The Harrison times., 1917-09-15

their might against the British. An
even greater battle than the one of
Jutland would be the result.
U. S. May Take Part.
American wUrShips may take part
in this vast engagement. II il not
permitted to state where the Ameri-
can battle fleet lies AT this moment,
but Americas word to assist her al
lies with every means in he. power
/ is assurance that our l-inch rifles will
/ be ranged alongside Admiral Beatty's
/ big guns whenever IL is considered ad-
yiSable 10 put them there
Indeed the activity of the American
main fleet in the North sea is 50 prob
, able that rumors Undoubtedly start
/ ed by German agents) Of a great sea
| disaster found ready credence this
spring These unfounded stories had
| il that the United States fleet had met
/ the Germans, been wOrsted and lay
I for the most part on the bottom of the
/ ocean The reports stirred up such
/ widespread uneasineSS among the
masses Of the people that an official
/ denial was thought advisable.
The last year has seen many brushes
between opposing light forces in the
North sea. In one spectacular en-
| gagement two destroyerS locked, the
British sailors pouring onto their OPP
ponentS craft and routing them with
| CutlaSSes in the fashion of bygOne
/ centuries.
A British fleet pounded the German
harbor Of Zeebrugge to pieces and
/ damaged the left end of the TeutOn
battle line resting on the North sea.
The entry of the United States into
| the war, with the third largest navy
/ in the world, has rendered the posi-
tion of the entente nations much more
secure on the sea. British patrols
along the Atlantic coast of North and
South America have mostly been re-
| placed by American boats, leaving the
| English craft free for work nearer
/ home. The United States is building
| 300 submarine chaserS and an unstat-
ed, but undoubtedly large number OF
| hydrOairplaneS for the campaign
against the U-boat.
Bremen Meets Disaster.
On August |, 1916, the first mer-
chairman submarine, the Deutschland,
! left Baltimore hOmeward bound. She
reached Germany safely and then
made a second transatlantic trip-this
/ time to New London, Conn. The en-
try of the United States into the war
prevented a third trip. Meanwhile, a
sister ship, the Bremen, seems to have
met disaster on her way here.
A spectacular feat was performed
by the fighting submarine U-53, which
came into Newport, r. l., on October I
last. stayed Il few hours and then put
to sea. She sank five merchantmen
off Nantucket lightShip the next night,
the passengers and crews being res
cued by a fleet of American destroy
erS. The Germans announced later
the U-53 had reached home in safety.
The year was also signalized by the
sinking of several hospital ships un-
warned by the Germans. Among these
was the Britannia, the largest British
vessel ahoat, which was destroyed in
the Aegean November p. The Ger
mans announced that in the future
they would not warn any hospital
ships except those sailing at certain
specified times and taking prescribed
routes.
On November % the Russian dread
naught Imperatrta Maria was sunk
by an internal explosion and POO lives
were lost.
The German cruiser MOeWe made
| successful raid in the South Atlantic,
On January II it was learned she ha6
sunk 21 ships and captured three 9th,
ers, Part Of her prisoners she allowed
to land ut South American ports and
part she sent to Germany on board the
prize ship Yarrowdale. She herself
reached Germany safely.
The greatest feat of Germany on the
sea, however, was accomplished when
by her ruthless submarine war she
brought the United States into the war
as her enemy this spring. The Ameri-
cans Immediately started vast ship
building program, which may undo for
Germany all the work of the U-boats.
FIGHT H00KWORM IN BRAZIL