Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-06-06
Secretary Daniels Says u, S,
viii Continue to Defy Foe
and Keep Men and Supplies
Moving to France,
STRIKE AT COAST-WISE
SHIPS UNPREVENTABLE
Long Stretch of Sea to Protect
and Limited Number of De-
Stroyers Available Make At
taCkS Possible, ..

fsy MORNING Jous"At esrc,aL LEASED wIRsl
Washington, June 5.--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 on the flow of men and muni-
tons to France, Secretary Daniels
said today.
The great duty of our navy" said
he, lis to keep open the door to
France; to carry our men and muni-
tons to the great battle front and to
guard food supplies for our co-bellig-
erents. 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 fleet hunting down the subma-
rine that was last heard from off the
Virginia and Maryland coasts.
Naval officials are proceeding Or
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. American destroyers and
other small craft were sent abroad for
work in the war zone. it was fully
realized that submarine raids III
American waters were entirely pos,
sible and The entire coastal patroi
service has been built up on that as
sumption.
Dcstroyers Needed Abroad.
Viewed from a purely American
standpoint officials believed the dis
patch Of the swift naval craft to for
eign waters was unwarranted. but
americs troops could no. be sent to
/ lance WIN any uegree Of security
and the United states could not take
its fair share of the burden of war
unless they went. That was the con-
sideration that impelled the govern
ment to cast prudence aside and to
rush the ships abroad.
without question it was felt the
key to the shipping situation--the
neck of the bottle--was abroad where
ships must converge. That neck must
be kept open at any hazard and the
navy has kept it open Not an out
ward bound troopship under Ameri-
can convey has been successfully as
sailed.
Meanwhile ii has been realized that
the length of the American coast line
and the limited number of swift de-
stroyers that could be retained at
home made it possible for raiders to
strike at coastwise traffic or even at
the TRANSPORTS.
Admiral Benson has been watching
this phase of naval preparation and
has felt that months of drill and prac-
tice cruising without single attack
might make the patrol forces stale
Recently he visited AtlaHtic coast de-
fense districts. His inspection had
hardly been completed when the raid
ers arrived
Vessels Adequately Guarded.
Already it has been shown, officials
say, that precautions taken to guard
departing troops and munition YES
sells have proved adequate. Efforts
to furnish additional protection to
coastwlse shipping are now being
made. In some cases fleets of coast
ers may be assembled to he passed
along under convoy from one district
~ tho next Undoubtedly guns and
gunners will be furnished in many
cases. Every skipper who wants them
will be provided with weapons with
which to hit back.
Naval officials believe the tanker
Herbert J.. Pratt. sunk off the Della
ware capes but later raised and toWed
to port, struck mine left by the u
boats.
In seeking the motive for the raid
officials can reach no other conclu-
sion than that the Berlin authorities
planned to extend their general theory
Of terrorization to these waters, hop-
ing to create panic which would
force withdrawal of submarine chasers
abroad or the suspension of troop
movements.
Blockade Is Impossible.
IT was pointed out that should ii he
the purpose of the German admiralty
to attempt to blockade American
ports and send many submarines. the.
pressure abroad would be relaxed and
ships from British positions could
move with increased freedom. On the
other hand the great extent of the
American coast line, the connection
ports by means of canals and sounds
and many other conditions would tend
to make impossible successful block
aiding operation These are some of
the reasons that incline officials to|
believe that ii is only sea foray with
which they have to deal. 1t may be
repeated 1t is not possible to prevent
its repetition nor can enough addi-
tional boats be turned out in some
months to make it possible.