The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1917-04-16
AMERICAN WARSHIPS WILL
PATROL ATLANTIC SEABOARD
Deflnlte Steps Have Been Taken To-
ward Participation of the American
Navy in the War Against Germany

With high British and French naval
officers in conference with American
naval officers at Washington states
dispatch Of the 18th from that city,
oeflnte steps have been taken toward
many.
Patrol Of the entire Atlantic sea-
BOARD, reaching southwark to the Pan
anna Canal zone and possibly north
ward to include Canada, will be the
INST duty of the American warships.
w lth that goes the necessity of guard
ny against the probable extension of
the German submarine campaign to
include approaches to major American
ports.
10 Use AnglO-French Bases
=, BRITISH and French ships now on
thls patrol duty will be Withdrawn as
soon as the American forces have
their lines established. The Ameri-
can squadrons will operate from Brit
ism and French bases in the South
Atlantic wherever necessary.
Ihls was learned today in connec-
tlon with the announcement that Vice
] Admiral M. E. Browning of the Brit
lsh navy and Rear Admiral r. A.
Grassett of the French navy, are in
washington comforting with Secretary
! Daniels, Admiral Benson, chief of ma
val operations, and other officers of
the American navy. The conferences
have to do with the part the Ameri-
can fleet will play in the war either
Immediately or later when it's strength
IN light patrol craft and trained mer
has been increased. The two foreign
commanders came to the United
!, States on their flagships.
Vigorous patrol Planned
! Commanders of the British anc
| French forces off the American coasts
. 1t is known, have expected that Ger
, many would extend her submarine op
, erations to these waters. Arrange
:. ments to patrol vigorously 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 German,
! would formally announce a submarin
= mouth of the Delaware, the mouth o
e the Chesapeake, Charleston and sa
+ vannah. These are the arterie
In foodstuffs and war supplies fo
y. Europe.
a Unless a blockade is declared Gel
~ many would be under the necessit
# Of giving warnings before atta:kin
! merchant craft under neutral flag
Many navy officers doubt that an
= considerable number of German sui
/ marines can be spared from the tas
- of blockading the British Isles fl
20 work on this side of the Atlanti
- Sporadic operations within such pr
=, scribed areas are looked for and I
j. precautions to guard against the
20 will be overlooked by the navy.
n Supply of Submarine Nets
~ The Navy Department has consi
,s cradle supply Of submarine trap ne
+ already available and more will
y delivered within a few days. 1t
~ assumed that the approaches to Anne
i, lean harbors will be fully protected
~ this way and the fleet of submarl
-, chasers now being assembled, equi
II; i, ed and manned, distributed to cor
~ ~ the seas night and day.
= The conferences with the visiti1
- officers have dealt with many su
:, jects. 1t is understood that not on
e. will the naval bases and other Britt
20 and French ports on this side of t
~. y, Atlantic be opened to American ma
Il al vessels, but that whenever ne
- arises ports on the French and Britt
" coasts will be placed at their dispos
ID An American naval port probat
~ ~ will be established at some futr
ID time On the Irish coast, when
~. measures Of cooperation have be
~ extended.