and should DO In or close
to Liverpool to-day, was also guarded
through the 500 mile strip is pretty
certain Whether or not she had the
luck OF The Baltic may bo known to-day
| The logical conclusion of shipping mer
,s that the British Admiralty decided &c
give immediately the limit of protection
to It's great cargo and passenger ships
and later to AFFORD rs much protection
as possible to neutrals bringing food and
war material to British ports.
OFFICERS of the Andania did not con,
ceal their elation in evading enemy sub.
marines. and they gave distinct init.
nation that the restricted sea westward
Of the British Isles would be quite a,
safe, II not safer, than 1t was before tn,
inauguration of C-boat ruthlessness