The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1918-06-04
RAIDERS
FAILED TO MAKE
MILITARY CAIN
ny CARL u. GROAT

WASHINGTON, June i.--G~r-
many has failed Ia gain any mil.
itnry advantage from her spec.
tacular boat raids off the
American coast. ~ she Intended
Ia t-rrorbc the American mind
she has failed likewise Ia accom-.
plish that.
These two facts stood out In bold
relief today In the wake Of the
startling news that Teuton L boats
had been operating since May 30. off
our coast. hagging probably twelve
or moro vessels Of various types. but
missing any cargo or troop trans.
ports.
Secretary Of the Navy Daniels was
authority for the flat statement
that American naval strength abroad
would not be diverted 20 home
shores because OF the foray Ger
many. he suggested. wanted strongly
TO dent the American lineup abroad.
no she perhaps could undertake i'm.
portAnt naval actions over there.
Every available scouting vessel
was on the hunt today for the raid
err. variously reported numbering
from two TO five All up and down
the coast. naval district commanders.
acting under their own authority.
supplemented by special naval de.
pnrtmcnt orders. had out des,royers.
L boat chnnera and airplaner
The fact that operations had been
carried on since May 20 came as a
shock TO the national capital ~ was
proved however. from the fact that
tho derelict Edna. recently toved
into L~we-. Del. and the liatti.
Dunn were both attacked on that
date. The capture OF those aboard.
followed by their release. only added
to tho sensation in this remarkable
raid. This apparently was all a part
OF the German plan 81 striking fear
TO tho heart OF civilians ana ship
folk
Persistent rumora OF T. boat activ.
lty or the coast have been checked
M. but the navy each time said
their reports disproved tho stories.
Got Early Reports
Some Of th-n. reports have come
in since May Is. notably that % the
cargo transport Syanz-,. which wire
lcnned she was chased.
That the American patrol did not
pick up the trail 81 the raiders be
fore they showed themselves of
iarneeat sunday Was subject Of
some comment to-day. Some Off
ciais hintrd there has been too much
% tendency 10 discredlt the ldet
that the Germans would come across.
on the other hand. a was pointed
out that the patrol activity had been
Increased In recent weeks and that
this fact camscd some 81 the 4 boat
rumorH
what projections the navy now
has out OF has had out IN recent
days may not hc stated, suffice u
30 say that navy officials suggested
Is had been accomplished largely
because az tho fact that tho long
American coast line created a dlffi.
cult patrol problem.
That two distinct operations were
involved ~ the opinion OF many ma
val -isn. The U.boatr attacking off
Harncxat SUNDAY were propably tho
same az the ones attacking tho Edna
and the Hattie Dunn. May IS. II IL
possible that after making tho trip
from Germany. tho boats had rome
base along tho American or Mexican
coast
But u appears unlikely that one
or two L boats could make tho Jour
ney across and then operate moro
than a week here. unless there were
an available base In easy running dis.
lance.
Mexico IL hlnoai az far away from
BarneEat az iH Europe. II IL doubt.
cd that any bases are there Hence.
Il appears likely that one submarine
did the earlier sinkings. and two or
more have been on the trail Of the
schoonerH and passenger steamers
this week