The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-06-07
BY f. N. KIRBY
Special Staff dispatch.

New York, June 7.-BOnrbardmen
of unfortified coast towns on the At
lantic seaboard, air raids by hydro
airplanes brought over by large cruis
er submarines, and extension Of the
danger zone to all shipping in the
Atlantic lane to Europe and South
America, face America today, since
the operation of German submarines
off the U. S. coast.
Fourteen months ago Henry Wood
house, governor Of the Aero club OF
America, pointed out to me the pos,
sibility of aerial raids on New York
and our coast cities, as a corOllary
of submarine activity on this side OF
the Atlantic. u.s.
What seemed then remote
impossibiIity is today an immedi-
ate probability.
America is for the first time
face to face with real war at her
very doors. ...,...
The sinking of American ships by
the subs on this side is only fore.
runner of what we may expect. II
we awaken some night to the drop
ping of high explosive bombs in our
streets we need not be surprised
Certain action has already been ia
ken by the government to prepare for
such raids, but Of course ii they grow
an actually, our air defense in all
cities along the Atlantic and Gulf
coast must be built up to rival the de.
lenses of London and Paris.
Another thing that must be faced is
o,]s ~ HoFn noC,
resorts. ...- ~
The English watering places along
the coasts were repeatedly shelled by
German light forces during the ear
lier part OF the war, for two purposes
lin a campaign of frightfulness by
which the Hun has always thought he
could frighten his opponent, and sec,
Ondly, in an effort to cause such a
demand for protection of the coas,
towns that the British grand fleet in
the North Sea would be sent along
the English coast to protect the towns,
thus permitting the German high seas
fleet to break through the Gordon.
Neither result was achieved.
The British were not frightened, nor
did the British admiralty make the
mistake of dispesing the fleet for the
mere protection of coast towns against
raiders
II the German submarines do bonn
bard our coast towns, such as Atlantic
City, Asbury Park, Ocean City, and
other, undefended places, there viii;
be pressure from local interest to
bring back, our fleet to protect our
own shores.
Our own navy I'd department will! make
NO such mistake: -
Such isolated raids, while they may
do some damage to property, will have
no effect on the war; neither will the
bombarding from the air by submar.
ine-mothered airplanes have q de-.
cisive effect.
OF course, adequate air, defenses will
be built up against such attacks, but
raids of this character can only come
at considerable intervals, and Ger
many will not be permitted to trans.
fer the wa. from eyer there to over
here. 'ns'.
German strategy, II 1t plans whole;
sale Submarine operations on this
side OF The Atlantic, hopes to create
such q, reign Of terror on this side !,
that we may not continue to give ct.
fective aid to our allies abroad. She
hopes to divert US from our main
purpose in the war, to the mere de- |
Tense of our own coasts and shipping.
The naval machinery to meet sub.
marine operations on this eide was
perfected long ago. 1T began to oper-
ate the day war ives declared.
Today, many hundreds of scout craft
OF every kind, from light cruisers and
destroyers down to motor launches,
are patrolling the coast from end to
end. Naval airigibles and airplanes
are increasing in numbers. Mining
and netting operations are very ex-
tensive
The naval reserve forces manning /
the coast patrol operations love had
more than year to perfect the off.
shore and inshore defenses against
the submarine.
These men of IN. r. f., some
times jokingly referred to by other
branches of the service as the "Never
Reach France" men, now have the
same opportunity to distinguish them
selves as the Woodworking seamen in
the British navy trawler and motor
launch service have had. The navy
department believes they will give
just as good an account of them.
selv 8.
LABOR FOR LEAGUE