New Britain herald., 1917-07-02
SUBMARINE BASE
 OFF IRISH COAST
British Patrol Fleet Locates Ger
 man Station on Island

An Atlantic Port, July 2.-From of- hcers of an American steamship which has arrived here it was learned that vessel of the British patrol fleet on duty off the north of Ireland dis covered a German submarine base on Tory Island two weeks ago.
 This island is nine miles long, ana twelve miles from the Irish coast off the County of Donegal me Americana learned that six men, who were found to have been the ring leaders in supplying U-b boats were shot. A quantity of fuel oil was connscat- ed. together with provisions, and from talks the British officers had with the islanders 1t was believed Ger man commanders also were getting from the island reports of tho move ments of British vessels.
 Many men and women were said to have had a part in the supplying of the U-boats, but most of them were given to understand they were Amer ican submarines. The crews never came ashore and the boats flew no f1aes Some of the six men who en- gineered the scheme rowed out to the vessels in fishing dories with their supplies. Almost invariably the sub- marines put in an appearance after dark and disappeared before dawn.
 How long the base had been es- tablished was not ascertained, but it was believed to have existed for sev- eral months.
 Many of the largest vessels torpe- doed have been sent to their doom off Tory Island since the middle of iu1ar rN is hn 1nn nf steamships entering and leaving the North Channel between Ireland and Scotland. This channel has been used by many vessels seeking the open Atlantic of late. instead of go- ing down the Irish Sea around to the south of Ireland, as it was figured that once through the short channel the vessels would be in the open sea and have far less distance to travel in submarine waters than in the Irish Sea.
 The toll of vessels off the north coast of Ireland has been large lately. and time and again steamships have been sent into Lough Swilly and Lough Foyle upon the report of U-boats being sighted, to remain there in groups for days.
 MAny nave U0cu SUNK SHOTLly dIC0T they left there upon receiving word that the coast was clear. Many have been caught by their hu1ls being out lined in the moonlight and others when they were silhouetted by the setting sum-
 Because of the frequent operations of U-boats thereabouts small patrol boats were sent into all the small bays to ascertain if there was base in any of them. After several days search, it was learned that the boats had been to Tory Island, and a sum- mary questioning of the Inhabitants resulted in the rounding up of the guilty six.
 There Is a lighthouse on the north west side of Tory Island and the deep water between there and the main land is known as Tory Sound. The 300 inhabitants of the island are chiefly fishermen and kelp gatherers. They select their own king and did not pay rent or taxes for many years In 1902 wholesale ejectment papers were served on the people.
 The inhabitants retain many prim- tive customs of tenure and social re- lationship. The original Celtic tribal customs also are in force. There is strong mixture of Spanish blood still traceable. due to descent from sur vivors of the Spanish Armada wrecked there about 1888.
 On 8 British vessel which arrived at another American port was Chief Gunner's Mate J. F. Becker from one of the American destroyers doing pa- trol duty off the Irish coast, and the first man to return from the fleet that was sent over. He said the American sailors found out at an Irish port there was much feeling there against America going into the war and helping England.
 The liner he arrived on left an English port the same day as the liner Haverford of the International Mercantile Marines Philadelphia service, which was reported on. Fri day as having been sunk. Both lin- CTS went out through the North Channel together and the one that came out safely was the faster.