The sun., 1918-06-08
VINLAND!G0ES
T0BOTT0M0FF
VIRGINIA CAPES
Navy Warns of Continuing
Menace in Z. S. Waters
Until War Ends.
FRENCH SHIP FIGHTS FOE
Submarine Commanders May
Be Seeking Information
to Take Home.
FRENCH SHIP FIGHTS FOE

A seventeenth ship was added TO the
score Of the undersea raiders yesterday
when It was announced by the navy
that tho vinland. q Norwegian cargo
steamship. was sunk sixty-ive miles of
the Virginia Capes on Wednesday. She
was a small vessel Of only 1.143 tons
gross register. She was unarmed. Her
crew was landed at Cape May by a
United States destroyer out on a trial
trip. She was owned by Irgens q Co.
Of Bergen. Norway.
The scene Of her destruction upset the
theory erected by some mariners on
Wednesday whom the U-boats first be-
came active in the region OF the Vir-
glnia Capes that they were on their
way to southern waters and probably
shaping a course for secret base at
some point on the coast Of Mexico. The
Navy Department issued the warning
yesterday that for the duration Of the
war enemy submarines must be regarded
a. a continuing menace and = continuing
factor in American war measures.
Shortly before word was received OF
the sinking OF the Vinland. a French
merchant steamship arrived at an At
lansic port and reported that she had
encountered one Of the submarines on
the Virginia capes and had exchanged
ahots with her. The French ship was
slightly damaged. Her captain refused
to give out any furthen information
about the encounter until after he had
reported to the Navy Department.
Opened Fire At Three Miles.
The submarine was encountered about
seventy miles at sea. The enemy craft
opened fire when about three miles from
the French vessel and the latter prompt
ly returned the compliment.
The French vessel had encountered
other submarines on its voyage from Eu-
rope and was short Of ammunition. ac-
cording to reports. As result only one
gun was used against the U-boat during
most Of the battle.
The subma rine on the other hand used
two guns in its effort to sink the French
ship before the steamship could reach
point OF safety. Tue battle continued for
over an hour. it Is said. and the C-boat
followed the Frenchman for about ten
miles.
1T disappeared when the French
steamship got SO near the coast it made It
dangerous for the submarine to venture
too close. An American vessel met the
Frenchman soon after the submarine
disappeared.
An optimistic view-that the subma :
rines have started operations on this
coast because much OF the waters where
they formerly piled their calling have
become too hot to hold them-was ad-
vanced yesterday by Senator Swanson.
acting chairman OF the Senate Naval
with navy heads and declared that he
had been informed that the measures
now in force against submarine opera
tions In European waters had resulted in
the destruction OF so per cent. OF all
submarines 80 far constructed by Ger
many.
Can't Earn Keep" Abroad.
II is Senator Swanson's belief that the
C-boats now operating on this coast are
here because their opportunity for effec-
Tive WoIh HSoi SSu'ope hoS wv" 49,
minished beyond the point where they
are able to earn their keep" He is
among the many who believe that the
raiders came here on a quest for Amer
lean transports, and failing In it turned
TO the destruction OF unarmed merchant
tonnage for the sake of the moral enec!
Nm Germany.
THE loss of merchant ships abroad.
said Senator Swanson. has been re-
duccd so per cent. Meantime sc
per cent. OF all German submarines
constructed and commissioned have been
destroyed. There Is no question of this
Need add that there Is not the re-
motest possible chance OF the raid here
abroad. nor of its withdraw any OF
our warships now on overseas service r.
| service at home. As a matter OF fact
our naval service both home and abroad
is being added to all the time"
some naval officers incline to the he
lief that the raid was planned more fol
the purpose OF obtaining information
.tan for the destruction of American
shipping and that the submarine com
manNsrs have orders to bring home al
| the Information they can gather with,
| out risking their vessels.
Treatment sustains Theory.
In support OF this theory Is urged thu
courteous treatment from German
| standpoinU which has been accorded
seanen whose ships have been met ant
sunk. Many Of these men who were