New Britain herald., 1917-04-17


 This announcement was made at the navy department:
 Reported from Fire Island light- ship to the naval stations at Boston and New York at 3.30 a. m., on the 17th, an enemy submarine was sight, ed by the U. s. S. Smith running ap- parently submerged. Submarine fired a torpedo at U.s.S. Smith which missed her by thirty yards. The wake of the torpedo was plainly seen crossing the bow. Submarine disappeared.
 First information of the encounter came to the navy department in a roundabout way from the Boston navy yard, which picked up the smiths report, saying she had been fired upon by a German U-boat.
 The navy department. after com- lnunicating with Fire Island, Boston, New York and some other points on Atlantic coast. announced the report of, the Smiths encounter had been - s Whether the presence of the Ger man submarine merely foreshadows a sporidae raid such as the B-5S con-l Gucted off the New England coast or whether it is the signal for the begin
  of the Atlantic coast, is not known. $
 First Recognition of State of War.
 The. attack by the U-boat is Ger many's first recognition of the stato of war declared by the United States. It was stated in Germany soon after the action of congress that no aggres- sive steps would be taken against the United States.
 Virtually no American officials be- lieve this statement. however, and steps to meet aggressive steps were at once taken. The probability of sub- marine attack on unprotected sea- board cities and towns, on shippings in sight of American shores. and q submarine blockade of the principal Atlantic ports with the purpose Of terrorizing shipping and people were expected.
 Prohibited Zone on Coast.
 Last week word came to Washing ton in Q roundabout way that Ger many was about to declare 8 prohibit ed submarine zone about the harbors at Boston. New York, the Delaware Capes, Chesapeake Bay, Charleston and Savannah. This would have in- cluded all the important ports on the Atlantic seaboard. It was said then
 
 the prohibited zone would be issued from Berlin. Some American officials were disinclined to credit the report but the Entente diplomatic corps here believe it, and predicted that Germany would soon carry the submarine canl- paign to this side, principally for the purpose of soaring neutral shipping away from American harbors and to raid the great squadrons of merchant ships which are moving food and supplies to America's allies on the European battle fronts.
 Some of these are inclined to be- lieve that the lack of q decision on 8 prohibited sone in American waters may be due to the crippled condition of communication with Germany since the United States entered the war.
 Without . declaration they pointed out, Germany will incur great claims of damages to neutrals and will carry on a new campaign without the color of legal authority which she contends the declaration of barred zone lends to 1t.
 By declaring a prohibited zone around any of the American ports and limiting 1t to these waters, Ger many would escape the necessity of declaring and maintaining Q general blockade of the Atlantic coast line. When the task of the Union navy during the Civil war in maintaining an effective blockade of the southern ports Is recalled the difficulties of 8 blockade of that vast coastline may be estimated. l
 May Have Bases Here.
 With submarine war brought close to the doors of America the possi- bility that German T-boats have bases on this side of the Atlantic is again revived. The raid of the U-5S and the two trips of the Deutschland denl- that 1t was impossible for