Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-04-18
BELIEVE PATROL MAY
HAVE RUN ONTO
SUBSEAS
RUMOR CONFIRMED
OFFICIALS ADMIT COAST GUARDS
AND ATLANTIC STATIONS
HEARD DECORATIONS OF
LARGE GuNS-SUeMARiNEs
KNOWN TO BE LURKING IN u.
S. WATERS.
BY JOHN EDWIN NEVIN.
international News Service STAFF Cor
respondent)

international News Service Staff Cor
respondent)
washington, D. c.. April 1S--Re.
ports OF cannon firing off Cape Cod
To-Day electrified oliicialdom here to-
day. The reports came from the
coast guard stations and officials were
inclined to believe that they Indicate
that the patrol fleet might have sight
ed German submarines. NO official in
formation. however was available.
The Navy Department took occasion
to confirm the press reports from Hos-
ton that such firing actually had been
heard but officials refused to spech.
late on what it all means.
Officials said they will not be sur.
prised to learn that German subma-
rines now in American waters have
been sent to the bottom. The feet
is leaving nothing to Glance but Is
securing the waters adjacent to the
Atlantic coast in an effort to locate
the submarines that now are positive
~ known to be lurking there.
The Navy's reply to the assertion Of
the land experts who had asserted
that commanding officers OF the De.
stroyer Smith mistook big fish for
the wake of a torpedo came today when
1t is positively declared that the Of.
ficer of the deck on the DESTROYER not
only saw the passage of the torpein
boat but that he also saw the peri
scope OF the submarine.
The Smith, like all boats Of her
class, has had plenty of actual prac
tice with torpedoes. They also point
ed out today that it would be utterly
impossible for trained man to mis-
take the wake of a torpedo at sha.
low angle as 1t would be to sink a
destroyer, for any sort of fish, The
Navy realizes the peril to navigation
that these submarines carry. The fir.
ing reported off the Massachusette
coast today has brought home to of.
hclals the damage that a submarine
could do to the coastwise trade. The
point where the guns were heard was
IN the steamer track from Halifax
All inward and outward bound ocean
liners under normal conditions would
follow this track and submarines
would get rich prizes If able to lie In
wait here.
No Compromise on Service.
Washington, April 1S--At least par.
tial collapse OF the house mimilary af.
fairs committees opposition to the ad-
ministrations conscription bill seemed
in sight when the committee re-as-
sembled today Secretary Baker in
two extended conferences yesterday
Chairman Dent, who sought to in
terest the President in compromise
whereby the bill should embody both
the volunteer and compulsory systems
had his proposals again fatty re-
jected at the White House. Later Mr..
Wilson, in conferences with Republi-
can leader Mann and Representative
Lenroot also Republican, was assur-
ed that the Republicans would make
no partiesan fight on the administra-
tion bill. II the President can con-
troll his own partisan the bill Is due
to receive early and favorable consld.
Grafton.
Such opposition as remained today
was for the most part among Demo
Gratis. The leading Republican oppon
ent of the measure has been Represen.
tative Anthony, of Kansas, But the
chief support Of the measure from its
inception has come from Republicans.
Chairman Dent early announced his
opposition
War Chest ls Filled.
Washington. April lS--Within "a
hours the wal chest OF the United
States will be filed AS soon as the
House agrees to the Senate amend.
ments to the bond and certificate issue
bill it will be rushed to the White
House for the Presidents signatures
Then, of course, will come the propo.
stion of marketing, but this Is detail
only. SO far as the actual needs are
concerned the money Will be available
for any aud all purposes OF war.
The question Of the amount OF the
first issue. OF how the bonds and GER
titlcates are to be absorbed by the ma
tior and all such questions are mat
ters of routn only. They will be
worked out at conferences between
Secretary Of the Treasury McAdoo