Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-04-17

Raid or German Blockade.
Whether the presence Of the German
submarine merely foreshadows a spo-
radio raid. such as the U-53 conducted
on the New England coast. or whether
1t Is the signal for the beginning of a
general submarine blockade of the At
lantic coast is not yet known.
The attack by the U-boat is, Ger
many's first recognition of the state
of war declared by the United States.
1t was stated in Germany soon after
the action of Congress that no aggres-
sive steps would be taken against the
United States.
Not Taken Seriously.
Practically no American officials be-
lieved this statement, however. and
steps to meet aggressive moves were at
once taken. The probability of sub
marine attack on unprotected seaboard
cities and towns. raids on shipping
within sight of American shores and a
submarine blockade of the principal
Atlantic ports with the purpose of ter
rorizing shipping and people was ex-
pected.
Last week word came to Washington
in a roundabout way that Germany was
about to declare a prohibited submarine
zone about the harbors at Boston. New
York. the Delaware capes. Chesapeake
bay, Charleston and Savannah. This
would have included all the important
ports on the Atlantic Seaboard.
1t was said then that an official warn
ing to neutrals of the prohibited zone
would be issued from Berlin.
Credited by Entente Diplomats
Some American officials were disin-
clined to credit the report. but the en-
tente diplomatic corps here believed
it and predicted that Germany would
soon carry the submarine campaign to
this side Of the Atlantic. 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 sup
plies to Americas allies on the Eu-
ropean battle fronts.
With the horrors Of submarine war
brought close to the doors of America.
the possibility that German U-boats
may have bases on this side of the At
lantic is again revived. The raid of
the U-53 and the two trips of the
Deutschland demonstrated that it was
possible for a German submarine to
escape the British cordons in the North
sea and make her way to America.
Whether a submersible could max e
such a trip and return without having
q supply base somewhere on this side
of the Atlantic is gravely doubted.
Believe in Mother Ship.
Many officials here always have be-
lieved that the U-53 had another ship
somewhere down on the horizon. The
possibility that merchant submarines of
the Deutschland type. now converted to
carriers of fuel oil and supplies. might
accompany fiotillas of the war boats on
their transatlantic raids Is recognized
as being ever present.
The possibility of bases having been
planted by the German raiders recently
at large in the South Atlantic is one OF
the foremost. 1t even has been suspect
ed that parts of submarines had been
shipped to Mexico and assembled there
but by many well informed officials tina,
Is doubted.
The possibility of German submarine
base in the Gulf of Mexico haw. how
officials have been convinced that wher
the raiding began, as they were sure II
would soon after the declaration OF
war. the raiders would come from tina,
quarter.
Rumors of other Bases.
There also have been many reports OF
secret bases established on the rocky
and inaccessible coasts Of Maine and