Evening star., 1918-06-05
Men and Munitions
Unchecked by
U-Boat Raid.
SUBMARINE CHASED
OFF MARYLAND COAST
More Sea Pests Expected and
Added Protection Is Now
Under Preparation.

whatever the purpose OF the
submarine raid off the Atlantic
coast, and whatever number of
submarines hereafter may come
to American waters, there will
be no check of the flow of men
and munitions to France, Secre-
tary Daniels said today.
"The great duty of our Navy" "
said he, "is to keep open the door
to France; to carry our men and
munitions to the great battle
front and to guard food supplies
for our co-belligerents. That
has been accomplished thus far
and we will continue to keep the
road open"
The Navy Department had no fur
ther advices at noon today from the
patrol feet hunting down the subma-
rine that was last heard from of tho
Virginia and Maryland coasts.
"sub" Hunt OF Maryland.
Concentration Of American naval
forces of the Maryland coast followed
the receipt Of advices by the Navy De-
partment that German undersea craft,
having sunk a probable total Of ten
vessels on the New Jersey shore, had
yesterday transferred the scene of
their depredations farther south.
Just as naval officials had concluded
that the German raiders had left
American waters for their home port
tank steamer, the Radioleine, was
saved from destruction early yester-
day by an American destroyer. sixty
i've miles on the Maryland coast.
The same dispatch brought the news
that there had been added another
schooner. the Edward Baird. jr, to
the list Of submarine victims.
! Baird Found Sinking.
The Baird was found in a sinking
condition by the destroyer. which
took on board two of the schooner's
survivors. The Baird was a vessel of
27s tons. hailing from Wilmington
Del. No report had been received
early today as to the fate of other
In attacking the French tanker Ra-
diolefne the German raiders made
their first attempt to sink a trans
atlantic vessel. The Navy Department
dispatch stated that the RadioIeine
was later reported as having reached
The only additional reports dis
closed by the department dealt with
survivors from the liner Carolina.
Prepare for More U-Boats.
Naval omcials are proceeding, IT
was learned. on the theory that many
submarines may be Off the coast or
may be expected to arrive, although
they have nothing to indicate that
more than two have been operating.
When the American destroyers and
other small craft were sent abroad
for work in the war zone, It was fully
realized that submarine raids in
American waters were entirely possi-
BILE. The entire coastal patrol service
has been built up on that assumption.
Viewed from q purely American
standpoint, 1t is known officiaIs be-
lieved the dispatch of the swift naval
craft to foreign waters was unwar-
ranted. Prudence dictated that they
be held to insure the protection Of the
long coast line from Canada to Mexi.
co and to guard coastwiss shipping.
q. 8. Cast Prudence Aside.
In that event. however. American
troops could not be sent to France
with any degree of security. and the
United States could not take its fair
share of the burden of war. This. Il
Is known, Is the consideration that
impelled the government to cast
prudence aside and to rush the ships
abroad.
Without question, 1t was felt. the
key to the shipping situation. the
neck OF the bottle. was abroad, where
laden ships must converge toward Inc
ports Of debarkation. That neck must
pc Kept open at any hazard, and the
Navy has kept It open. Not an ont
ward-bound troopship under Amsri-
| can convoy has been successf,,IIv a..
sailed. The men and the munitions
70 70 WIN 1, the war are being carried to
best expectations when the ioh hesan -
Danger Was Realized.
It has been realized all along tho,
the length of the American cos n
line and the limited number Of swift
seakeeping destroyers that could be
retained At nome made 1t perfectly
possible for raiders from German
submarine bases overseas to strike ai
| the coastwise traffic or even al ~.
transports as they cleared for Fra nee
There was no possibility Of profact.
Ing the whole coast line cerfainIy
Vigorous efforts to make the has,
possible disposition Of the shin. ~
men available for home waters vors
have been made. Tho promptnaas
with which the patrols turne6 an,
when the attack came on SnnSss
showed the organization that ~
bsen built mp. ~S
Already Il has been shown. oa,c,.,
| say. that precautions taken 10 1msr.
departing troops and munition vessel
have proved adequate.
| Additional Protection.
| Efforts to furnish additional pro
lection to coastwise shipping are nov
being made. An elastic system 4
meet any emergency II what Is aime,
at. In some cases fleets of coaster
may be assembled. to be passed aion,
under convoy from one district to til
next. Undoubtedly guns and gunner
will be furnished in many cases.
Every skipper who wants them will
be provided with weapons with whtcj
to hit back. it 10 understood.
Transfer Of the scene Of operation
from the waters OF New Jersey e
thu MaPvtanA rARfon ~aa takAS 4,