The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1918-05-17
Its STILL
BUSY OFF italy
Spies and Fishermen Help Supply
and Signal German
Captains.
Bases ON NEUTRAL LAND
Craft Hunt in Groups and Have kc-
curate Information Of SaiIinas-
Temptation Too Much for
Fishermen,


Rome.-The U-boat offensive is still
serious in the Mediterranean. Sub
marine bases exist in neutral cOun
tries, where information, provisions
and even petrol are supplied to the
German commanders. Some time ago
three Sicilian fishermen were charged
with supplying provisions to an enemy
submarine off Augusta. In the course
of the trial before the military tribunal
at Catania evidence was brought to
show that while the fishermen were
out at sea in their boat submarine
rose to the surface and ordered the
three men to go Oh board.
The commander then Informed them
that two would be kept as hostages
while the third was to go ashore in
the boat and get the fresh provisions
needed. If he returned with them with
in two or three hours the two fisher
men would not only be released but
also compensated; otherwise they
would be killed. The man was warn
ed that If he Informed the Italian au-
thOritieS the fate Of his two compan.
ions would be the same. Naturally
the man Obeyed. He returned with
the provisions within the appointed
time and was well paid for his trou-
BILE and faithfulness. OF course the
two hostages were released. Evident
iy the fiShermen's story was corr0b0rat-
ed by the evidence of other men, as the
tribunal acquitted the two hostages
and sentenced the man who got the
provisions to ten years hard labor for
neglectins to inform the authorities.
Cannot Resist Temptation.
There are thousands of fishermen in
Italy who lead hard life without
earning q living wage and who can
not resist the temptation of making
money. Besides, they are easily III
undated by the threats of the COM
manders Of submarines, who often
sink fishing boats and murder the fish
ermen for the sake of imposing Obedi-
ance. 1t is reasonably suspected that
fishermen aid submarines in many
ways. They warn them Of the ap-
preach Of war vessels and mystery
ships and give them valuable informa-
ton about Sailings and courses of con-
yoyS. Possibly if the allies compen-
stated fishermen as well as the COM
mandcrS Of submarines do Satisfac-
tory results would follow.
OF course for obvious reasons full
particulars about the activity of sub
marines in the Mediterranean cannot
De divulged. There have been inSan-
res of U-boatS entering territorial wa
ters 1T night and exchanging signals
with people on shore. Until recently
enemy citizens were allowed to re-
side in seaport towns and even de-
serted villages on the coast, so that all
they needed to communicate with sub
marines was a light. Even now Aus.
TRANS and Germans are interned in
Sardinia, and more ships have been
sunk by submarines off this island
than anywhere else in the MeGiter-
ranGan.
The mail boat between Sardinia and
Civitavecchia was torpedoed in broad
daylight only % miles off the coast
Of Sardinia. Although she remained
ntioat for three hours and the wireless
operator remained on board until the
ship SUNK and communicated with &
nearby naval station. unfortunately no
torpedo boats were available to rescue
the Passengers, including many sol
dierS, who persisted. There seems to
be 10 doubt that the commander of the
submarine had been informed that
rescue was impossible, as. otherwise
the torpedocd mail boat would have
been sunk by shell fire.
Cease to Be Dangerous.
Other ships have been sunk both off
Sardinia and in other parts of the
Mediterranean very close to the coast
under similar circumstances. It is
significant that whenever enemy citi-
Zens or enemy agents and spies have
been discovered and arrested i'm GER
tain localities where ships were being
sunk by submarines these zones ceased
Immediately to be dangerous. Expert
ence shows that patrolling the route
of conveys is not sufficient unless the
coast is well watched SO that signal
ing to submarines is prevented. It
Seems that U-boats hardly ever use
their wireless even among themselves
lest their messages should be inter-
cepted and their whereabouts discov-
cred.
The crew of ship recently sunk at
night by a submarine reported TO the
authorities that when they had taken
TO the boats and were pulling away
from the sinking ship the submarine
was exchanging flash signals by means
Of an electric lamp. The night was
very dark, and at first the answering
signals were not visible, but shortly
nftcrward the flashes of at least five
submarines could clearly be seen.
"Thcy We're like glow worms over the
sea-" one Of the men said describing
the signals. Evidently submarines