Arizona republican., 1918-08-22
NAVAL VESSELS SEARCH|NGF0R
 ENEMY RAIDER
Department Expects De- Struction of Trawler which
 Germans Transformed h. to Fishing Fleet Destroyer
Republican A. p. Leased Wirel

lRePubllcan R. r, Leased WlreJ WASHINGTON, Aug. 21.-Navy de- partment officials tonight confidently awaited a wireless dispatch telling of the capture or destruction of the trawler Triumph, which was seized by a German submarine yesterday and armed for raiding expedition against the defenseless fleet of fishing smacks operating on the Grand Banks.
 The department, through Admiral Benson, acting secretary requested newspapers to make no mention of the type of craft being employed in the hunt. It was said that these are num- erous and swift enough to make the eventual apprehension of the converted fishing vessel absolutely certain un less the enemy crew destroys the ship or attempts to engage one of the pur- sucrs in unequal combat.
 Anticipate German Ruse
 Officials here expressed the belief tonight that the German commander realized the utter hopelessness of his continuing operations for more than 24 hours. Some considred that a rem dezvous with the submarine had been arranged by the crew of the Triumph, after which the Triumph would be sunk so that the patrol flotillas would find it necessary to continue theil hunt for several days. This would re- suit. the German officers might hope in a large force being held along the Grand Banks, lessening the strength of the coast guard at other points The answer made to this possibility is that adequate forces are in service at every vital point to protect all ships
 Crew Lands at Boston
 The only dispatch received by the department today concerning the new est maneuver of the submarine flotilla was a brief message from the com mander of the first naval district al Boston. Ii confirmed the landing oi the captain and crew of the Triumph and reiterated the story told by these sailors. Six hours earlier this in A formation was given to the navy de- partment through press dispatches anc was flashed by naval wireless to thu patrol forces.
 Will Protect Fishermen
 The department has taken steps t | protect fishing on the Grand Banks ant 2 10 counteract the effects of this raid Admiral Benson said He expressed the opinion that it would be impossible for the Germans in the limited tim at their disposal to equip the Triumph properly as a raider. Such task h. pointed out would take the New Yor navy yard nearly a week. With a crev of seventeen men, armed with re volvers and a machine gun or two the Triumph would be able to captur and then destroy number Of sInal craft. The maximum military ad vantage the Germans can hope to oh tain. it was said, was the depletio of the supply of canned fish for tn army.
 Does Not Believe Statement
 Admiral Benson refused to plac much credence on the statement of tn submarine commander to the captai of the Triumph that six U-boats no' are operating in American water Naval officials are convinced onl three have been actively engaged. Tn acting secretary warned against tn public placing too much hope in storie of German submersibles being de stroyed Tn this connection he al vulged the fact that the claim of British merchantmen having sunk submarine after long range gun du already has been definitely contrc verted Ii was on this same submarir and several days later that Captai Evans of the steamer Penistone WE detained after his ship had been car tured and sunk.