Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1918-06-22


Washington In view of what has
been happening during the past few
weeks, officials here were inclined to
regard as bit of grim humor the re
port from Berlin, via Holland, that the
German government is about to de.
clare the Eastern American coast a
danger zone and to warn neutral ship.
ping of its purposes.
Fading submarines have already
served warning of the danger in more
forcerul terms thar Berlin could for
Eriate in diplomatic communication.
Several of the eighteen vessels sunk
b. the raiders were neutrals, carrying
10 war supplies. Neutral governments
are net likely to have overlooked that
fsc,, warning or no warning.
1t is recognized. however, that the
forthcoming warning may prove to be
a formal announcement Of a zone in
American waters where ruthless sink
lrg of all ships is to be the order Of
the day, fo-ecasting continuing men
ace off Atlantic ports through regular
submarine patrols.
officials here have been fully awake
10 the fact that such patrols could be
maintained if the German authorities
thought the results obtainable justified
Gi-e-ing a large number of boats from
operations off the French and British
coasts. It has been figured out that
b.: stating new raider or flotilla of
raiders every FIVE days. one link in
the endless chain Of U-boats always
wculG he on duty in American waters.
Suc. operations would mean that
for every boat actively engaged on
this side, there would be several on
the way ever and several more on the
way back to-Germany, none Of which
would have any substantial value
while Ell route in either direction. On
this account, Navy officials generally
have discounted the patrol idea, be-
lieving that much better results from
the German viewpoint would be OBJ
tai2able by using the same number of
boats where they are now used, in the
Norti. Sea or adjacent waters.
1t is net regarded as impossible
that either by using mother ships OF
through the establishment of lanG
base, 40 sign of which has yet been
discovered, the Germans have hit upon
r way of maintaing U-boat flotilla for
al indefinite time on this side. Since
there is no evidence as yet of any ex.
tension Of the zone of raiding opera
tons. however, and since nothing has
c2T.e to indicate an increased number
of raiders at work. these possibilities
also are purely matters of speculation.
So far as Allied and American ships
ere concerned, the warning" can
make 70 difference. The raiders,
while treating passengers and crews
Sc the ships they way-laid with con-
::Ie -aticn that is worthy OF note only
because it IS a departure from the
OF accepted German p-aC-
lice elsewhere. have conducted cruiser
warfare under a strictly German in
depreciation Of what that means. I'm
armed merchant craft of no military
value have been summary dealt with.
The only armed craft sunk was tor
cedoed without warning.
Il is assumed that. any announce
r;ent from Berlin would be designed
Chiefly to intimidate neutral shipping.
Evel then, tie urgent demand at home
fer supplies procurable only in the
United States and the glittering
f. eight rates obtairabie probably
wcul5 overcome any anxiety neutral
ship owners might experience as re-
sci. Of warning"
Perhaps the German Admiralty
hopes TO-, stimulate home readers in
Germany with the idea that steps have
been taken to stop the flow of Ameri-
can t!oons 10 Europe Actual enforce
Eent CT U-boat blockade, however, is
The onl;, thing that would in fact serve
to interfere with that flow.