Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-20
GERMAN HIGH SEA FLEET
, EXPECTED TO MAKE DASH
War Experts Predict Final Defiant
Effort to Stave OFF
Defeat.
INVITATIONS TO WASHINGTON
Both British and American Patrol
Boats Sight New Enemy Naval
Vessels, Believed to Be Planning 10
Clear Way for Dreadnoughts.

w.ASHIN INGTON. August 1s.-The
German high seas fleet. long locked in
It's harbor. is about to launch great
naval offensive, according to intima-
tions received in administration circles
here. War experts have predicted that
Germany would send out her fleet only
as a last and desperate measure
final defiant effort to stave of defeat,
and bring about peace.
Tho intimations received here that
she contemplates doing so are based on
the fact that within the last few weeks
large fleets Of new type Of mine
sweepers-in reality. combination mine
sweepers-and destroyers have been
sent out of the German North Sea ports.
far into the sea. apparently to clear
a way for the battleships.
Both British and American patrol
boats have sighted these new German
naval vessels. which. SO far. have re-
tired behind smoke screens on the first
sign Of an approaching enemy vessel.
Entire fleets of the vessels have come
out. however, and have been seen by
the captains OF fishing vessels, trawlers
and merchant ships which have put
into English ports. Their activities,
have been reported to the Navy Depart
ment here, word of them being first
contained. 1t Is reported in the dis
patches Of Vice-Admiral William S.
Sims. commander of the American
notilla in foreign waters.
LEADS TO GREAT DEAL Of work
BY NAVAL STRATEGY BOARD
The reports of the activity of these
German vessels. and the plainly i'm
piled object Of their work-to clear a
way for the German Dreadnoughts and
battle cruisers-have caused much in
tercst, and led to a.great deal of work
by the naval strategy board here
There is some unofficial discussion of
the possibility of major American bat
tleships being sent abroad to cooper
ate with the English grand feet and
ppssibly the French fleet, should the
Germans come out. but so --r there Is
nothing official to base this discussion
upon.
It is pointed out as a DEVELOPMENT of
great Importance that any German
mine sweepers at all should come out.
There have been but few Instances
during tho war when such ships ven
tured beyond Helgoland. The last
previous instance was before tho
Skaser-Rak battle. when the German
fleet clashed with several British
heavy squadrons in the greatest naval
fight of history.
That the Germans now not only
should begin larGe-scale mine sweep
Ing operations. but in order to do Il
should send out an entirely now tyne
OF naval vessel. is considered as of
the utmost significance. Tho new tyne
vessels are carrying on their work
more boldly than the old ones ever did.
They are securing many parts of the
waters. and the allied patrol boats are
bcine kept busy hunting them down.
DESCRIPTION OF NEW
VESSELS IS INTERESTING
The description of the new vessels
reaching here is most interesting. They
are bullion destroyer lines, except that
they are more stocky. and have an un-
usually high how. Their bridges are
high. as in the case OF destroyers. and
they have high. rakish masts. equipped
with wireless and other signaling ap-
paratus.
The most striking feature. however.
is the heavy armament they carry.
There Is a high-caliber gun on the
bridge. as I'm the case OF destroyers.
while lighter guns are posted astern
and abeam.
When these vessels first appeared in
the North Sea fog they were mistaken
by the British for destroyers Later
they again appeared. and this Is re-
Garded as most significant. as indicat-
ing the Importance the German Ad-
miralty places on their operations-this
time with Il destroyer fotilla acting
as n screen.
The armed mine sweepers are only
one OF several new types of naval ves-
sells developed by Germany. It Is under
stood. Others include light-draft
motor launches. employed for troop
transports on Belgian rivers and canals
behind the front. and river gunboats.
which draw only two feet Of water,
also used behind the lines