Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-08-13
U-BOAT MAKES
GAS ATTACK ON
COAST STATION
Six Men Overcome; U. S. De-
stroyer Sinks Hun Craft,
Is Report

Washington. Aug. ,.Germany
is seeking to bring one of her favor
lite brands of frightfulness direct to
Americas shores
A gas attack was made on the
North Carolina coast late Saturday
afternoon Six OF the coast guard
and lighthouse personnel on Smith
Island near the entrance to Will
ming1on harbor, were overcome by
the gas, but no deaths resulted. ac-
cord'ng to a Navy Department state
ment last night
The gas was generated from three
large patches of oil, each more than
an acre in extent, which the subma-
rine spread on the water. The gas
was described by the Navy Depart
ment reports as having about the
same effect as the mustard gas
which was used against the Allies in
France 1t was effective for about
thirty-fve or forty minutes. The gas
was generated from the oil about
forty minutes after the appearances
of the patches were noted.
This is the first time in the his
tory of submarine warfare that such
gas has been employed. The attack
to meet it
1t raised the question of equipping
coast guards and crews of the sub
marine chasers with masks. It was
said at the department last night
that this subject would be given
immediate consideration
Details OF Attack
Following is the Navy Depart
ments statement on the North Car
olina attack:
The Navy Department has re-
ceived a dispatch from the COM
mandant of the Sixth Naval District,
Charleston, S. c.. stating that an at
tack with gas was attempted on
the North Carolina coast about 5
o'clock Saturday afternoon with the
result of temporarily putting out of
business the coast guard station and
lighthouse personnel on Smith
Island. The report goes on to say:
About forty minutes after the at
tack three large oil spots, each more
than an acre in extent, were OBJ
served passing by Smith Island to
the north. This oil, from which the
gas was no doubt generated, must
have been released from a subma-
rine in the vicinity of the entrance
to the channel with the hope that it
would come in with the tide, but the
tide, fortunately, set along Smith
Island.
Report was made to Colonel Chase.
coast artillery corps, Fort Caswell.
N. c., by Captain Willis, of the
Smith Island coast guard, imme-
after the effects of the gas
were noticed. Six men were gassed.
put no deaths resulted. The gas had
the effect of mustard gas, and was
about thirty-five or forty
The color of the gas has
not yet been ascertained, and it's eff
fects on trees and shrubbery not yet
determined. The entire matter will
be investigated and full report made.
The incident was reported by Colo
mel Chase to the naval district COM
mandant.
Smith Island is off the mouth of
lhe cape Fear river. near the en-
trance to the channel to Whining
ton, n. c.
The first real encounter between
an American destroyer and a Ger
man submarine since the U-boats
began their raids on shipping in
American waters was announced yes
terday by the Secretary of the Navy.
Believe U-Boat Sunk
InuiCdtlOnS pointed 10 the SINKING
or serious damaging of a submarine
operating off the Virginia coast, but
the Navy Department entered no Of
fetal claim to the destruction of the
enemy vessel. Secretary Daniels au-
thorized the following:
The Navy Department has re-
ceived a report that an American
destroyer sighted an enemy subma-
rine about 100 miles east of the Vir-
ginia coast and dropped fifteen depth
bombs on the spot where the u
boat submerged.
The submarine was not seen
again, but an oil slick appeared and
two more depth charges were
dropped on the spot"
Secretary Daniels said yesterday
naval officers agree that at least two
or more submarines are operating in
American waters. He made this
statement in announcing the report
of the crew of the schooner Katie
Palmer, which was sunk late Satur-
day afternoon in New England wa
ters.
Particular interest was attached
to statements of the crew of the
schooner, who were taken aboard
the U-boat, to the effect that the
German commander stated he was
equipped to stay in American waters
six months IF he desired"
"Just Talking
"Of course. If he could obtain
supplies and fuel he might do so,"
said Secretary Daniels "but II is the