Norwich bulletin., 1917-04-13
and French naval OfficersHere
IN coNFERENcEW WITH AMERICAN
 NAVAL OFFICIALS
TO FORMULATE POLICY
the American Navy Will Take in the War Either Immediately or Later.

Washington, April 12.--With high British and French naval officers in conference here with American naval officials, definite steps have been taken toward participation of the Anne rican navy in the war against Germany. Patrol of the entire Atlantic seaboard, reaching southward to the Panama canal zone and possibly northward to include Canada, will be the first duty of American warships. With that goes the necessity of guarding against the probable extension of the German sub marine campaign to include approaches to major American ports.
 U. s. Navy to Patrol Coast.
 British and French ships now on this patrol duty will be withdrawn as soon as the American forces have their lines established. The American squadrons will operate from British and French bases in the south Atlantic, wherever necessary. This was learned today in that Vice Admiral NJ. E. Browning of the British navy and Rear Admiral R. A. Grasset of the French navy are in Washington, conferring with Secretary Daniels. Admiral Benson. chief of na- val operations, and other officers of the American navy The conferences have to do with the part the American fleet will play in the war, either immediate " or later, when it's 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 Ger many would extend her submarine op- erations to these waters. Arrange ments to patrol vigorously the ap- breaches to the chief American har- borS have been made and will be car ried out by American ships.
 Germany Has Not Announced Blockade
 It has been expected that Germany would formally announce a submarine blockade of Boston. New York, the the Chesapeake Charleston and Sa- vannah. These are the arteries through which flows the main traffic in food stuffs and war supplies for Europe
 Unless a blockade is declared, in line with her previous action, Germany will he under the necessity of giving warning before attacking merchant craft under neutral flags.
 Many naval officers doubt that any number of German sub marines can be spared from the task of blockading the British Isles for work on this side of the Atlantic. operations within such pre- scribed areas are loowed for, however. them will be overlooked by the navy.
 Submarine Trap Nets.
 The navy department has a consid- erable supply of submarine trap nets already available and more will be de- livered within a few days. It is as- sumed that the approaches to Ameri- can harbors will be fully protected in this way and the fleet of submarine chasers now being assembled, equipped and manned will be distributed to comb the seas night and day.
 The conferences with the visiting officers have dealt with many subjects It is understood that not only will the naval bases and other British and French ports on this side of the At antic be opened to American naval vessels but that, when need arises, ports on the British and French coasts will be placed at their disposal An American naval port probably will be established at some future time on the Irish coast, when the measures of CO., operation have been extended
 Entente Naval Officers Here.
 Accompanying Admiral Browning Ire the following British naval off :ers: Captain A. Downes, G. A. Miller. lag secretary of the commander Flag Commander A. R. J. South oy and Captain E. G. Chesseman, royal marine light infantry.
 Accompanying Admiral Ora sset Is | '1ag Lieutenant James Hennessy Of | he French navy, who is also a mem | per of the chamber of deputies