The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-20
ATLANTIC CABLE
CUT BY U-B0AT::
CREW GO ASHORE
Officer Of German Sub
marine Seen, Here by Sur
vivOr of Sunken Schooner.
TWO WITNESSES PROVE 1T
Secret Visits at Night to
Enemy Agents on Coast
Are Suspected.
special Despafch to THE suS.


WASHINGTON. Aug. 19.-The secre-
tive. petty form of warfare which the
German U-boats are conducting Off our
coast has brought new developments
which contribute to the sum total OF
annoyances caused to the Government
by the presence OF these craft, but
have and viii have no effect whatever
on the course of the war
THE SrN correspondent learned to-
day that ono of the German subma-
rines has cut one OF the cables. and
that there are indications that men,
bers OF C-boat crew have secretly
come ashore, presumably in search Of
information.
One report. which has two witnesses
to substantiate II. Is that German Of
ficer from submarine succeeded in
making his way to New York and was
recognized there In a drinking resort by
one OF the survivors from a schooner
recently sunk by the submarine. The
officer made his escape when he saw tina,
he had been recognized.
May Go Ashore st Nixht.
The assumption in some quarters here
Is that the U-boat crows may go ashore
frequently by using collapsible boats
after the submarine acts close TO shore
at some unfrequented place Az night
Search for information would probably
be the chief object There is a possi-
bility OF course that these men come
into contact or into communication with
German agents here. but the proper au-
thorities. II Is understood, are alive To
this danger, so there Is no cause FOR
particular worry.
The cutting OF the cable-not one oil
the main cables-is less important than
that the subma rines have done tAis and
the remedial work amounts simply to
sending out a ship with Epec!al equip
ment to pick the ends of the cable up
and splice it just as one splices a broken
wire on an automobile.
These tricks OF the C-boats therefore
are not destined to change materially
the course Of events The best informa
ton is that there were three U-boats
Of them may have returned.
The accomplishments OF the subma-
rines during this last raid may be sum-
married. roughly as follows: Destroyed
a few small craft, attacked fishing
amacks successfully. cut the cable. made
secretive visits ashore and strewed
mines Most OF the mines have probably
been swept up, though one Of them un-
doubtedly sunk the tanker Frederic II.
Kellogg or Barnegat, N. j.. last week.
incidentally the tanker Pratt. recently
sunk by mine. has been raised and
practically repaired for future service.
Valuable Hints for Navy.
Operations OF the C-boats are giving
our navy valuable hints as to the course
TO pursue for the future. and II is prob
able that within reasonably short time
the defensive measures will be even
more efficient than they are now, hui
there will be no diversion of nava
strength from the main work Of protect
ing conveys and supplies.
Coastwise trade will probably be car
ried on by vessels armed with guns ca
pable OF forcing the U-boats TO keep a,
| a safe distance and use torpedoes. which
incidentally are not proving as reliable
as they used TO be because OF the diff.
nculty Germany is having in getting the
| materials. Each U-boat carries fifteer
or twenty torpedoes at the most, an6
many miss or 80 astray.
| The trio OF submarines which have
, -
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