The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1918-05-24
U-BOATS Still
BUSY OFF ITALY
Spies and Fishermen Help Supply
and Signal German
Captains.
BASES ON NEUTRAL LAND
aa%aa==aH=A'ssaH=~
Graft Hunt In Groups and Have Ao.
eurste Information OF Ssiilngs--
Temptation Too Much for
Fishermen.

Rome.-The U-boat offensive is still
serious in the Mediterranean. Sub.
marine bnses exist in neutral coun.
tries, where information, provisions
and even petrol are supplied to The
German commanders. Some time ago
three Sicilian fishermen were charged
with supplying provisions to an enemy
submarine off Augusta. In the course
of the trial before the military tribunal
at Catania evidence was brought to
chow that while the fishermen were
out ut sea in their boat Il submarine
rose to the surface and ordered the
three men to go on board.
The commander then informed them
that two would be kept as hostages
while the third was TO go ashore in
the boat and get the fresh provisions
needed. If he returned with them with
In two or three hours the two fisher
men would not only be released but
also compensated; otherwise they
would be killed. The man was warn
| ed that If he informed the italian au-
| thorties the fate of his two compan-
ions would be the same. Naturally
the man obeyed. He returned with
the provisions within the appointed
time and was well paid for his trou-
BILE and faithfulness. OF course the
two hostages were released. Evident
" the ffshermen's story was corroborat-
I'd by the evidence of other men, as the
tribunal acquitted the two hostages
and sentenced the man who got the
provisions to ten years hard labor for
neglecting TO inform the authorities.
Cannot Resist Temptation.
There are thousands of fishermen In
Italy who lead hard life without
earning living wage and who can
not resist the temptation of making
money. Besides, they are easily in
undated by the threats of the com.
manders of submarines, who often
sink fishing boats and murder the fish.
ermen for the sake of imposing obedi-
ence. 1t is reasonably suspected that
fishermen aid submarines in many
ways. They warn them of the APP
proach of war vessels and mystery
ships and give them valuable informa-
tiOn about sailings and courses of con-
voys. Possibly If the allies compen.
stated fishermen as well as the COM
manders of submarines do satisfac-
tory results would follow.
OF course for obvious reasons full
particulars about the activity OF sub |
marines In the Mediterranean cannot
be diyulged. There :have been instan-
ces of U-boats entering territorial wa
ters at night and exchanging signals |
with people on shore. Until recently /.
enemy citizens were allowed to re- |
side in seaport towns and even de- |
serted villages on the coast. so that all |
they needed TO communicate with sub. |
marines was light. Even now AuH.
trlRns and Germans are interneel In |
Sardinia, and more ships have been
sunk by submarines off this island |
than anywhere else in the Medlter-
Fanean.
The mail boat between Sardinia ana
Civitavecchia was torpedoed In broad
daylight only 20 miles OFF the coast
of Sardinia. Although she remained
afioat for three hours and the wireless
remained on board until the
ship sunk and communicated with
nearby naval station, unfortunately no
torpedo boats were available 10 rescue
the passengers, including many sol
diers, who perished. There seems to
be no doubt that the commander Of the
submarine had been informed that
rescue was impossible, as otherwise
the torpedoed mail boat would hRse
been sunk by shell fire
Cease to Be Dangerous.
Other ships have been sunk both off
Sardinia and In other parts Of the
very close to the coast
under similar circumstances. Ii Is
significant that whenever enemy cltl-
zens or enemy agents and spies have
been discovered and arrested in GER
tain localities where ships were being
sunk by submarines these zones ceased
TO be dangerous. Expert
aae shows that patrolling the route
81 conveys is not sufficient unless the
coast Is well watched 50 that signal
ng to submarines Il prevented. II
seems that U-boats hardly ever use
heir wireless even among themselves
est their messages should be inter-
,epted and their whereabouts discov.
red.
The crew of a ship recently sunk at
light by a submarine reported 10 the
that when they had taken
o the boats and were pulling away
rom the sinking ship the submarine
vas exchanging flash signals By means
# an electric lamp. The night was
cry dark, and at first the answering
ignals were not visible, but shortly | c
fterward the flashes of at least five
ubmarines could clearly be seen.
They were ike glow worms over the
ca" one Of the men said describing
be signals. Evidently submarines
ew keep close together 80 that mu-