The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1918-06-20

Washiagton.-ln view of what has
been happening during the past few
weeks, officials here were inclined to
regard as a bit OF grim humor the re-
port from Berlin, via Holland, that the
German government IS about to de.
clare the Eastern American coast a
danger zone and TO warn neutral Ship
ping of its purposes.
Raiding submarines have already
served warning of the danger in more
forceful terms than Berlin could for
mulate in a diplomatic communication.
Several of the eighteen vessels sunk
by the raiders were neutrals, carrying
no war supplies. Neutral governments
are not likely to have overlooked that
fact, warning or no warning.
1t is recognized, however, that the
forthcoming warning may prove to be
a formal announcement of zone in
American waters where ruthless sink
ing of all ships is to be the order OF
the day, forecasting continuing men
ace off Atlantic ports through regular
submarine patrols.
Ofcials here have been fully awake
TO the fact that such patrols could be
maintained If the German authorities
thought the results obtainable justified
divering large number Of boats from
operations off the French and British
coasts. 1t has been figured out that
by starting a new raider or fotilla OF
raiders every FIVE days, one link in
the endless chain of U-boats always
would be on duty in American waters.
Such operations would mean that
for every boat actively engaged on
th!s side. there would be several on
the way over and several more on the
way back TO Germany, none Of whivn
would have any substantial value
while en- route in either direction. On
this account, Navy officials generally
have discounted the patrol idea, be-
lieying that much better results from
the German viewpoint would be OBJ
tainabe by using the same number of
boats where they are now used, in the
North Sea or adjacent waters.
II Is not regarded as impossible
that either by using mother ships or
through the establishment of a land
base, no sign of which has yet been
discovered, the Germans have hit upon
way OF maintah.g a U-boat flotilla for
an indefinite tins on this side. Since
there is no evidence as yet OF any ex-
tension OF the zone of raiding opera
tioLs, however, and since nothing has
coiae to indicate an increased number
of raiders at work, these possibilities
also are purely matters of speculation.
sofar as Allied and American ships
are concerned, the warning" can
make TO difference. The raiders,
while treating passengers and crews
OF she ships they way-laid with con-
sidsration that is worthy of note only
bee ause il is departure from the
rutdlessness OF accepted German prac-
tice elsewhere, have conducted cruiser
warfare under strictly German in
tervretation of what that means. I'm
armed merchant craft of no military
va'le have been summarily dealt with,
The only armed craft sunk was tor
pedoed without warning.
II is assumed that any announce
melit from Berlin would be designed
chi, fly to intimidate neutral shipping.
Even then, the urgent demand at home
for supplies procurable only in the
United States and the glittering
fre' hit rates obtainab!e probably
would overcome any anxiety neutral
ship owners might experience as a re-
sui OF a warning"
erhaps the German Admiralty
hopes TO stimulate home readers in
liei many with the idea that steps have
been taken to stop the flow of Ameri-
car, troops to Europe Actual enfor'e-
ne II of a U.boat blockade, however, is
the only thing that would in fact serve
to interfere with that aow