Evening journal., 1918-06-05
bLAhES CONGRESS
FOR U-BOAT RAID
Representative Moore De-
clares II Is Stab at
Shipbuilding
DECLARES CANAL
PROJECTS SLEEP

WASHINGTON. June 5.-The subma-
rine attack of the American coast was
interpreted in the House Of Representa-
tives by J. II. Moore. Of Philadelphia
yesterday as a direct German threat
against the vast shipbulldlng operations
on the Delaware river. The New Jersey
coast. he said, had proved the natural
point Of German assault because the
United States thus far had failed TO
utilize its inland waterways 10 give
American warshlps. transports and sup
ply ships greater freedom in reaching
the open seas.
The Philadelphia Representative
sscribed the situation entirely to the
refusal Of Congress TO appropriate "the
paltry few millions necessary TO make
thirteen-mile cut through the Mary
land-Delaware Peninsula and a thirty
one-mile cut over to New York hay
through the valley Of New Jersey"
In presenting resolution calling
upon the War Department for specific
Information on the progress Of an au-
thorized project OF condemning and
deepening the Chesapeake and Delaware
Canal and a Government investigation
looking to the opening OF the Delaware
river and Raritsn bay canal. Mr.. Moore
asserted that the attack, while probably
mere skirmish, presented a vital
problem in war preparation for the ma
tion to solve.
Two such canals. Mr.. Moore said, con-
Eecting The Delaware. where the bulk of
American ship construction is under
way. with New York and Chesapeake
bays, meant an inland route connecting
the great ports of Boston. New York,
Philadelphia, Baltimore and Hampton
Roads and adequate waterways TO
maneuver American warships and trans
ports successfully in the event OF under
sea attack He said:
Along the Jersey coast most OF this
work was done Six vessels at least
were sunk within nifty miles Of that
coast between the ports Of New York
and Philadelphia Most Of our ship
building IS being done inside this coast.
The only way for these ships TO get to
sea is down the Delaware river, down
Delaware bay, past Cape May and Cape
Henlopen.
what would an alert enemy do who
wanted TO forestall the use OF those
ships? What would an enemy do who |
wanted to stop our transportation, stop /
the relief in troops and supplies to our
soldiers abroad2 Why, he would circle |
around the mouth Of Delaware bay, and
II he was in sufficient force he might
stop those vessels coming out or catch
and sink them as fast as the shipping
board could turn them out. Without a
canal to Norfolk and Baltimore, with
out a canal 10 New York. there is no
other way for our new ships to get
put"
Mr.. Moore told the House he had pre-
dlcted Just such a submarine raid, and
reminded members he had insisted
many times that an additional channel
should be cut through to New York
and to Chesapeake bay.
III we had these canals through or
the waterways already existing i'm
proved, then ships built on the Della
ware, in New York or at Norfolk could
pass out at no fewer than four points
and encircle the enemy at sea.
Give us these cuts and we will have
1--WE points along the coast from Nor |
folk 10 Boston. every one OF which |
should be available 10 pass vessels from
navy yard to navy yard inside when
The enemy is known to be outside
In a recent address on the army ap-
preparation bill Mr.. Moore complained
that the canal projects were allowed to
slumber when 70 seemed easy to obtain
tif .O00, 900 for picric acid plants In the
South which probably would not be
until after the war He said
that engineers had estimated
he cost OF deepening the Delaware
canal for ship transporta-
ion at si6,0O0,OOO and a canal from
3ordentown, n. j.. TO Raritan bay could