The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-09-09
Germany Expected to Take
Desperate Chances in At
tempt to Sink Our
Ships.
WE ARE READY FOR IT
Senator Lewis Of Illinois Aboard Ship
Which Had Narrow Escape
From Submarine Last
Week.

UNITED Press Leased Wire Service]
WASHINGTON, Sept 9.-The navy
for some weeks past has been acting
on the presumption that Germany
would make a big U boat drive
against American transports, Secre-
| tary Of the Navy Daniels admitted
today. This course, while not based
on official information, resulted from
the logical conclusion that Germany
| would do her utmost to attack trans
ports when she saw Americas army
growing enormously.
| Conveys have been strengthened
land other anti-submarine measures
| increased, Daniels declared.
| Daniels said it had been fully rec
ognized by himself and other navy
men that Germany would undoubt-
| edly make a big offensive at the
| transports, particularly when she
saw how formidable the American
army was becoming.
| He pointed out that the attempt
against the Mount Vernon showed
conclusively that the German does
not intend to let transports get
through If he can prevent it.
| Every transport going or coming
| is in more or less danger, he said,
| but pointed out that the navy is in-
creasing it's anti-submarine measures
| in comparison with the expected
new energy Of the U boats.
| Germany is known not to have
very extensive supply of submarines.
They are sufficient, however, to
cause the navy to be especially alert
at this time
| incidentally, Daniels pointed out
| that the record for Transporting
I oo{S 1nsEaS
| has proven amazing. A year ago, he
admitted. such a record would have
seemed almost impossible in view OF
the former inroads of the U boat.
| It was said that the department
has no inform alton of any transport
| attack at present other than that
against the Mount Vernon, which
was unsuccessful.
Baker Visits Transport.
| WASHINGTON, Sept. 9.-Secretary
! of War Baker, now in France, has
cabled Secretary Daniels that he
visited the transport Mount Vernon
when it arrived in port, damaged by
a u boat torpedo, and paid a hlgh
tribute to the morale and efficient
/ seamanship of the ships crew.
| The cablegram follows:
Il nave just Nlslteo aiiu =.
z! the Mount Vernon. The high spirit
and morale of its men and masterful
! seamanship of its captain and Off,
| GERS make such stirring story OF
heroism that / wish all the nation
| might know the splendid way In
| which the huge transport met and
foiled the attempt to destroy 1t at
sea. The traditions of your service
are enriched by their conduct in this
emergency
Attempt to "Get" Our Transports.
IIBy Carl D. Groat, United Press
staff Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Sept. 9.-1n her
desperation at the growing menace OF
American forces, Germany is believed
to be about to plunge into an adven'
tursome attempt ito get" American
transports.
! Her first stroke in this new warfare
is regarded as the futile effort TO SINK
the Mount Vernon. Advices at hand TO-
day show thirty-five dead, though II
had been supposed the entire crew
escaped. Senator James Hamlftoh
Lewis. Illinois. was aboard the trans
port, homeward bound, but was un'
scathed.
-islv for a submarine. In view OF the
,.at.otion afforded transports, the U
boat commander was taking far more
- , chance than is customary in Teu
ton operations.
The German admiralty, however, Is
,,,derstood to be under very heavy
mcclure both from the war lords and
The civilian population co make good
/