Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-04-17
Torpedo Misses American
Steamer Smith Off
Fire Island.
MAY ATTEMPT TO
BLOCKADE COAST
Report Of German Submarine Fully
Verified by Naval Officials - No
Blockade Declared and Destruction
Of Neutral Shipping Would Subject
Germany to Heavy Damages-May
Have Bases on This Side Of Atlantic.

Washington. April II. - A German
submarine was reported today to have
been sighted en- this side of the At
lantic, at point about 100 miles south
of Fire Island. The presence Of the
submecsibie in American waters may
indicate the threatened blockade Of
American Atlantic ports has begun.
This announcement was made at the
navy department;
Reported from Fire Island lishtship
to naval stations at Boston and New
York at $3.50 a. m. on the 18th. an en-
emy submarine sighted by the
U. S. s. Smith. running apparently
submerged. Submarine fired a torpedo
at the u. s. s. Smith, which missed
iler by thirty ysrds, ,ra.s. wake OF the
torpedo was plainly seen crossing the
bow Submarine disappeared"
First information OF the first en-
counter came to the navy department
in roundabout way from the Boston
naval yards. which picked up the
Smiths report.
Report Suhstantiated.
The navy department. after COM
with Fire Island. Boston
and New York, said the report Of the
Smiths encounter had been substanti-
ated by official investigation. At noon
no further information was available
here.
Whether the presence Of the subma-
rine merely foreshadows a sporadic
raid, such as the U-53 conducted of
the New England coast. or whether
it is the signal for general blockade
Is not known.
The attack by the German U-boat is
Germany's first recognition of state
Of war declared by the United States.
Discredits German Statement.
1t was stated In Germany soon after
the action Of congress that no agrees
sive steps would be taken against the
United States. However, this state
ment was not believed and steps were
taken at once to be prepared against
such raids as may be indicated by the
attack today.
Last week word came to Washington
was about to declare a prohibited sub
marine zone about the harbors Of Bos-
ton. New York, the Chesapeake capes.
Charleston and Havana. This would
have Included the important ports on
the Atlantic seaboard. Some American
officials were disinclined to credit the
report, but the entente diplomatic
corps here believed It and believed the
Germans would soon carry the subma-
rine campaign to this side Of the At
lantic.
No Blockade Declared.
Some officials believe the lack Of
q declaration OF submarine zone to
be due TO the crippled conditions Of
communication. Without such a dec
laration. they point out. Germany will
incur great damages from neutrals AMI
will carry out a campaign without the
color Of legal authority. BY declaring a
prohibited zone around any OF the
American ports and limiting 1t to those
waters Germany would escape the ne
cessity Of declaring a blockade of the
Atlantic coast lipe.
Danger 10 Recognized.
The possibility OF German sub
marine base In the gulf Of Mexico has
long been recognized and many Off
cials have been convinced that when
the raiding began, as they were sure
Il would, the raiders would come from
that quarter.
There also have been reports Of
bases on the rocky coasts Of Maine and
northern Canada. 1nasmuch as there
has been no evidence Of the use Of
such bases in more than~two years Of
war it is considered unlikely that even
IL they exist they can be brought into
use. D.
Naval officers recognize the danger
OF submarine operations of American
coasts, but are confident of the navy's
ability to deal with them sd far as is
possible at this time. Expert opinion
lis that some shipping is bound to be
lost but that submarines operating
5000 miles from home have most
of the disadvantages to contend with.
May Have easss on This Side. !.
When the task Of the union navy
during the civil war in maintaining an