Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-06-04
INNS HAVE NEW CRUISER


marine situation, stated that the Ger.
mans had constructed new type OF
submarine cruiser with which to prey
on shipping and allied transports
Late in May it was officially report.
cd n British admiralty statement
that German submarine OF the cruls'
or class had been sunk by British
conveying submarine ''in the latitude
OF Cape st. Vincent which Is the
southwestern point OF Portguai:
BRlToN FIRED ON SUB
Tho master of a British vessel ar:
irving at Norfolk on May n reported
having fired some shots at suoh@
rine about $50 miles off Cape henry
Other incoming ships at Atlantic ports
for the last few days also nave
brought reports of sighting supma'
rines.
It is known that at least two U-boats
are engaged in the present campaign
which is assumed to be aimed chlefly
at the American transport service. "A
report that besides the attacks on
shipping off the Jersey coast a supma.
rine was operating off Nantucket ana
had torpedoed a ship in those waters
was not confirmed Presumably the
Germans are employing the new cruls'
er type of U-boats with long steam
ing radius for these operations. The
mort of New York was closed TO OUT
going shipping as soon as news OF the
presence of hostile craft outside was
confirmed. Similar action has been
taken at other Atlantic ports.
U.BOAT BASE IN AMERICA?
Meanwhile advices from Washing
ton, after officially confirming the loss
of three schooners, declare that meas
ures already in operation. with others
that will be added, will deaLwith the
new submarine menace. There are In
dications that the navy department
has been watching closely reports OF
the appearance of enemy U-boats in
expected places for some time ana
that the possibility of the arrival or
the craft of American ports was fore.
seen. 1t was apparent, however, that
the information now available was not
sufYicient to show whether U-boat
base had been established on this side
or that cruiser submarines of perhaps
1000 tons displacement were being
used.
NAVAL OFFICERS DIFFER
Some officers believe that base
has been established, possibly on some
desolate island to the south or in a
hidden bay. Others are convinced
that the submarines are working out
Of German bases. Those officials and
others who have been maintaining
that bases had been established in the
Gulf of Mexico or in the West Indies,
declared today's raid fully demon.
strated their theory.
This theory was that the submarines
which participated in yesterdays at
tack were on their way to the base in
the south, having for their immediate
object the long lines of oil tankers
carrying fuel oil to the allied navies
from the Tampico district of Mexico
and taking the opportunity to raid
American shipping while on their way
HUNS SAVE ToRPEDoEs
These officers noted that the sub
marines carefully preserved their
torpedoes for larger and more impor.
tant quarry and destroyed the small
American ships by bombs or with
shell fire. Those who hold to this
theory, said they expected that after
having reached southern bases and
replenishing their fuel, the subma-
rines will again turn northward and
after having made another raid re-
turn again for fuel. How long this
can be kept up they said depended en-
t1rely on the effectiveness OF the
search which American anti-subma-
rine craft conduct.
NAVY REPORTS THREE LOSSES
Washington u c. June 2-Tha