The Washington herald., 1918-08-13
l-Boat Scatters Impreg-
mated Oil on Waters Near
Smith Island, S. c.
IS OF COAST GUARD
/ STATION OVERCOME
American Destroyer, 1t Is
|. Believed, Sinks Sub with
u Depth Bombs.
DANIELS NOW SKEPTIcAL SUBS
CAN STAY HERE 6 MONTHS
Ships Go Down of Nantucket at
Hands of German Submersibles.
Official Report.

A German submarine has made
a gas attack on the coast guard
and lighthouse station at Smith
Island. N. c.
SIX men were overcome by the
fumes, which were said to resem-
bic mustard gas.
An American destroyer one hun
dred miles off the Virginia capes,
shortly after the gas attack. sur
prised a submersible and may
have sunk it with depth bombs. Of
which seventeen were used.
TIDE CHANGED.
Such are the outstanding facts
of a day of German submarine
activity that included the sinking
of two steamships-one British
and one Swedish-and the re-
ported sinking of nine fishing
schooncrs.
Only a favorable tide saved the
personnel of the coast guard and
lighthouse station at Smith Is
land. and assured the continu-
ance of the lighthouse beacon, for
the gas attack was launched by
means of gas-producing oil on the
water, covering several acres,
emitted by the submarine, with
the hope that it would be carried
in shore. The tide, however, set
along the island and carried the
gas away.
Eject As of Mustard Gas.
That the effect of the gas, which
was Of the mustard variety. would
have been severe il 1t had been sue
cessful, was indicated by. the. fact
that even its effect weakened by dis
tance put the coast guard and light
house out of commission temporarily.
me commandant of the Sixth naval
district, Charlestown, s. c., in re-
porting the attack, which occurred
at o'clock Saturday afternoon. says:
About forty minutes after the at
tack, thre large oil spots, each over
an acre in extent, were observed
passing by Smith Island to the north.
This oil, from which the gas no
doubt was generated. must have been
released from a submarine in the VI
cinity OF the entrance to the chan
mel, with the hope that it would
come in with the tide, but the tide
fortunately set along Smith Island.
Report was made to Col. Chase,
Coast Artillery Corps. Fort Caswell,
N. c., by Capt Willis, of the Smith
Island Coast Guard. Immediately af-
ter the effects of the gas were no.
ticed. Six men were gassed; no
deaths. The gas had the effect OF
mustard gas. and was effective about
thirty-hye or forty minutes. The
color of the gas has not yet been
ascertained. and its effects on trees
and shrubbery not yet determined
The entire matter will be investl-
: gated and report made"
Ne Danger to Coast Cities.
Smith Island is of the mouth of
the Cape Fear River. near the en-
trance to the channel Of Whining
ton. N c.. where the United States
shipping Board has several shipbuiid-
ing yards
Fear that such gas attacks would be
made at other places along the coast,
especially on large cities, was aIlay-
I'd by Navy Department officials last
night. Although none of them ever
bad heard of a gas attack being made
in such q way before, and would not
speculate on the use of gas-produciny
oil on water as q means of warfare,
they were positive In their assertions
that no gas attack could succeed
against any large cities, primarily be-
cause the defenses in all cases are so
tar out that an attempt to maneuver
Tor oil emission at just the right mo-
nent for wind and tide to carry the
oil. into the harbor would fail.
Warming would BE Ample.
Further. II was emphasized that,
sven II any considerable quantity of
Tas-oil were set toward a coast city,
warning Of its slow approach by wind
>Dr tide would be adequate to save
Inyono from III effects.
Navy officials discussing the report
coSIISUED OF PaGE 1--WE