The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1918-04-25
U-B0AT BASES ARE
BLOCKED By BRITISH
Indications Point To Big General Of
fensive BY Allied Fleet
Sailors Land and
Fight.

been put into effect by the British
navy. The British Admiralty an
nouncement says that five old cruis-
ers, which had been filled with con-
crete for use in blocking channels
were run aground and blown up.
Their crews abandoned the ships just
before the blasts were set off, 1t was
declared. French naval officers are
said to have taken part in the under
taking.
The raid was made early in the
morning on the German U-boat bas-
es at Osten and Zeebrugge. 1t has
now been definitely established that
the raid was a decided success and
the outlet for the U-boats has been
to a great extent, blocked.
The following report concerning
the raid has been sent out by the AS
sociated Press from Washington:
WASHINGTON, April 23.-(Spe-
cial. Part of the credit for the Bri-
tish naval exploit in blockading the
German submarine bases at Ostend
and Zeebrugge by sinking obsolete
vessels filled with concrete in the
channels of the ports belongs to the
United States Navy.
1t can now be stated without hesi-
tation that more than six months ago
the higher naval command here be-
gan strenuous agitation for a plan
of operations which would practical
ly wall up the German submarines
and the German fleet as we'll within
their bases of operations.
1t would surprise no one here to
learn that United States vessels par
ticipated In the present operations.
Full Story Awaited Eagerly.
American naval officers await Gag
erly the full story of the successful
French British naval blow against
the German destroyer and U-boat
bases on the Belgian coast.
The impression prevails here, sup
ported by certain facts regarding
American naval preparations that a
carefully planned naval offensive a.
gainst the U-boats has begun which
is to be pressed vigorously until the
underwater raiders are bottled up or
checked to such an extent that their
operations will 40 longer be serious
factor.
Officials here have been anticipat-
ing developments in the anti-submar-
inc warfare within the next few weeks
that would establish definite
check on the U-boats American CO.
operation in this effort Is being eX-
tended in various ways which can
not be disclosed
L. S. Officers Favor Action.
1t has long been the belief of many
officers here that much could be done |
toward bottling up the U-boats at |
their source-their bases on the Bel |
gian coast. The means to this end .
suggested have been many, including
mine fields, increased numbers of
light surface patrol craft, new de-
lection devices, aircraft and sub
marines. All of these and other ell
ements enter into whatever plan of
operations the Navy supreme council
has formed.
The raids on the Zeebrugge and
Ostend were the most daring opera
tions attempted by the allied sea for
ces during the war and the fact that
landing parties successfully put ash
ore and the survivors re-embarked in
the face of German batteries and
troops shows, officers here say, that
nothing should be viewed as impos-
sible until it has been tried out.
1t was suggested today that the
recent raid against trawlers by Brit
ish ships was part Of the general
plan for aggressive action. The Ger -.
man light craft were engaged In
mine sweeping. BY their destruc-
ton, the German U-boats and heavy
craft were excluded from the portion
Of the sea where the engagement oc-
cured until other ways to remove
he mines could be provided.
Presumably the allied naval forces ..
1ow are preparing to mine the Bel ,,
,ian and German coasts thoroughly, :.
packing up the mines with guard :,
If heavy ships to beat off the Ger ;
nan fleet should 1t come out, and I,
With numerous smaller craft to drive :,
,ff or destroy mine sweepers that at =
empt to clear lanes for the U-boats. =
The sinking of concrete laden ships
n the entrance to Zeebrugge Canal 4.
night shut in destroyers and U-boats !.
tationed there and allied craft would y
,eep watch to prevent the removal =,
# the distractions. If the channel =
we're not completely closed at the y
irst attempt, further efforts are to be A
expected. \
Some officers thought 1t probable :,
hat the Germans had removed some v
( their shore batteries for use in the =
ghting in Flanders. This might