The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-08-24
ENEMY VISITS SHORE.
RELIEF THAT MEN FROM SCE-
MARINES CALL.
First Officer of Lost Steamer Says He
Saw German in New York Saloon.

Washington, Aug. 19.-lnformation
furnished by officers of vesels az
tackled by German submarines along
the American coast has strengthened
the belief held by several experienced
officials here that the enemy raiders
have had communication with persons
on shore and may even have landed
members of their crews in an effort
to secure reliable information. The
r:avy department officials refused to-
night to indorse this belief though
admitting the possibility.
Positive claim that he met IN New
York saloon an officer from the SUBJ
marine that sank the steamer O. b.
Jennings, is made by the first officer
of that vessel, according to story
reaching the department. The recog-
nition between the American and Ger
man is said to have been instantane-
| Gus. the latter making his escape
when the American appealed to a
brother officer accompanying him tor
confirmation of his belief.
Other instances have been heard,
not so well substantiated of the dis
covery of evidence that German sub
riarines have been in close touch with
the shore. One story along this line
was that the captain Of coastwlse
vessel being ordered to the submarine
with his papers, was astounded 10
see on the deck Of the German COM
nander, copies of the New York dali
/ les of the same date.
Communication between the raiders
and the mainland is possible at scores
IF places along the Atlantic shore,
naval officials believe, the. irregularlty
Of the American coasts at certain
points making such possible.
Recently the precautions taken by
authorities to prevent such communl-
cation have been greatly augmented
beth by shore patrol and other meth
DDS which can not be discussed. 1t
can be stated, however. that no offl-
cial report has been made given any
definite evidence Of any enemy boat
having landed.
From authoritative sources it was
learned today that there is reason to
believe three German submarines
have been operating On the Amerl-
can coasts at three separate points.
Two of these have recently ceased
operating either because their stores
have become exhausted or as result
of damage receivd in contact with
patrol fleets. 1t is known the actlvl-
ties Of one boat ceased Immediately
after a destroyer reported having dis
charged depth bombs near the spot
where the u-boat submerged.
One of the three submarines, 1t IS
considered certain, was especially
equipped for duty as a cable cutter.
This is held to explain the sudden
parting recentl; Of two Atlantic
cables. A naval repair ship, escorted
by fighting craft, since has picked up
and spliced both cables.
Descriptions of the submarine oper-
atiGg in American waters almost
without exception give their length
as 500 feet and their armament as
two guns either ST or SO inch cali
t1e. Naval experts deduct from 9TH
er information that the enemy craft
have a cruising radius of not less than
1900 miles.
The German admiralty now has in
commission between 160 and $50 sub
marines while the total number de-
stroyed by the Allies has passed the
200 mark. according 10 the most re-
liable information here. II correct,
these figures would indicate new Ger
man construction has barely held us
own over the period of the four years
as at the beginning Of the war the
Germans are known to have hod
about $50 submarines.
The toll in the last six months,
however, has been many times that
attained in any previous period and
Tie constantly increasing Allied anti
Submarine forces. according to naval
officials will put the ratio contin-
ually higher as time passes.