The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-05-29
new FORM HUN
'FRICHTFULNESS'
COMES TO LIGHT
GERMAN PROPAGANDA RELATIVE
TO ."PREsENCE OF ENEMY
SUBMARINES" PUTS MANY RE-
PORTER ON TRAIL OF SCOOP,
Washington Bureau
The Pensacola Journa
(By George H. Manning.)

(By George H. Manning.)
WASHINGTON. D. c.. May PA
now form OF German ''frightfuiness'
which has been worked out with some
success in this country, as an aid to
winning the war has been discovered
by government officials. The secret
ments have q net out to catch those
responsible for 1t, 1t is learned.
The new German propaganda IL to
circulate rumors about seaports to the
effect that German submarines are In
adjacent waters and that 1t is danger
Gus to venture out
The German agents have attempted
to use the American newspapers as
the medium Of their attempt to terror
izex shipping circles. On almost every
day Of the past three weeks especially,
Washington correspondents OF news
papers situated at Atlantic and Gulf
ports have received kilograms from
their home offices telling OF these
rumors and asking that confirmation
be obtained from the navy department.
In almost every instance tho reports
have reached the newspaper offices Ia
such q way that wide-awake newspaper
men have been compelled for a time
to place some credence in them. The
Washington correspondents. eager to
u M 50 fc1Hup etaoin etaoi etaoi etnn
put over a scoop" have rushed breath
lessly to the navy department to In
quire about It, only to find that the
department had received the report
ahead OF the newspaper and after hav-
ing torpedo boats, seaplanes, sub
chasers and other craft rush pell mel
be aoA nf ho
sea terror and make a thorough search
have discovered 1t was only another
German hoax and attempt to disorgan-
ize the schedules made up for despatch
OF troops and materials to France to
strafe the Hun.
Germany sadly miscalculated the abil
ity of the United States to dispatch al
largo army to France and keep 1t fed
and armed so as to make this country a
factor In the war. and Of
ficials of the navy department are
convinced that the rumors
now being circulated OF the presence
OF German subs in American waters
are attempts Of German agents acting
on instructions from Berlin to disruIt
the steady dispatch OF troops. NUM-
tions and food TO Europe to win the.
war.
One day the report Will come from
a Gulf port that German submarine
has been sighted nearby, and the nexti
day from South Atlantic or New
England port that German sea monsters
are in nearby waters
But the navy department. always on
the alert. makes II its business to,
investigate each rumor and
takes steps to guard American shipping +
IN that neighborhood by well laid de-
fensive plans until absolute proof is
that the report is groundless
he department fully realizes wha,
might happen II it should disregard
som of these rumors. It is realized.
hat one OF the purposes OF the contin>
lal circulation Of the rumors by the
may be to make the navy dis
-egard reports of the presence of SUBJ
marines and thus make 1t easy for a.
German undersea boat to do considera
cle damage before ii Is caught.
Since war was declared a year ago
he navy department has made thor
ough Investigations of over 200 such
lumors. In some cases it has BEEN
discovered that ships crews have mis-
.aken black whales, wreckage and ship
'efuse for submarines and have spread
he report on their arrival in port that
A German U-boat was outside.